"Michael Jordan touched the fibre of basketball that no one will ever touch today" - Kenny Smith says nobody in the league today comes close to MJ
Kenny Smith has been around basketball for most of his life. After playing at the University of North Carolina, he won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets during his brief but colorful 10-year career. After playing his final game in the league during the 1996-1997 season, "The Jet" joined seasoned broadcaster Ernie Johnson on "Inside The NBA" giving the TNT show the insider it needed.
After covering the league for the last 28 years, the 6'3" guard was recently asked if there was, in his opinion, anyone in the league who's Michael Jordan-like. Kenny confidently stated that there wasn't anyone, not even the player fans and pundits were anointing as the face of the NBA and possibly the game's next megastar, Anthony Edwards.
Not even close
"Ant-Man," a dynamic and explosive 6'4" guard who took the league by storm in 2020 when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him with the first pick, has been on a roll in the last two seasons, earning All-Star and All-NBA Team honors and leading his team to consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Finals.
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With his unique blend of breathtaking athleticism, scoring ability, confidence and charisma, many have likened him to the "GOAT." Kenny quickly shot this idea down when asked by Charles Bethea of The New Yorker if there was any player in the NBA who resembles Mike.
"Zero," Smith responded.
Asked if Ant has a chance, Smith was diplomatic with his explanation, saying, "Ant is a very good, talented player."
He reflected that MJ didn't just score points on the court — he touched lives, much like the legendary Michael Jackson did through his music.
"It's not even close. Michael Jordan touched the fibre of basketball that no one will ever touch today," Kenny noted. "Larry Bird touched the fibre of basketball that no one's touching today. Maybe LeBron. LeBron is touching the Larry Bird–Magic Johnson fibre. He's not touching the Jordan fibre."
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Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ
What set MJ apart from other NBA legends
The NBA has seen many superstars regale fans with their feats of athletic brilliance on the hard-court. From Magic Johnson to Wilt Chamberlain to Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, every era has seen its fair share of dominant players. Yet, none have been able to truly replicate the impact that "His Airness" had on the game of basketball.
Kenny, a former teammate of Mike on Dean Smith's iconic Tar Heels squads and later a competitor in the NBA, explained that what truly set the 6'6" wingman apart was his exceptional and tenacious defense. While many NBA stars excel at putting the ball in the basket, "Mr. Air" did that in spectacular fashion and relished the challenge of shutting down the other team's best perimeter player.
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"The separating point from LeBron to Michael is defense. Michael was just as good defensively as he was offensively,"the two-time champion stressed. "He was like the Deion Sanders or Travis Hunter: you're not throwing to his side. We're not throwing to the Michael Jordan side of the field in a basketball game. That's a separator."
The NBA is always keen on discovering the next big thing in the league. At this point, the powers that be have identified a few, such as Ant, Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic. However, none of them will hold a candle to Jordan, whose influence on the game transcends generations and whose name will forever be synonymous with excellence.
Related: Dwyane Wade reveals why Anthony Edwards is the face of the NBA: "He is not perfect and he don't want to be perfect"
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