Ray Allen Tells The Story Of How Michael Jordan Greeted Him In The NBA

Allen was shy to give too many details.

BYAlexander ColeAug 27, 201912.1K Views

David Surowiecki/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Back in the 1990s, if you were a young NBA player, your dream was to go up against Michael Jordan and try to get the best of him. At the time, Jordan was far and away the best player in the league and if you wanted to prove your worth, you had to put up numbers against the greatest of all time. In 1996, Ray Allen experiencing his very first tastes of NBA basketball while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. In a recent interview with Ben Rohrbach of Yahoo Sports, Allen explained the first time he got to play against Jordan and what the Bulls superstar said to him.

“The second preseason game of my career,” Allen said when asked about what moment made him realize he had arrived in the NBA. “October 15, 1996. United Center. Michael Jordan. He said ‘welcome to the NBA’ at jump ball.”

Ray Allen Tells The Story Of How Michael Jordan Greeted Him In The NBA

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Allen didn't have much else to say about the encounter and whether or not he was able to perform well that night. As we know by now, Jordan is an incredibly competitive individual and would never let a rookie like Allen get the best of him. This story certainly lines up well with what Jordan was known for.

Just like Jordan, Allen is now in the Basketball Hall Of Fame and even has a championship to go with his other accomplishments. Of course, by the time Jordan played Allen for the first time, he already had six rings to his name. What a way to start your career.

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Alexander Cole

Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.