Michael Finley In 1995, when he joined the NBA ranks, Finley found himself amidst an era where exceptionally talented point guards were leading the charge in professional basketball. For him as a rookie stepping into this high-stakes world, facing off against some of the top-tier playmakers was inevitable and awaited with anticipation.
During a podcast interview, Fin Dawg reflected on this crucial point in his nascent career when he recalled his initial encounter with the prominent 1990s Orlando Magic star player. Penny Hardaway As an accomplished and self-assured athlete, Finley was keen to demonstrate his prowess on the basketball court. He felt certain that he could match up well against Hardaway, who was renowned for both his scoring knack and his spectacular passing abilities.
During their initial NBA encounter, Finley witnessed a stunning play by Penny that deeply impressed him. At that moment, the newcomer understood he was up against someone exceptional. Ever since then, Finley has always recalled how Hardaway was the first player to truly dominate him in the NBA.
When it comes to facing off 1-on-1, I'd likely go with Penny, the two-time All-Star told Earlier this year, during an episode of the Knuckleheads podcast, he was asked to identify the NBA player who initially called him out. "Penny from Orlando Magic. To this very day, I recall Penny had me positioned near the basket, and I thought, 'I've got him, I’ve got him.’ But he executed a spin move followed by a baseline reverse dunk.[Chuckles] Then I realized, ‘This guy is for real.’”
Finley's initial tough game in the NBA was thanks to Barkley.
During his final year at Wisconsin, "Fin Dawg" put up an impressive average of 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, four assists, and 1.9 steals per contest. This performance led Finley to believe firmly that he was prepared for the next level when he got selected by the Phoenix Suns.
It was also beneficial because the Suns' star player at that time Charles Barkley To his surprise, he received high praise after trying to posterize "The Round Mound of Rebound." Initially, Finley assumed this was just his typical encouraging gesture for a newcomer. But he quickly realized things were different when he attempted to repeat the move.
Even today, Finley can clearly remember the precise words Barkley uttered to him immediately following the moment when the sturdy power forward had aggressively fouled him in mid-air. As he lay on the floor, “Fin Dawg” understood that NBA basketball was not merely about displaying one’s skills.
In my initial year, I played in Phoenix with Charles Barkley as part of the squad. During one of our early practice sessions, I approached the basket and attempted to dunk over him. He responded, saying, 'Son, you've got some courage. I respect that. If you continue like this, you might just have a shot at something big.' Finley shared. I told him, ‘Charles gave me credit for something.’ So, I tried once more. But not now. Bam! Down on the floor. He responded with, ‘No way, newbie, it’s not so simple at this stage.’ Then he had me lying down. This marked my initial encounter at the professional basketball league level.
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Jordan brought Finley into the NBA long before he went professional.
Although Penny and Barkley were the initial NBA players to welcome Finley into the league, it was Michael Jordan who provided him with his most memorable game. The cherry on top of this extraordinary experience was that Finley was merely in high school at the time. unique chance to face off 1-on-1 against the greatest of all time .
Finley got the call to play against Jordan after making a splash in Chicago due to his outstanding performance at Proviso East high school. At his high school, Finley was the star player instrumental in leading the team to win the 1991 Illinois High School State Championship.
Not surprisingly, MJ outperformed Finley, but honestly, the young player held his own pretty decently despite being just a teenager. All things considered, both competitors had fun during their one-on-one contest with an audience consisting of some of Finley's buddies.
Following their practice games, Jordan sent a departing message to the young Finley that every high school player would have cherished hearing. Michael Jordan said to “Fin Dawg” that he was eagerly anticipating their next matchup when Finley eventually reached the NBA.
I believe he felt anxious. He probably brought along all his friends from school or something like that...didn’t they make you feel uneasy? I’ll offer you another chance. We’ll reconvene in roughly half a decade, fingers crossed. After the game, Jordan mentioned to the introverted teen Finley in an older video snippet.
Looking back, it’s clear that "Fin Dawg" gained valuable insights from Penny, Barkley, and Jordan. This allowed him to hone his skills at the beginning of his career, and his development didn’t escape notice.
In time, Finley found his rhythm and became recognized as one of the premier shooting guards of his era. His achievements peaked after being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, during which he recorded a personal high of 22.6 points per contest, thus securing his maiden All-Star selection alongside another later on.
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