"Derek Jeter is an idol for me" - When Michael Jordan shared admiration for Yankees legend on his special day
Even though Derek Jeter retired from MLB 10 years ago, he remains one of the league's most popular names. The former New York Yankees captain and Hall of Famer has remained relevant for his commentating and insights on the modern game.
While fans may know him best for his media presence and highlights, he was not only one of the best MLB players but also one of the most beloved. After announcing that he would retire at the end of the 2014 season, several tributes were made in his honor.
In 2014, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared September 7 "Derek Jeter Day".
At this time, many fans, former teammates, and admirers paid their respect to the New York Yankees legend. One was arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. During a press conference, Jordan, alongside baseball Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Dave Winfield, spoke about Jeter's impact.
"When you see all of his competitors, all his teammates, I don't think anybody can say one thing bad about Derek. He's a complete champion, he's an idol for me in terms of how he's well-respected in the game from not only his teammates but his opponents [0:13]," Michael Jordan said about the Yankees icon.
To hear those words from an athlete with a global presence and success like Michael Jordan is a testament to Derek Jeter's greatness. Over his 20 seasons with the New York Yankees, Jeter earned 14 All-Star selections, 5 World Series titles, a World Series MVP, and a Hall of Fame induction.
"Pressure situations usually determine who has put forth the effort and it's very obvious that he's put forth the effort in the right way because he's always responded the right way under pressure [3:12]," Jordan said about Jeter.
Derek Jeter praised Michael Jordan's ability on the baseball diamond
Although a lot has been made about Michael Jordan's first retirement to pursue professional baseball, Derek Jeter thought the NBA legend could have made it to MLB.
“Michael Jordan played baseball in Little League and then the next time he played, he’s playing in Double-A baseball… The biggest jump is from A to Double-A. If you can play in Double-A baseball, at some point, you can play in the major leagues,” Jeter told Revolt's "Drink Champs" on the November 5, 2022 episode.
In 1994, the Chicago Bulls legend appeared in 127 games with the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Derek Jeter said that Jordan's Double-A stint was a sign that he could have jumped to MLB if he stuck to baseball.