Michael Jordan Apparently Talked Trash to 'Space Jam' Extras
NBA legend Michael Jordan was known for his competitive personality on and off the court. Even in the most meaningless pickup games, he wasn't afraid to talk some trash.
And don't think the set of Space Jam was a safe space. Former basketball player and actor Keith Gibbs opened up to Grantland's Jason Concepcion about the time he spent as an extra in basketball movies, including a Jordan smack talk-filled stint in the Bulls icon's cult classic film.
Here's the entire response from Gibbs about MJ's trash talking:
"Did Jordan trash-talk you?
Oh yeah, nonstop. [Laughs.]
He didn’t give a s--t who you were. When I was doing Space Jam, we played three days. I thought it was over. I had to go out of town. I get a phone call, they’re like, “Why aren’t you here?” I was like, “Oh, they’re still playing?” I had no idea.
I walk in, and it’s Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Alonzo Mourning, Charles Oakley. Grant Hill shows up. Jerry Stackhouse shows up. Now, all of a sudden it’s an NBA All-Star pickup game. Every night. I did that for about a month and a half, two months. Then the UCLA kids came in, and they had just won a national title — Ed O’Bannon and those guys. Just phenomenal. Best pickup games I’ve ever been a part of. It was unreal.
Yeah, so Jordan … I had to guard Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan in back-to-back games. It was so bad. I was friends with Chris Mills and Tracy Murray — we had been to some camps together. One play, I got switched onto Jordan, because Chris was like, “Keith, you take him.” Jordan hit a 35-footer on me. I mean, it was ridiculous: leg out, tongue out, all that stuff … hit a 35-footer on me and goes, “GET THE F--K OFF THE COURT.”
"
It doesn't matter how much basketball experience Gibbs had. When he was in his prime, Jordan was probably going to dominate anyone and let them know about it.
We're just glad that Gibbs opened up and shared this terrific story about one of the all-time greats.
