Michael Jordan has been the face of the NBA for nearly half a century. The undisputed greatest name of all time echoes through the annals of history. It’s one of the most recognizable names in and outside the NBA. Players aspire to be like him, but that’s not the case for a certain New York Knicks star in the league. When Jordan was playing for the Washington Wizards, Jalen Brunson once did the unthinkable.
Michael Jordan offered to autograph Jalen Brunson’s Wizards jersey in the twilight of his career. The then five-year-old refused to let it happen. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk on His latest TV appearance.
“Jalen Brunson didn’t know who Michael Jordan was and he said, ‘No, you’re going to ruin this jersey,'” an ESPN reporter revealed after interviewing the Knicks star’s father, Rick Brunson .
Kids today probably know who Jordan is. But that’s certainly not the case with Brunson. Had he not declined the offer, the price and sentimental value of his memorabilia would have skyrocketed.
Despite this, young Brunson still got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Jordan during his playing days. To this day, the Knicks star apparently still regrets his choice not to have his jersey signed by the greatest player in history. If he had a time machine to reverse his call in that game, he would have taken the chance. Brunson has had many opportunities to meet Jordan now, but if that jersey had been signed, his memories would have been different.