Michael Jordan is honored at halftime during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Did Michael Jordan happen to upstage LeBron James in Cleveland?

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated 2/20/22

Michael Jordan pulled up to this year’s NBA All-Star Game in a way that only he could.

The retired Chicago Bulls legend made a surprise appearance at Sunday’s halftime ceremony honoring the 75 greatest players in NBA history. Many thought that Jordan, who owns the NASCAR team 23XI Racing, would not be at the All-Star Game after attending the Daytona 500 in Florida earlier in the day on Sunday. But Jordan hopped on a flight to Cleveland and made it on time to be honored at the NBA All-Star event.

The six-time champion was introduced last and got the loudest ovation.

The best saved for last! The final name announced to the 75th Anniversary Team:

Michael Jordan pic.twitter.com/XZ7YgasgE8

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 21, 2022

Jordan’s appearance led to everyone making the same joke on Twitter — that His Airness upstaged LeBron James in James’ beloved Cleveland.

MJ pulled up and got louder cheers in Cleveland than LeBron. pic.twitter.com/1D7tiFjsZs

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 21, 2022

MJ got the loudest cheers in LeBron’s house????

Say it ain’t so..

— Guru (@DrGuru_) February 21, 2022

Jordan for sure called and was like, “if you want me there, I get called last and need to stand above LeBron on the floor.”

— Josh Eberley (@JoshEberley) February 21, 2022

MJ got the loudest cheers in LeBron’s own home.

The mf .

— Miguel Jordán (@PettyAirJordan) February 21, 2022

Never thought I'd see the night that LeBron James got upstaged in Cleveland by Michael Jordan.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 21, 2022

Jordan got a bigger pop than LeBron..#GOAT pic.twitter.com/wQjQkM043u

— Lord Zito (@VivalaZito) February 21, 2022

LeBron seeing Michael Jordan get more love from Cleveland than him: #NBAAllStar #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/hblCMQhhU0

— Danny Armstrong (@DArmstrong44) February 21, 2022

It was all love between the two greats though. Jordan and James embraced each other at halfcourt during the ceremony and had a brief conversation.

Michael Jordan LeBron James

pic.twitter.com/047Nv3wiCO

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 21, 2022

Jordan and James are widely seen as the two greatest to ever play the sport. That has led to a bit of a friendly rivalry between the two, especially in recent years after Jordan’s “The Last Dance” documentary revived the debate over who the true GOAT is. Knowing Jordan’s notoriously competitive and petty nature, he is probably smirking inside that he was able to take some of the shine away from James on Sunday night.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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