Tom Brady couldn't stop raving about Michael Jordan's "inspiring" style
Tom Brady and Michael Jordan are two undisputed GOATs. Winning six titles in the 90s, Jordan emerged as one of the NBA's most prominent players of all time. Brady, who recently retired again, has also won seven Super Bowls in his 23-season career.
Along with winning titles and retiring multiple times, both Brady and Jordan also spent most of their careers playing for one team, moving on to another franchise during the latter half of their careers.
Who is the all-time GOAT? 🐐
@TomBrady or Michael Jordan? https://t.co/leGaZ0gbvq
That being said, Tom Brady had nothing but praise for the Chicago Bulls legend. In a 2017 interview, Brady spoke highly of Jordan and how inspiring his style of play was. After all, one can argue that both Jordan and Brady are two of the best athletes of all time.
"I was in awe of Michael Jordan," Brady told ESPN's Ian O'Connor, "and I still am in awe of what he was and what he meant".
He continued:
"He was such an effortless player. He put a lot of effort in, but there's an art and a beauty to the way he played the game. That was a very inspiring thing."
Brady even briefly discussed his titles, speaking of winning a sixth Super Bowl during that interview.
How similar are Tom Brady and Michael Jordan?
As mentioned, Brady and Jordan's careers do have a few parallels to look at.
The championships, of course, have an obvious similarity. Brady has won seven titles in his career, while Jordan has won six. Brady won six games with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jordan won all six games with the Bulls.
Furthermore, Brady and Jordan played for only two teams. Most of Brady's career was with the Patriots, and most of Jordan's was with the Bulls. Jordan, however, joined the Washington Wizards after returning to the court after his second retirement.
Now, while Brady has retired twice, Jordan has done so thrice. After his first three-peat (1991-1993) and later after his second one. He returned with the Wizards in 2001, after a three-season break.
Tom Brady and Jordan have also helped globalize their own sports. Jordan took basketball to Paris and China, while Brady took the NFL to Germany and Mexico. One might not be into the NBA or the NFL, but Brady and Jordan are household names.
Their games were watched globally, taking their franchises to more than just a regular US audience.