Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Jalen Green Denies Michael Jordan Flu Game Comparisons

After starting the season hot, Houston Rockets Jalen Green had recently been in a scoring slump. Finally meeting the expectations from a #2 pick in the draft, Jalen Green dropped 41 points in a season-high scoring performance vs the 76ers in an overtime win on Wednesday. Green had been listed as ill for the past few games in Milwaukee and Portland. He still chose to play in those games, just like Michael Jordan’s iconic Game 5 of the 1997 Finals, where he helped lead the Chicago Bulls to their fifth championship. However, Jalen’s outburst came at a stage where he claims he has started recovering from the illness.

Jalen Green denies Michael Jordan Flu Game Comparisons

When asked about his illness, Green said,

“I was pretty down bad, I’ve just shook back today. Kind of still got a cough and congestion. But shout out to the training staff for getting it right.”


When the reporters followed up by tagging this game as his “Michael Jordan flu game”, he denied it and said

“No, if i could have done it in Portland, Milwaukee maybe hey that would have been a Jordan.”

The Jalen Green-Michael Jordan connection

We’ve all heard how Anthony Edwards gets constantly compared to Michael Jordan. However, from the onset of his career, Green found himself in the Jordan comparison discussion too. Since Jordan is the standard of excellence in the NBA, every little thing he did on the court became something every athlete wanted to replicate. After all, every basketball player famously wants to “be like Mike”.

Just three games into his rookie season, Green had his first 30-point game, tying Jordan’s record. Following this, he had five consecutive 30-point games as a rookie, something that even  Jordan couldn’t do.

Green’s first experience meeting Jordan was also a hilarious yet noteworthy story. When Jalen attended Michael Jordan’s camp in high school, he wore Adidas slippers. When Michael saw that, he asked him to “take those weak a*s slippers off.”Jalen’s response was to demand that MJ give him some Jordan slippers. Michael obliged and got him a pair of Jordan slippers.

This 41-point game in the regular season is nowhere close to the level of pressure faced in the Finals. However, doing ‘whatever it takes’ despite your health issues is a Jordan philosophy that Green followed.

The Last Word

Ending a rough stretch of games where he underperformed due to illness, can Jalen finally gain his confidence back after last night? Jalen started the season strongly and was even tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo for the most total points in the league at a time. A lot of expectations are riding on Jalen’s shoulders.

Last season, Jalen’s name came up in some trade rumors where he was almost included in a trade package for the Brooklyn Nets Mikal Bridges. While the Nets reportedly refused this offer and allowed Bridges to join the Knicks, this rumor itself should fuel Jalen’s desire to be better.

Having signed a ‘trade friendly’ extension this year, if Jalen doesn’t meet expectations now, he may be looking at a trade soon. With his future on the line, Green must leap this season to become the consistent scorer Houston needs. If not, then Jalen may not remain the untouchable player that the front office seems he could be.

Picture of Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams

Ryan has three years of experience as a content manager, legal counsel and content strategy head for Social Media at EssentiallySports. He is a sports writer for Sports Events Guide covering the Houston Rockets.

Share:

More Posts