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"I got a little mouse on me" -- former NBA guard Eric Snow recalls his first matchup against Michael Jordan
Former NBA players always have a story to tell about their first matchup against Michael Jordan. Eric Snow is no different.
Matchup nightmare
At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Jordan was a nightly matchup nightmare. Snow was a tenacious defender who hung his hat on that end of the floor to make it into the league as the Seattle Supersonics' second-round pick. However, at 6-foot-3, you can imagine what His Airness thought when Snow ended up defending him.
"I was defending him and he grabbed my arm, moved it out of the way, and yelled, 'Give it to me, I got a little mouse on me,'" Snow recalled.
Such was the enthusiasm with which Jordan attacked his opponents. He was a relentless competitor who took no prisoners on the court, especially when facing undersized rookies who were supposed to thrive on the defensive side of the court.
MJ's curtain-call
As intense as Snow's first interaction with His Airness was, his last one was more pleasant. It was April 16, 2003, and Jordan was now a Washington Wizard playing in the final moments of his very last NBA game. Snow, who was playing for the Philadelphia Sixers, had the distinction of fouling Jordan to help him score the last points of his storied career.
The play was important as it allowed Jordan to score two points and finish his last season with an average of 20.0 points. More importantly, it was an opportunity to get Jordan out of the game and give him a chance to receive a standing ovation from the crowd.
Although Jordan's last game was a far cry (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in an 87-107 loss) from his peak performance, it was a great moment and the perfect way to bow out.
For Snow, it was a bittersweet moment; it was an honor to be the one who helped close out Jordan's career.
"I'll take credit, but I had no idea. Now, I'm definitely glad that I did it," said Snow.
