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Carolina Clash: Jordan, old foe duke it out over days past
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Gerald Henderson will play in the NBA’s summer league starting today.
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Published: July 12, 2009
CHARLOTTE - Michael Jordan and Gerald Henderson have a much different view of their matchups in the 1980s. The former NBA players agree that Henderson's son has a chance to quickly become a key member of Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats.
The younger Henderson, Jordan's choice with the 12th pick in last month's draft, will play his first game in the NBA's summer league today in Las Vegas. The Bobcats aren't fielding a team to save money, so Henderson is on Minnesota's squad.
Jordan and Coach Larry Brown will still be keeping a close eye on the younger Henderson, who has an NBA-ready body and is a solid, athletic defender, but must work on his shooting and consistency.
"I think he's a very good fit here," the elder Henderson said. "I heard Coach Brown say he didn't think Gerald has tapped out on his potential, what he can be. I don't think they have seen that yet, either. Every year at Duke he kept climbing, climbing and as a draft choice that's what you want to see."
While much was made about North Carolina products Jordan and Brown drafting a Duke player, there was another rivalry that Jordan overlooked. Jordan often played against Henderson, a strong defender who spent 13 years in the NBA, mostly with Boston, Seattle and Philadelphia.
"I really didn't play against his father," Jordan said, smirking. "He was scared to guard me."
When the comment was repeated to Henderson, he straightened up in his chair with a look as if he was back at the Boston Garden in 1984. "When he first came in the league he couldn't shoot worth a dang," Henderson said. "So he wanted to drive all the time. He'd get a little teed off at me because he couldn't get by me. So then he had to muscle me."
That competitive spirit that Henderson showed at age 53 was what Jordan saw in his 21-year-old son. With the Bobcats needing depth at shooting guard behind veteran Raja Bell, they brought in Henderson for two pre-draft workouts. Jordan attended the second session and was sold.
"His father was a gritty, gritty type of player on the Celtics and a lot of the other teams," Jordan said. "He wanted to improve and make an impact on the basketball court. You can see the same thing in his son."
Henderson averaged 16.5 points for Duke last season. Yet the biggest area of concern is shooting. Henderson made just 33 percent of his 3-point shots in three college seasons.
"I shot more 3s because that was our offense," Henderson said. "But I'll improve on it, I have no question about that. Even these last few months my 3-point shooting has gotten so much better."
The steady improvement and ability to get better is what intrigues Jordan and Brown about Henderson, who averaged only 6.8 points as a freshman.
"Last year in the NCAAs the knock on him was he couldn't go left," Jordan said. "Next thing you know he's working on trying to go left and making big shots."
Jordan's competitive spirit showed at Henderson's second pre-draft workout. He teased Henderson that he had his old North Carolina shorts under his jeans and if he took them off Henderson would "be scared to death."
Henderson retold the story with a chuckle. Just like his dad, he laughed off Jordan's barbs. "He wants to be there if I need advice or need anything or want to know anything," Henderson said of his father. "But at the same time he's going to let me experience things myself."
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