"How is this dude still surviving?" - Mark Jackson recalls how baiting Michael Jordan with card game backfired as Knicks' rookie
Throughout his career, Michael Jordan was known to be extremely competitive on and off the basketball court. Recently, one former NBA player opened up about his failed attempt to slow down the six-time champion.
While on Gilbert Arenas' podcast, Mark Jackson touched on facing off against Jordan as a New York Knicks rookie. He was invited to play cards with the Chicago Bulls legend the night before a game and devised a plan. Knowing that he wasn't playing in the game, Jackson made it his mission to keep Jordan up all night playing cards.
Jackson succeeded in keeping Michael Jordan up with the card game, but it didn't impact his play the following night. Despite getting no sleep, MJ was still able to go out and drop 50 on the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
"I know I'm benched, so I'm playing cards, I'm doing my job," Jackson said. "I'm gonna keep him up all night.
"I'm sitting on the bench, I am tired. This dude got 50. How is this dude still surviving?"
By the time Jackson entered the NBA, Jordan had already established himself. Fresh off winning his first scoring title, MJ won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. He also led the league in scoring for a second straight season at 35.0 points per game.
Charles Barkley speaks on Michael Jordan never needing sleep before games
While Mark Jackson was blown away by this Michael Jordan feat, it was nothing new for the Hall of Fame guard. Countless people in and around the NBA have touched on his ability to perform with a lack of sleep.
Among the legends to see this up close was Charles Barkley. In 1992, he and Jordan were part of the USA men's basketball team that has since been dubbed "The Dream Team."
While speaking with Ernie Johnson and Coach K on his "Steam Room" podcast, Barkley touched on Jordan never needing sleep on the Olympic trip. Whether it was being up all night playing cards or hitting the golf course, the Chicago Bulls star was on the move.
What shocked Barkley most of all was Jordan's intensity during games while on minimal sleep.
"He had read in the newspaper that this guy said Michael Jordan was overrated and he couldn't score on him," Barkley said. "I'm not even lying, he guarded this guy like it was Game 7 of the finals. That's how crazy he is. This dude never needed sleep."
To this day, Jordan's competitive fire is still held in the highest regard among former players and analysts. What makes his success more impressive is his ability to deliver on little to no rest.