It’s not every day that you get slapped by a legend, but for Kwame Brown, it was just another Tuesday. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, who had more ups and downs in his career than a malfunctioning elevator, recently shared some spicy memories of his time playing alongside His Airness—none other than Michael Jordan. And let’s just say, the memories are as bruising as they are fascinating.
“Wait, Did Michael Jordan Just Slap Me?!”
Kwame Brown, who spent his 12-year NBA career mostly trying to prove himself, had a front-row seat to the final two years of Jordan’s storied career with the Washington Wizards. And by front-row seat, I mean getting smacked in the back of the head by the GOAT.
In a recent episode of the ‘Swish Cultures’ podcast, Brown shared his less-than-idolizing view of Jordan. “No, I’m not an MJ fan. That motherf****r slapped me in the back of my head one day,” Brown recalled with the same energy you’d expect from a guy recounting his time at a summer camp for overachievers. But here’s the twist—despite the head smacks and humiliations, Kwame couldn’t help but acknowledge the machine-like work ethic Jordan carried with him everywhere, even when he was pushing 40 and on his way out of the league.
Jordan, the Machine (Even After a Night of Gambling)
Now, let’s talk about the fact that Michael Jordan wasn’t just a basketball legend—he was also apparently part-robot. According to Brown, despite MJ’s late-night gambling sessions (because, of course, if you’re Michael Jordan, you’re betting something on something), the man would still roll into the gym at 5:45 a.m. like it was nothing. “I joined the Breakfast Club because I couldn’t believe it. I’m like, ain’t no way this old dude, after being up all night, is going to show up to lift weights at 6 a.m. But there he was, already lifting by 5:45,” said Brown, who was, for lack of a better word, shook.
Imagine waking up groggy-eyed from a good night’s sleep, only to find MJ—the man who stayed up all night gambling—already in the gym pumping iron like he’s auditioning for a Terminator reboot. This is peak Jordan: winning on the court, at the casino, and at the gym, all before sunrise. Who says you can’t do it all?
The Legendary Breakfast Club
For those who haven’t heard, Jordan’s “Breakfast Club” was less of an actual club and more of an unholy alliance of players who were willing to work out at ungodly hours, likely fueled by coffee, adrenaline, and Jordan’s desire to never, ever lose at anything. Brown, despite not being a “fan” of MJ, was still amazed by how the man could be up all night doing who-knows-what, only to show up the next day and attack the weight room with the intensity of someone who had something to prove.
The Breakfast Club wasn’t for the faint of heart. Brown quickly learned that the club’s VIP admission came with high stakes: little sleep, lots of weightlifting, and a front-row seat to watch a 39-year-old Michael Jordan continue to dominate life like a basketball-obsessed cyborg.
A Slap and a Lesson
So, what did Kwame take away from his time with Jordan, besides a sore head? A newfound respect for the man’s relentless work ethic. Sure, Jordan slapped him around a bit (it’s MJ, he gets a pass, right?), but in the end, the story is clear: Michael Jordan never cheated the game. He could party, he could gamble, he could stay up all night—yet the next day, he’d still be the hardest-working guy in the room.
Whether you’re an MJ fan or not, you can’t deny that even in his twilight years, Jordan was a machine that never slowed down. As Kwame Brown so aptly put it, “He never cheated the game.” And while Brown may not idolize MJ the way others do, he does respect the hustle. After all, not many people can say they were slapped by a legend and lived to tell the tale—with a side of life lessons, no less.
Final Thoughts
In the world of sports, some stories go beyond championships and MVP awards. Kwame Brown’s time with Jordan is one of those stories—filled with humor, a bit of sarcasm, and a whole lot of respect. Jordan wasn’t perfect, but he was always present, always working, and always, always winning. Even if that meant staying up all night and showing up to lift weights the next morning. So here’s to MJ, the GOAT who was part-baller, part-machine, and never, ever took a day off—even when he probably should’ve.