Horace Grant agrees with league's decision to name MVP trophy after Michael Jordan

The NBA recently unveiled its newly designed regular season awards, which have all been renamed after all-time NBA greats. The most prestigious of the awards, the NBA MVP award, has been renamed after Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

The award will be called “The Michael Jordan Trophy Award.” This comes after Jordan won the MVP award five times throughout his 15-year career. Many have agreed that Jordan is a fitting choice for the award to be named after, including his former teammate, Horace Grant.

In a recent interview with Mirror Sport, the former Chicago Bulls power forward spoke about how deserving Jordan was of the honor.

“Deserved. I mean, when you have a guy who brought such greatness to the NBA and won five MVPs, six NBA championships — why not?” Grant continued.

This week, the NBA unveiled six newly designed trophies named after NBA legends, headlined by The Michael Jordan Trophy — which will be awarded to the NBA's MVP.

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The trophy's dimensions are 23.6 inches tall and weighs 23.6 pounds. These measurements were chosen to honor Jordan's No. 23 jersey as well as his six NBA titles. In addition, the trophy has a five-sided base to represent Jordan's five MVPs.

Horace Grant was then asked if he wanted a trophy named after him and what he wanted it to be awarded for.

“Hard work. That award would represent the hard hat guy who did all the dirty work. But the most important thing about that trophy? It has to have to have my goggles on,” Grant said.

Horace Grant on playing alongside Michael Jordan

Former Chicago Bulls teammates Michael Jordan and Horace Grant

In his interview with Mirror Sports, Horace Grant also spoke about what it was like when he first started playing alongside Michael Jordan. Grant was drafted No.10 by the Chicago Bulls in the 1987 NBA Draft. Jordan had already played three seasons in the NBA by then and had even led the league in scoring during the 1986-1987 NBA season (37.1PPG).

“It was definitely a combination of both being in awe of who (Jordan) already was at that time, and trying to grind towards what we felt we could become as a team,” Grant said.

“I saw what he had accomplished in his first three seasons before Scottie (Pippen) and I had got there — it was like, ‘wow,’” Grant continued.

Grant later described what it was like playing with Jordan in his prime as well. Grant recalled the lack of worry he felt when his team was trailing.

“As a team, we didn't feel threatened because we had No. 23,” Grant said.

“We won the game on the back of Michael Jordan. I mean, we sat back like, ‘Wow, wow. I'm glad that he's on my team,’” Grant continued.

Horace Grant and Michael Jordan played a total of six seasons together from 1987 to 1993. They also won three NBA championships together as Grant was part of the Chicago Bulls’ first 3-peat from 1991 to 1993.

For Grant’s full interview with Mirror Sports, click here.

Also read: Revisiting Michael Jordan's championships and the 5 key Chicago Bulls players that helped him achieve his 6 rings