A newly released gift set of “The Last Dance” features footage that didn’t make it into the ESPN documentary series. It includes a clip where Michael Jordan offers his thoughts on younger stars being compared to him.
The clip is from Stuart Scott’s “Sunday Conversation” interview with Jordan in June 1998. Scott asks Jordan if he thinks it’s fair for players like Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan to be labeled “the next Michael Jordan.”
“It’s not fair, you know, but it’s a standard of measurement,” he said.
“When I came in, (it was) Dr. J. It’s just a standard of measurement to compare to. But there’s never going to be another Michael Jordan. There’s never going to be another Dr. J, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird. Now, there’s gonna be a Kobe Bryant, there’s gonna be a Grant Hill, Anfernee Hardaway. These guys are going to have similar traits, it’s how they manifest those traits to be the best basketball player.”
Jordan continued:
“No matter what the league does, in terms of trying to promote, you can’t fool the consumer, you can’t fool the fans,” he continued. “So I mean, the game is going to say, he’s the next, whoever. Your game is going to have to evolve to that label the league is trying to promote you with. It’s a danger to that because the credibility of the game could take a hit.”
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The Blu-ray box set also includes “Game 6: The Movie,” Scott Van Pelt “Sports Center” roundtables, a “Jalen & Jacoby Aftershow,” and other archival content.
