In the NBA, Michael Jordan was a legend. He led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in his 13-year career and is considered one of the greatest players ever.
Michael Jordan is one of the most famous athletes in history. When he was a rookie for the Charlotte Hornets, he would use one text to pump up his teammates.
Something is always awry when the big boss summons a new employee. However, such discussions may also go in the other direction. While Bouknight, James, the first-round selection of the Charlotte Hornets, failed in the NBA Summer League, Michael Jordan shocked and impressed him.
Bouknight was selected 11th overall in the lottery by the Hornets. After an injury-plagued second season at UConn, the Brooklyn native declared for the NBA Draft in 2021. On 44.7 percent shooting, he scored 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, but his 29.3 percent 3-point percentage didn’t wow anybody.
Bouknight, who is 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, has been likened to Utah Jazz Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and Portland Trail Blazers star CJ McCollum.
In terms of style, Bouknight, James has the potential to be like Michael Jordan.
James Bouknight was still on the board at No. 11 for the Hornets, much to the astonishment of many selection experts. Most mock drafts had Bouknight going to the Oklahoma City Thunder with the sixth overall selection, according to NBA.com.
Bouknight is averaging 16.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game for the winless Charlotte Hornets in four games in Las Vegas. He’s hit 45 percent of his shots overall, and he’s made 37.5 percent of his 3-point attempts (6-of-16).
Bouknight, on the other hand, struggled in an 80-70 defeat against the Sacramento Kings. Davion Mitchell, a fellow rookie, won the duel, scoring 10 points and dishing out nine assists. Bouknight scored 11 points despite taking 11 shots and committing five turnovers.
Bouknight is a three-level scorer, according to NBADraft.net, although he is most successful at this stage getting to the basket or pulling up from distance. That should sound somewhat familiar to another well-known shooting guard. Early in his NBA career, Michael Jordan’s calling card was this. That isn’t intended to be a direct comparison between the two, especially after four games in Vegas. However, there are stylistic parallels.
Jordan may have believed he could assist because of this.
Michael Jordan sent an unexpected text message.
On August 9, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada, James Bouknight of the Charlotte Hornets looks to pass against the Sacramento Kings during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Hornets were beaten by the Kings 80-70. Hornets owner Michael Jordan reached out to Bouknight after the game. | Getty Images/Ethan Miller
Hornets owner Michael Jordan reached out to James Bouknight after the rookie’s underwhelming performance against the Summer League Kings. According to the Charlotte Observer, a short SMS instructed Bouknight to contact the supervisor.
Bouknight rebounded with 23 points in a one-point defeat to the San Antonio Spurs after the Jordan call. After the game, he spoke briefly about the discussion.
“I wasn’t myself in the second game. I was selfish at times and didn’t always share the ball. I was slack-jawed. I wasn’t really playing with the New York swagger and assurance that I normally do.”
James Bouknight
Bouknight was naturally ecstatic by the call.
“How many 20-year-olds in their first year in the league can claim that the greatest player to ever touch a basketball is calling them, assisting them, and throwing them pointers? So I took it to heart, and I took it personally, and I tried my hardest to play well.”
James Bouknight
There’s reason to believe Bouknight will have an impact in Charlotte sooner rather than later.
James Bouknight has several options in the Hornets’ backcourt.
James Bouknight joins a Charlotte Hornets squad that has a jumbled guard depth chart. Terry Rozier, the Hornets’ top scorer, and LaMelo Ball, the Rookie of the Year, are back. The team’s appearance has altered since then due to roster turnover.
Devonte’ Graham has been traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a sign-and-trade transaction. Wesley Iwundu was acquired in the trade, but the four-year veteran has never been more than a backup.
The Hornets did not issue a qualifying offer to backup point guard Brad Wanamaker, so it’s not a done deal. As an unrestricted free agent, Wanamaker remains unsigned.
Scottie Lewis, a second-round selection from Florida, was brought in as well, although he isn’t as far advanced as Bouknight. In 22.4 minutes per game, Lewis averages 6.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. In three games, he’s shot 8-of-15 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Bouknight has the opportunity to get rotation minutes straight immediately. And receiving a motivational talk from Michael Jordan — the man who writes the checks — is a fairly strong indicator that you’re on the team’s long-term agenda.
NBA.com provided the statistics.
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The michael jordan children is a quote from Michael Jordan that was used to pump up a Charlotte Hornets rookie.
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