Michael Jordan was famous for his trash-talking skills, and no one dared to challenge him. Gary Payton learned this lesson the hard way when he trash-talked MJ during his rookie pre-season in 1990. Although Jordan was not yet considered a legend, Payton didn’t care and wanted to establish himself as a player.
However, when they faced each other in the regular season, Jordan refused to shake hands with Payton and dominated the game, scoring 33 points. Payton’s decision to talk smack may have been bold, but he was dealing with the greatest player of all time. Despite this, Payton has no regrets and his trash-talking added entertainment value for fans.
When Jordan watched Payton’s interview recalling those days, he laughed, reminiscing about his competitive approach to the game.
