In an engaging interview with the TNT crew, “Inside the NBA” team, plus Reggie Miller, Steve Kerr shared two of his favorite and rare stories about his time guarding Michael Jordan. These anecdotes shed light on Kerr’s early career challenges and his experiences facing one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Guarding the GOAT: A Rookie’s Nightmare
“I actually had to guard Michael when I played in Cleveland for the Cavs for a few years, and I started about 20 straight games because Craig Ehlo, the starting shooting guard at the time, was injured. Most nights, it was alright; I could find somebody I could guard. And here we play the Bulls, and I’ve got Michael.
So we start out the game, and I get the first shot of the game. The very first possession, he closes out on me, I knock down the jumper, and I’m feeling really good. In the next couple of minutes, he’s just kinda passing the ball inside. We played five minutes, and he hasn’t scored, and I’m kinda feeling good about myself. Finally, I realize the guy hasn’t even shot yet. He was just trying to get everybody else involved.
Long story short, he finished with 48, and I finished with 2. It was like all of a sudden he decided to score and defend, and there was nothing I could do.”
A Terrifying Introduction to the NBA
“But then it gets even more interesting in my rookie year. You know, my experience was different from these guys,” Kerr said, pointing to Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Reggie Miller, among others. “I was a late second-round pick on a non-guaranteed contract. I didn’t even know if I was going to make the league.
So in my first-ever game, we’re playing an exhibition game against the Bulls. I was just trying to make the roster, and Michael Jordan gets the ball right in front of our bench. And mind that, I’m already scared to death, saying, ‘God, I hope I don’t get into this game; I’m not ready for this stuff.’
The man holds the ball out and looks right at me, and I’m on the bench just kinda looking. He holds the ball and says, ‘Watch this.’ He turns, goes right around Dan Majerle, BAM, dunks the ball, looks back at our bench, and just starts laughing. And I’m looking and saying, ‘There is no way on earth I will make the NBA.'”
A Championship Legacy
Despite these early challenges and his initial doubts, Steve Kerr went on to have an illustrious career. He won three championships with the Chicago Bulls between 1996 and 1998, becoming a vital part of one of the most dominant teams in NBA history. Kerr’s journey from a scared rookie to a seasoned champion is a testament to his resilience and determination.
