Michael Jordan made his feelings clear after being asked if Steph Curry deserves to be in the NBA Hall of Fame.
The new NBA season tipped off last night, with the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the opening game before Curry's Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers.
Curry delivered a solid performance, scoring 23 points in 32 minutes, but he was outshone by his new teammate Jimmy Butler.
The 36-year-old was traded to the Warriors during the off-season, and went perfect from the free throw line making all 16 attempts in an impressive debut.
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Meanwhile, NBA legend Jordan made his broadcast debut with NBC during halftime of the opening game.
He is set to appear throughout the season as part of the new series, MJ: Insights to Excellence, in which he joins Mike Tirico to discuss the modern game.
Jordan is considered to be one of the greatest players in basketball history with six championships, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
However, back in 2019, the Chicago Bulls icon raised eyebrows when he said that Curry was not yet deserving of being a Hall of Famer.
He told NBC [via Complex]: "He's still a great player.
"Not a Hall of Famer yet, though. He's not."
Steve Kerr, who played alongside Jordan with the Bulls and has coached the Warriors since 2014, defended his star player.
"I think Michael has his own version of the Hall of Fame," Kerr said.
"It's in his own head, so whatever that is, that's what it is."
It did not take long for four-time NBA champion Curry to respond either.
He told Matt Welty during an interview for Sole Collector: "I think I’m good, but then I’m never complacent.
"I know I have more to prove to myself. When you hear a guy like that, who’s the greatest of all time, it’s kind of funny.
"Since we’ve been on this stage, we’ve heard a lot of retired guys chiming in on this generation of basketball players and evaluating talent and saying their generation was better and all that.
"It’s a great conversation for the fans to get in on.
"I know I’m in good shape for that, but I still have a lot to prove to myself."
Although Jordan's comment may have been controversial, active NBA players cannot be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
NBA players must have been retired for at least four years before they are eligible, and with Curry under contract at the Warriors until 2027, he will not make the Hall of Fame until 2031 at the very earliest.
Topics: Basketball, Michael Jordan, NBA, Steph Curry , Chicago Bulls
James Taylor