Michael Jordan’s competitive fire is legendary, and comedian Bill Bellamy recently shared a hilarious yet ruthless story of how Jordan got revenge on a kid who managed to trick him with a pump fake during a pickup game at the famous "Jordan Dome."
On Dwyane Wade’s podcast, he described how a young player hit Jordan with a move so deceptive that even MJ, the most feared defender of his era, was caught off guard.
"There was a kid in that gym that hit Mike with a move that was so crazy, Mike’s whole head hit the ceiling. He was coming down on the fastbreak. He did an up-fake hesi push and left Mike. Mike went to the roof. Mike say, ‘Give me the ball!’"
"He went for 12 buckets in a row. Mike said give me the ball, give me the ball, give me the ball right now. They was like why you wake him up."
"He showed you the clicks of levels, he was above everybody in that gym. Everybody was staring cause it was so crazy. He was doing everything. Dunks, fadeaway, off the glass, nothing but bottom, three. I was like, ‘Yo, man, Mike is crazy.’"
It was an incredibly rare moment—someone actually making Jordan look foolish. But as anyone who knows His Airness understands, embarrassing Jordan only guarantees one thing: payback.
This moment was a perfect encapsulation of Jordan’s legendary mentality. No matter the stage—whether it was the NBA Finals, a preseason practice, or a random pickup game at the Jordan Dome—he refused to be outplayed or outshined by anyone. The kid’s incredible move was a fun, fleeting moment, but Jordan made sure it didn’t last long.
Jordan’s commitment that summer was nothing short of obsessive. Coming off his first playoff loss since 1990, he had something to prove, and he used every opportunity to sharpen his game. NBA stars who played in the Jordan Dome saw firsthand how relentless he was.
Jordan’s intensity, work ethic, and refusal to lose made him who he was. That kid may have gotten him once, but as Bellamy’s story proves, there are consequences when you try to embarrass the greatest competitor in basketball history.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!