The Duke and North Carolina rivalry is maybe the most important one in school basketball historical past, which is one thing Michael Jordan could not assist however remind Mark Williams of after the Charlotte Hornets took him fifteenth total in the course of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Shortly after Williams — a former Blue Satan — formally entered the NBA, Hornets common supervisor Mitch Kupchak congratulated him in a telephone name and instructed him the works begins quickly with the NBA Summer season League simply across the nook. Kupchak then handed the telephone to Jordan, the proprietor of the staff and a North Carolina alum.
The NBA legend congratulated the rookie and instructed him he hopes he will get within the gymnasium, places within the work and helps take the franchise in the best course. Jordan then took the chance to tease Williams about coming from Duke.
“Despite the fact that you are a Dukie, I take pleasure in that we did draft you,” Jordan mentioned.
Williams dealt with that pleasant banter like a professional and instructed the proprietor of his new staff that he appreciates the sentiment. He additionally let him know that they should not let their colleges’ rivalry get in the way in which.
“Gotta put the meat apart,” Williams mentioned.
Jordan’s NBA profession consists of six championships with the Chicago Bulls, however his successful on the nationwide stage began effectively earlier than earlier than that. North Carolina went 88-13 by way of Jordan’s three seasons as a Tar Heel. The 6’6″ guard averaged 17.7 factors and 5.0 rebounds per sport from 1981 to 1984. Throughout his freshman season, Jordan hit the successful shot within the NCAA event championship sport, giving the Tar Heels the 1982 nationwide title.