Maxwell Vernon is a former two-time Houston Rockets champion and played a significant role in the NBA. His reputation was built because he was one who would never shy away from taking complicated assignments or backing down from a challenge. Because of his sophisticated nature, you would think that playing Michael Jordan was the hardest considering that Jordan was one of the greatest players in the NBA.
However, Maxwell Vernon expressed that there is another person whom he could not handle at all and it drained him big time, and that is Dražen Petrović. Ball Around claims that Maxwell’s argument that his most irritating defensive cover was not Hall of Fame former Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan but rather the late former New Jersey Nets All-Star swingman Drazen Petrovic, was possibly the spiciest angle he had.
Michael Jordan: Most defenders’ greatest obstacle
Most players who have faced Michael Jordan can attest that he was the most difficult player in the NBA. What made Jordan stand out and place him as a difficult opponent was because of his skill, athleticism, and fitness that he carried throughout his career. Defenders knew that no matter how well they trained and watched the games Jordan played and played hard, he always found a way to score.
Maxwell Vernon had his challenges whenever he would face Jordan and the two were strong competitors. Having expressed that, during a podcast, Maxwell Vernon expressed that nothing compares to the challenges he faced when he would guard Dražen Petrović. Recently, Maxwell made the intriguing statement that he would much rather protect Michael Jordan than Drazen Petrovic.
Maxwell Vernon’s nightmare, Dražen Petrović: An unforgettable duel Unlike others
“He was bigger than me. I’m 6’4. I mean, I’ve never seen anything like it before… I’d rather guard Black Jesus, Michael Jordan, than guard him. That’s how bad it was for me. He used to give me buckets. I was so frustrated, I couldn’t stop him.”
Maxwell Vernon has revealed to us how much Dražen Petrović was underestimated. At times these players are overshadowed by some other players who will be making the headlines, but that does not mean basketball does not have other elite players and Dražen Petrović was one of them, as we have learned from Maxwell Vernon.
Maxwell despised guarding Petrović. The reason behind this feeling was because Petrović was always in his A-game. His movement, excellent shooting skills, and his fearless aura made it so hard to overtake him and guard him. Jordan relied on his physical strength, but Petrović was a master of style. He was always consistent and had a tireless spirit, which led others to get exhausted because they just could not overtake him.
An unwavering work ethic that made Petrović unique
Whenever we watch sports games and we see the same people winning and making it is not always about physical height, fitness or stature; it is all in the mind. That is exactly what it was with Petrović. Even when Maxwell believed he had Petrović under control, the Croatian marksman would manage to escape and throw a dagger from outside the arc.
After a successful stint with Real Madrid, Petrovic entered the NBA as a rookie in 1989–1990 at the age of 25, quickly making an impression as a dynamic scorer. In 1992-93, his fourth and only season in the league, he averaged 22.3 points on 518/.449/.870 shooting splits, 3.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, earning him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team with New Jersey.
Unfortunately, Dražen Petrović’s career ended during his prime at 28 years. By the time he passed on, he was one of the NBA’s rising stars that many looked up to, demonstrating that European athletes were capable of competing and succeeding at the highest level. Maxwell Vernon’s confession marks a symbol of how worthy the late Petrović was.
