Michael Jordan’s former teammate Brendan Haywood said that even though he is almost 40 years old, he still has the aura to work harder than anyone else.
The 7-foot former NBA center teamed up with MJ in 2001 when he decided to come back for a second time.
Haywood, 43, spent nine seasons in Washington, D.C., before joining the Dallas Mavericks, where he won an NBA championship in 2011.
Although he was originally selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2001 draft, he began his career with the Wizards in large part because of Jordan.
As part owner and president of basketball operations for the team, the six-time NBA champion was instrumental in negotiating the trade that brought his North Carolina alum to Washington, D.C.
But before his rookie season began, Haywood rediscovered his drive and desire to play, and he began training and competing with the NBA icon.
It was an eye-opening experience, the center recalled during an appearance at Gill Arena.
“We’re coming to the end of the trip. This guy is 40 years old and he’s doing better than everyone else,” he said.
“Practice at 11 o’clock, get out there at 10 o’clock. At 10 o’clock I hear the ball bouncing.
“I was thinking, who’s already there? Open the door and he’s already there.
“I was like, what are you doing here? He was like, ‘You asked me the wrong question.
“‘You need to ask the question why I’m here to beat you, young man.’
“This guy has all the championships, all the accolades – he’s still working hard. That was my Michael Jordan moment.”
Jordan averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals in his two seasons with the Wizards.
Although he failed to make the playoffs with Washington, he still finished 13th in MVP voting after his first year in Washington.
Another former Wizards teammate, Ty Lue, said he was fascinated to see Jordan average 20 points per game on one leg while the five-time MVP was battling a knee injury.