Michael Jordan is considered one of the most athletic players in NBA history. But Kenny “The Jet” Smith would argue that Jordan’s superiority is due to his high-level fundamentals.
Throughout NBA history, there are players who stand out most for their commitment to fundamentals. That player was Tim Duncan, who is rightly called “Big Fundamental” by many.
Duncan stood out, but he wasn’t the only player to develop by focusing on the fundamentals. Kenny “The Jet” Smith is currently a television basketball analyst, but was a former NBA player and college standout for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
He played alongside Michael Jordan from 1981 to 1984 under head coach Dean Smith. During practice, Smith noticed that Jordan was one of the most fundamentally sound players. In fact, he loves working on his game, and Jordan’s hard work became an integral part of his development into the GOAT.
Jordan is best remembered for his highlights, especially his athletic dunks. Those highlight plays were a big part of his game because he physically dominated his opponents. However, he was a skilled player throughout his career.
Most basketball fans will be familiar with his signature ability to hit a post fade away. Along with his pull-up mid-range shot, that was his main way to score points. He didn’t need elite athleticism to score points because he was a fundamentally sound player.
As a teammate with the Tar Heels, Smith observed Jordan’s hard work and play up close. That made him respect Jordan even more. He already had the talent, but he focused on the fundamentals and always worked on them so he could hit the shots that mattered.
“What he doesn’t get credit for is that he’s probably the most fundamentally sound basketball player that ever lived. He gets credit for his acrobatics, but when you watch the tape, he has the right hands in the passing lanes and his footwork is perfect,” Smith said on The Dan LeBatard Show in 2023.
“He understands what the dynamics are and where the double teams come from. That’s what made him great to me. Players as athletic as he usually didn’t do that. And that separated him from all the great athletes of that era.”
Despite retiring for the third and final time in 2003, Jordan still has a huge impact on the game. It might be because of his shoe brand and how synonymous it is with the sport. It could also be all the stories young basketball players keep hearing from older fans.
These young players have access to a video catalog of Jordan’s career so they can watch him and learn from him. Jordan influenced generations of players, and Kobe Bryant was the most notable byproduct of that influence.
All roads lead to Jordan, as Bryant now has influence. The Mamba mentality can be traced back to Jordan’s obsession with success, and Bryant incorporated that into his mindset as well. Even though some athletes weren’t born during Jordan’s playing days, they know he had an impact.
If they can continue to dive into his storied career, they will learn what made him such a great player. Smith would argue that it is fundamental along with his other physical tools. Even though he’s long retired, Jordan will always be etched in basketball history.