EX-MICHAEL Jordan teammate Brendan Haywood has said His Airness worked harder than anyone even though he was approaching his 40s.
The former 7-foot NBA center teamed up with MJ after he decided to come out of retirement for the second time in 2001.
Ex-Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood (left) has said Michael Jordan outworked everyone even as he approached his 40sCredit: Getty
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Jordan spent two seasons with the Wizards after coming out of retirement for the second time in 2001Credit: Getty
Haywood, 43, spent nine seasons in DC before landing on the Dallas Mavericks and winning the NBA title with them in 2011.
He started his career with the Wizards in big part because of Jordan despite being initially drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2001 draft.
As the franchise’s part-owner and president of basketball operations, the six-time NBA champion played a role in negotiating the trade that brought his fellow North Carolina alum to DC.
But after rediscovering his drive and desire to play before the start of his rookie year, Haywood got to train and play alongside the NBA icon.
And it was an eye-opening experience, the center recalled in an appearance on Gil’s Arena.
“We coming off a trip. Dude was 40 years old outworking everyone,” he said.
“Practice at 11, I get there at 10. At 10 I hear the ball bouncing.
“I am thinking, who in there already? Open the door, he already there.
“I was like, what you doing here? He is like, ‘You asking me the wrong question.
“‘You need to ask the question why I beat you here young fella.’
“This dude has all the championships, all the accolades – he is still working this hard. That was my Michael Jordan moment.”
Jordan put up 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in two seasons for the Wizards.
Although he failed to make the playoffs with Washington, he still finished 13th in the MVP ballot after his first year in DC.
His other ex-Wizards teammate, Ty Lue once said he was mesmerized seeing MJ average 20 points seemingly on one leg, with the five-time MVP struggling with knee injuries at the time.
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