Muggsy Bogues made it unequivocally clear that Michael Jordan’s trash talk didn’t ruin his career. In fact, the 57-year-old dismissed such a notion as ridiculous and absurd.
At 5-foot-3, Muggsy Bogues was the shortest player to ever play in the NBA. Despite his height disadvantage, Bogues managed to have a successful basketball career that spanned over 14 seasons.
He played for four different franchises during his career, including the Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets. While playing for the Hornets, Bogues faced Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls team in the first round of the playoffs in 1995.
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The series turned out to be a tough game for the Hornets. They lost to the Bulls 3-1.
Muggsy Bugs On Michael Jordan Calling Him A ‘Dwarf’
During the series, Michael Jordan reportedly said, “Shoot the ball, Midget‘ to Muggsy Bugs. It was just one thing amid constant chatter from Jordan and the Bulls. Bogues scored just 6 points in the game, while Michael wasted 48 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in a Bulls win.
Bugs has always maintained a vague approach to whether or not Jordan called him a “dwarf”. But he vehemently denies any claim that Michael’s harsh words ruined his career. “To ruin my career? I mean I played seven more years after that“said Bogues in a interview.
I heard trash talk all the time in the NBA, it was and still is a big part of the game. The rumor that MJ ruined my career with an insult is simply not true. We were competitors, we threw insults at each other during matches but it was never personal. @3LeagueOGsPod link in bio. pic.twitter.com/dthnn1mv2w
— Tyrone Muggsy Bogues (@MuggsyBogues) March 22, 2021
However, Bogues’ points per game dropped significantly after that streak against the Bulls. But he insists his career decline was due to a knee injury and knee surgery. It had nothing to do with Michael Jordan or the Bulls.
“Just one word-dwarf-will get to me? It’s just ridiculous, it doesn’t even make sense to me.”
The ringleader revealed that at that time, everyone was talking about trash to everyone. But it was never something personal. Therefore, he doesn’t blame anyone for saying something during a game.
Michael Jordan was a ruthless talker
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We can’t confirm if Michael Jordan really called Muggsy Bogues a “dwarf”. But anyone who knows Michael Jordan wouldn’t put anything above him.
Michael Jordan was relentless and ruthless in his efforts to win. Netflix’s 2020 Documentary the last dance revealed the fear Jordan was generating in his teammates.
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He was always extremely hard on them. He pushed them to the absolute limit to do better. And his efforts ultimately paid off in six NBA championships.