Russell joked that Jordan declined, as there wouldn’t have been an excuse for losing.
In 2013, former NBA player Bryon Russell grabbed attention for a bold idea he had proposed four years earlier. Back in 2009, he had challenged Michael Jordan to a one-on-one game that would be broadcast on TV. By then, both players had already retired, but it would have been a thrilling event to watch. Even better, as Russell later told TMZ, all the proceeds would have gone to charity.
Despite the excitement, the game never happened. According to Bryon, it was because Mike “just didn’t want to do it.” Still, he couldn’t resist a little jab, adding that there wouldn’t be any “Jordan Rules” in a one-on-one match to help his almost opponent out.
Unpacking Russell’s jab
The “Jordan Rules” were defensive tactics developed by the Detroit Pistons — aka “The Bad Boys” — in the late 1980s to stop MJ’s explosive scoring. This no-holds-barred strategy involved, at worst, a mix of cheap shots and aggressive fouls and, at best, double teams aimed at the NBA superstar.
In the early years of his Hall of Fame career, “His Airness” struggled to overcome this strategy. Losing three straight playoff series to the Pistons from 1988 onwards was certainly tough for him and the Chicago Bulls.
However, the way those defeats unfolded gave the 6’6″ swingman an excuse for not leading Chicago past Detroit. Many supported this theory, believing no player — even one as talented as MJ — could shine against such a focused and relentless defense.
Russell referenced this idea with a cheeky remark. Confident in his own skills, the 2009 IBL champion said that in a hypothetical one-on-one game, “Mr. Air” wouldn’t have any “Jordan Rules” to fall back on if he lost. It would be a fair match based purely on skill — and Bryon believed he’d come out on top.
Why Bryon dared Mike to settle the score
Russell, who played over a decade in the NBA, didn’t challenge MJ to a one-on-one out of nowhere. The challenge came after Mike, who — like his challenger — was on the 2002–03 Washington Wizards, made a playful remark about Bryon in 2009.
Back then, during his Hall of Fame induction speech, “His Airness” — famous for his trash talk — didn’t hold back. He joked about his former Wizards teammate, saying that if he ever saw him in basketball shorts again, he’d “come at him.” This, of course, was a nod to their well-known rivalry dating back to Mike’s iconic game-winner over Bryon in the 1998 NBA Finals between the Bulls and the Utah Jazz.
When Russell heard that, he didn’t just let it slide. Instead, he fired back and challenged the newly inducted Hall of Famer to a one-on-one game to settle it once and for all. Speaking to Yahoo Sports at the time, the California native made it clear he was ready.
“I’ll play his a** right now,” he said. “This is a call-out for him… he can come out here in his private jet and come play. He’s got millions of dollars. He can pay for the jet. He can meet me at the Recreation Center in Calabasas.”
Although the matchup never happened, the exchange showed one thing: for some players, the competitive fire and trash talk — both largely missing in today’s NBA — never truly fade.