'I'm not Michael Jordan': Alex Ovechkin shuts down comparisons with humble message

Time of India

6 days ago

Alex Ovechkin may be the most prolific goal scorer in NHL history—but don't expect him to embrace comparisons to global icon
. When asked in a recent Match TV interview whether he's reached Jordan-level fame in cities like Washington, D.C.
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or Moscow, the Washington Capitals star didn't hesitate to shut it down.
With his trademark humility and a surprising nod to his mother—herself a two-time Olympic basketball champion—Ovechkin made it clear: he may be legendary on the ice, but he's not chasing Jordan's shadow.
'Why elevate yourself?': Alex Ovechkin deflects Michael Jordan comparisons and honors the GOAT who raised him
In the Match TV interview, conducted in Moscow,
was asked whether he feels as recognized in public spaces as Jordan once was in Chicago or Washington. The NHL's all-time goal-scoring leader gave an emphatic response:
'Of course, there is no such thing,' he said.
'If you compare me with Michael Jordan, then it's like night and day.'
Ovechkin didn't stop there. Instead of leaning into the compliment, he redirected it to two people he holds in the highest regard: Jordan, whom he's long admired, and his mother, Tatyana Ovechkina—a Soviet basketball legend.
'Jordan is the greatest,' he added. 'The same as my mother in basketball, a two-time Olympic champion, multiple European champion.'
When pressed again—when the interviewer asked if he might be at least closing the gap—who Ovechkin might rival in stature—he doubled down:
'No,' he replied. 'Why elevate yourself? You have to stay grounded.'
This isn't the first time Ovechkin has spoken about Jordan. In 2020, during an interview with Men's Journal, he named the six-time NBA champion as the one athlete he'd most like to meet. He also praised Netflix's The Last Dance, the docuseries chronicling Jordan's final season with the Chicago Bulls, as a must-watch.
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In April 2024, where Ovechkin made NHL history by surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record, Jordan himself congratulated him via video:
'Hi, Alex, congratulations. Quite a record to break,' Jordan said.
Ovechkin has even turned that admiration into a running joke. He often wears a red Capitals hoodie that reads 'Well I'm not Michael Jordan' across the back—a quote from a pregame soccer session that became so iconic teammate Devante Smith-Pelly had it printed on the hoodie and gifted it to him.
Despite not having the towering trophy cabinet Jordan does—with six NBA titles, five MVPs, and two Olympic golds—Ovechkin's NHL résumé is elite. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer owns nine Rocket Richard Trophies, three Hart Trophies, a Stanley Cup championship, and a Conn Smythe Trophy.
And unlike Jordan, who retired after his age-39 season with 1,072 NBA games, Ovechkin is still active at 40—and just nine games shy of becoming the 23rd NHL player ever to hit 1,500 games.
Alex Ovechkin's greatness doesn't need Michael Jordan comparisons to be legendary
Whether he's skating through Moscow or leading the Capitals in Washington, Alex Ovechkin is a once-in-a-generation athlete. But if you ask him, there's no need to chase comparisons to basketball royalty. In his eyes, Michael Jordan is untouchable—and so is the legacy of his own mother. And while fans and analysts may one day crown him the Jordan of the NHL, Ovechkin's only goal now is simple: keep scoring, stay grounded, and let the greatness speak for itself.
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