Wizards locker room: Michael Jordan’s rejection of young Jalen Brunson sends teammates into chaos

Twenty years later, Jalen Brunson is still kicking his kids’ backs.during his appearance The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he recalled the (infamous) incident when he turned down Michael Jordan. This anecdote rightly left Jimmy Fallon hanging his head and pumping his fist. Let’s be clear, the newly minted All-Star didn’t turn down Jordan’s autograph because he didn’t like him.

He was a big fan of Jordan and always carried his No. 23 jersey with him. When Jordan joined the Washington Wizards from the Bulls, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself. One day, his father, Rick Brunson, was playing against the Wizards and took Jalen, then five years old, to meet his hero. However, young Jaylen was fed up. ““I didn’t think anything of it, my dad is in the NBA so I see these players all the time,” I’ve told Fallon.

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His father once asked him if he wanted to meet Jordan. Brunson imitated his careless child, “Yes, I’ll go see Michael“. Even though his father played for another team, he even wore a Jordan jersey. Young Jalen was given a Jordan jersey from each team. These memorabilia were very valuable to him.

When he finally stood in front of the jumping man, he said: ““Hey, you got my jersey, let me sign it.” “Silly little Jaylen is gone,”No, you’re going to mess it up. ” Cue Jimmy Fallon covering his face in second-hand fear. To drive home the epic mistake Jaylen made, Fallon put it into perspective with a skit, “I asked for an autograph and you said, ‘No, Mr. Jordan, I appreciate it, but I don’t want to mess it up. ‘”

Don’t we all go through a stage in childhood where we don’t want adult fingerprints to ruin our favorite possessions? But this is an autograph provided by Michael Jordan. A legend notorious for refusing to accept kids who asked for his autograph. Maybe Jaylen scarred him for life. He at least brought trauma to the Wizards locker room.

“The whole locker room was laughing like crazy. I just thought, ‘It’s okay, no, I’m fine. ‘” It took time for Fallon to get to where Brunson is now. He even joked that Jalen went to therapy to get over his faux pas.

This is a development story.