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Shannon Sharpe On The First Time He Met Michael Jordan: 'I Get On The Elevator And All Of A Sudden It's Bright... He Doesn't Seem Real.'

Originally posted on Fadeaway World | By Gautam Varier | Last updated Dec 18, 2023 10:39 AM ET

Shannon Sharpe met Michael Jordan for the first time in 1993 and like so many others, he was left starstruck. On Nightcap with Unc and Ocho, Sharpe recounted how Jordan didn't seem real when they crossed paths for the first time.

"In 93, the Super Bowl was in Atlanta, I got on the elevator... the door open up, (it's) Michael Jordan and his first wife on the elevator," Sharpe said. "I get on the elevator and all of a sudden it's bright. It's like he's glowing."

Sharpe says he introduced himself to Jordan, who stated he knew who he was and that he had met his mother at a casino. Shannon then stated that he has met and worked with some big names, but none of them compare to the Chicago Bulls icon.

"I met Denzel (Washington), his son John David used to train with my trainer when he was in Morehouse," Sharpe continued. "Met Samuel Jackson met Oprah in the four seasons, Gail. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham... Ocho this man doesn't seem real. He's the only man that I've ever met, he seems mythical. I know that's Michael Jordan, I'm looking at him, that's a man... Man, he levitates and anybody that has ever met him, from (Shaquille O'Neal) to everybody say the exact same thing, 'He doesn't seem real.'"

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Jordan just seems to have an aura that leaves those who meet him starstruck. By 1993, Sharpe had emerged as somewhat of a superstar Tight End in the NFL, and even he couldn't quite believe that it was a real person standing in front of him.

Keep in mind, that this first meeting took place when Jordan had only won two rings. He would win his third later that year and went on to win six in total, which only added to his legend. Sharpe maintains his stance on LeBron James being the GOAT, but he has shown Jordan a great deal of respect over the years as well.

LeBron James Spoke About Meeting Michael Jordan For The First Time

Speaking of LeBron, he actually had somewhat of a similar experience to Sharpe. Back in 2006, James shared the story of when he first met Jordan.

“So I'm growing up watching this guy on TV every day and I'm like, 'Wow, he's an amazing basketball player, hopefully someday I get an opportunity to meet him.' I think it was my junior year in high school. I go up to Chicago and I go to a gym called Hoops, where he plays basketball in the summertime. I didn’t know he was gonna be there, but I seen him. I seen him walking towards me and it was kind of like he was walking on air. I had to pinch myself and (was like) ‘Is that Michael?’ And he was like black Jesus to me. I was like, 'Are you finally here?'"

Both Sharpe and LeBron felt he was levitating, which is quite interesting. Jordan told the teenager to keep working hard so that he would get to the NBA someday and he sure did that. Jordan probably didn't think at the time that James would end up being mentioned in the same breath as him one day.

LeBron's good friend Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, was shocked when he met Jordan for the first time. Wade felt like he was seeing a ghost and called it the coolest experience ever.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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