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Michael Jordan is known to be one of the nastiest trash talkers in NBA history. He’d often use this strategy to get into the heads of opponents and gain whatever advantage he could get.
One such legendary story about his trash-talking was supposedly directed at the 5 '3" Muggsy Bogues, the shortest to play in the NBA. Jordan was rumored to have called the former Charlotte Hornets star a “midget.”
Bogues, in an episode of “All The Smoke” podcast, had this to say about the story:
(46:20 mark)
"MJ [Jordan], he always liked to f**k with me. That's just who we are.
"When we come in contact, even off the court to this day, walking around, he will put his hand up high trying to get me to give a high-five and I will put my hand low, you come down a give me a low-five. So we just compete against one another.
"You know M, man, especially when we are playing a game. It was some stuff on the internet where they said he called me a mi**et, which is not true. He always called 'Lil fella,' 'Lil a**' and that short stuff."
Michael Jordan is arguably the fiercest competitor the league has ever seen. As much as he talked trash, he avoided slurs that hit the person.
Jordan and Muggsy Bogues had their share of battles in the late ‘80s and ‘90s. They faced off multiple times against each other with MJ averaging 31.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.
“Muggs” battled hard given his physical disadvantage. He averaged 8.1 assists, 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
Muggsy Bogues might have been the shortest player when the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets met, but he claimed to have blocked Jordan once:
"This particular moment, I am looking right at him and I am taking s**t to him, then all of a sudden he trying to back me in and all of a sudden he tried to turn around shoot his lil' jumper.
"I smacked it down but they called illegal defense on somebody because they cross the line, but I always fuck with that, you know that was a steal."
Michael Jordan and Muggsy Bogues only met once in the playoffs
Michael Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA while Muggsy Bogues had a 14-year career. Both players spent their entire pro basketball life in the Eastern Conference but met in the playoffs just once.
The fourth-seeded Charlotte Hornets battled the fifth-placed Chicago Bulls in the first round of the postseason in 1995. This was Jordan’s sudden return to basketball after flirting with baseball.
The Bulls already had the trio of “His Airness,” Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc. Charlotte countered with their young foundation of Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson. Muggsy Bogues was their veteran starting point guard.
Michael Jordan’s Bulls handily beat the Hornets 3-1. “MJ” averaged 32.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals. Bogues had 8.5 points, 6.3 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
You may also like to read: How good was Michael Jordan in NCAA basketball? Here's a look at his college stats, career and highlights
