While he may not be unanimously considered the GOAT, Michael Jordan is nonetheless one of the greatest players in NBA history.

However, for a legendary European coach, he would not have had the same success on the Old Continent.

A simple summary of his record is enough to justify his almost permanent mention in the all-time Top 5 of various observers. Six-time NBA champion, six-time Finals MVP, five-time MVP, Defender of the Year in 1988, 14-time All-Star and 10-time league leading scorer: Michael Jordan certainly has one of the most extensive and legendary resumes in NBA history.

But beyond these prestigious awards, it is also the full-fledged impression of domination left by the Bulls icon that speaks in his favor in debates of this kind.

The stories of former opponents intimidated by his simple aura are indeed legion and play a large role in maintaining this glorious reputation.

However, all this is clearly not enough to convince everyone.

Michael Jordan “ordinary” in Europe? The crazy assertion
Certainly the holder of many detractors for decades, Jordan has on the other hand tended to make a semblance of unanimity among the major players in international basketball.

Even more so during the 90s when his hegemony was revealed to be unchallenged.

And yet, the legendary Serbian coach Bozidar Maljkovic had then delivered a completely different speech to John Salley concerning His Airness, reported by Jeff Pearlman:

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Salley says that as soon as they made the introductions, Maljkovic told him that Michael Jordan (with whom the power forward had just won the title) was “an ordinary player” and that “In Europe, he would have only averaged 16 points per game.”

Having played for the Bulls during the 1995-96 season, Salley probably rubbed shoulders with one of the most formidable versions of MJ.

Maljkovic, for his part, only saw Mike as an average shooting guard who would barely reach 15 points per game in Europe.

A surprising opinion from such a renowned tactician, even more so considering what he told Croatian media outlet Slobodna Dalmacija in 2021:

Bozidar Maljkovic: Jordan is, without a doubt, the best basketball player of all time.

I saw him for the first time in 1982, when he played with the University of North Carolina against Red Star Belgrade, where I was an assistant coach.

After the game, I told one of the journalists that I had just seen the best player in the world and he replied, “Who, Jordan? Haven’t you seen videos of Wilt Chamberlain?” But I insisted that Jordan was the best, and it was confirmed later.

A true legend of European basketball, did Bozidar Maljkovic really consider Michael Jordan to be an ordinary player during his prime? Everyone will try to trust the testimony of John Salley, or that of the former Limoges coach.