Michael Jordan ‘Shocked The Sh*t’ Out Of David Thompson When He Asked Him To Present Him Into Hall Of Fame: ‘When I Called Him And Asked Him To Stand Up For Me, I Know I Shocked The Sh*t Out Of Him’

In 2009, NBA legend Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and gave one of the best speeches of all time. 

Jordan finished his NBA career with averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 1,072 games with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. He is universally recognized as the greatest NBA player of all time.

During his speech, Jordan thanked several people, which was to be expected. The Bulls icon began his speech by talking about David Thompson, who presented Jordan into the Hall of Fame.

At the time of the speech, many people wondered why Jordan picked Thompson to present him into the Hall of Fame. After hearing Jordan’s answer, though, it made all the sense in the world.

Jordan’s basketball dream started in Wilmington, North Carolina, but not because his dad or mom inspired him to play. That title goes to Thompson, one of the best players in league history and a Hall of Fame inductee in 1996.

Thompson played his college basketball at NC State. Jordan, who went to North Carolina, watched Thompson dominate his opponents at NC State as a kid and was inspired by him.

During his three-year run at NC State, Thompson averaged 26.8 points and 8.1 rebounds. He won the NCAA championship in 1974, as NC State defeated Marquette by a final score of 76-64 behind Thompson’s 21 points.

Thompson played in the ABA and NBA after his college days ended. He finished his decorated career with averages of 22.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

During the 1977-78 NBA season, Thompson scored 73 points while playing for the Denver Nuggets. It’s the fourth-most points ever scored in a basketball game.

During his Hall of Fame speech, Jordan spoke about how Thompson was his childhood hero. And in typical Jordan fashion, His Airness also cracked some jokes for the crowd.

Jordan kept getting asked by his friends why he picked Thompson to present him into the Hall of Fame. MJ not only explained why he chose Thompson, but he also delivered a funny quote.

“As I grew up in North Carolina, I was an anti-Carolina guy. I hated UNC,” Jordan said. “I was in love with David Thompson, not just for the game of basketball, but in terms of what he represented. We all go through our trials and tribulations, and he did, and I was inspired by him.

“When I called him and asked him to stand up for me, I know I shocked the sh*t out of him. I know I did.”

The entire crowd at the Hall of Fame ceremony laughed after Jordan’s last line about Thompson. Although he was emotional throughout his speech, Jordan made sure to throw in some jokes.

In two stints with the Bulls, Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists. He won six rings, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, three All-Star Game MVPs and 10 scoring titles.

Jordan was also the 1985 Rookie of the Year and the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year. He’s only the third player in NBA history to win MVP and DPOY in the same season.

Behind Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the Bulls went 6-0 in the NBA Finals during the ’90s. Chicago defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz (twice).

The Bulls never played in a Game 7 during the NBA Finals.

Jordan prevented Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and John Stockton from winning championships. He was friends with all three guys off the court, but on the floor, Jordan was out for blood and made sure he did everything he could to beat his pals.