Clyde Drexler unintentionally lit a fire under Michael Jordan in 1992—and paid the price for it. The two clashed throughout the early ’90s, with Jordan leading the Chicago Bulls and Drexler starring for the Portland Trail Blazers. That same year, they also shared the court as teammates on the iconic Dream Team.
After the Bulls beat the Trail Blazers in the 1992 NBA Finals, Jordan and Drexler reunited for Team USA. But their dynamic was already charged. In Playing for Keeps, author David Halberstam explained how their NBA rivalry carried over.
“Jordan did not pass up the opportunity to talk some trash as he brought the ball upcourt. ‘Didn’t I just kick your ass? … Anything here look just a little familiar? … Think you can stop me this time [sic], Clyde? … Better watch out for the 3s, Clyde,” Halberstam wrote.
“Eventually, some of his Dream Team colleagues suggested that Jordan cut back on the trash talk with Drexler because they were all teammates now, and there was no reason to reopen wounds so fresh. Back off, he did, but the coaches noted that every time Jordan guarded Drexler in scrimmages, he took the defensive level up more than anyone else.”
Why Jordan Took It Personal Against Drexler
Jordan didn’t appreciate being compared to Drexler ahead of the 1992 NBA Finals—and as always, he took it personally.
Jordan dominated the 1991-92 season, earning MVP honors with 80 of 96 first-place votes. Drexler received 12. That was enough for the media to start framing it as a showdown between equals—something Jordan didn’t take lightly.
“Clyde was a threat, I’m not saying he wasn’t a threat, but me being compared to him, I took offense to that,” Jordan explained.
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Jordan famously hit six 3-pointers in the first half and gave the crowd a shrug. It wasn’t aimed at Drexler—it was directed at the narrative. The Bulls went on to win the series 4-2, capturing their second consecutive NBA title. Jordan’s message was clear: there was no comparison.
