"That is like saying can Prince play the guitar" - Kenny Smith defends Michael Jordan from recent criticism

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Michael Jordan and the rest of the 1990s NBA era have come under fire from fans on social media. The people involved in the “We done with the 90s” discourse took out-of-context clips that made MJ and other players of the same era look bad.

Kenny “The Jet” Smith has come to MJ’s defense because he found it absurd for people to say that Jordan couldn’t play with his left hand. It was a bizarre take to make against arguably the greatest basketball player ever, but it gained so much traction that people like Kenny are facing issues.

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“This is the idiocy that’s been going on right now today. Can Michael Jordan go left? That’s like saying can Prince play the guitar,” Kenny said on the Mark Jackson show. “Michael Jordan is the most complete player that has ever lived, Kareem was just as effective, and certain people like LeBron could be just as effective. But the most complete basketball player is Michael Jordan.”

Why did the “We done with the 90s” movement become popular?

Over the past decade on social media, there have been multiple conversations and debates between a modern star like LeBron James and an older superstar like MJ. The fans of older players like Jordan have dismissed arguments for LeBron, which have irked modern fans.

They decided to go back to past games in the 1980s and 1990s to look for lowlights and create out-of-context to disparage the old-school hoopers. This is harmful content, as players from those eras deserve their flowers just like the modern-day hoopers like LBJ or Kevin Durant deserve praise.

Every era of the NBA deserves praise, and they shouldn’t be dismissed like what JJ Redick did by saying Bob Cousy played against plumbers. NBA discourse should revolve around talking about basketball without insulting other players and eras. It’s okay to make comparisons, but there shouldn’t be any disrespect like what happened with Redick and the ongoing “We done with the 90s” movement.

Debunking the myth of MJ not having a left-hand

It’s bizarre for people to insinuate that His Airness did not have a left hand. He is one of the most talented players of all time, and it is expected for him to have a good left hand for both dribbling and finishing.

MJ had one of the most creative finishes in NBA history when he switched from his right hand to left hand in his spectacular highlight against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals.

Jordan had a good left hand, as he’s one of the most unstoppable offensive players ever. If he didn’t have a left hand, defenders would’ve wanted to force him left, but they didn’t. He worked on that “weak” part of his game, becoming one of the best players. Kenny and Mark Jackson were correct in calling this discourse out because it harms the legacy of players who don’t deserve that kind of treatment.