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Hornets' Miles Bridges Challenges Michael Jordan 1-on-1 After Seeing 2015 Quote

Tyler Conway@jtylerconwayFeatured ColumnistMay 17, 2020

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 11:  Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles with the ball against Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena on March 11, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Five years ago, Michael Jordan said he could still beat Hornets players at one-on-one.

Miles Bridges is ready to see if he can back up that talk in the year 2020. The Hornets forward tweeted out a challenge to His Airness early Sunday:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

In 2015, 52-year-old MJ said he could beat his players one-on-one. Now Miles Bridges wants that matchup šŸ˜… https://t.co/lsOZ9opE2t

MJ is 57 years old and hasn't played competitive basketball in more than 15 years. Bridges is a 22-year-old who can leap out of the gym. If BridgesĀ couldn't beat Jordan at one-on-one at this moment, it would say far more about him than it would the greatest shooting guard of all time.

We know Jordan hasn't always been above beating down his players on the floor. Former Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist revealed MJ beat him in one-on-one during his rookie season.

ā€œHe did play me 1-on-1 one time,ā€ Kidd-Gilchrist toldĀ CSN HoustonĀ (via NBC Sports) in 2013. ā€œAnd it was hard for me … I lost. I lost to a 50-year-old guy. That’s my boss, though. He’s the best player to play the game.ā€

At the time, Jordan was just shy of his 50th birthday. There remains a significant difference between a 49-year-old body and a 57-year-old body, which may be the reason Jordan has stopped playing against his players.

If we've learned anything fromĀ The Last Dance, it's that MJ doesn't gamble in head-to-head competition unless he thinks he has a significant advantage. As he quickly approaches age 60, he probably realizes his time on the court is finished.Ā