Alex Ovechkin does not want to be mentioned in the same breath as his favorite athlete, six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan.
“Of course, there is no such thing, but if you compare me with Michael Jordan, then it’s like night and day,” Ovechkin said, as translated via Google Translate. “Jordan is the greatest, the same as my mother (Tatyana Ovechkina) in basketball, a two-time Olympic champion, multiple European champion.”
When pressed about his modesty and asked if he’s at least come closer to Jordan’s level, Ovechkin just doubled down.
“No,” he replied. “Why elevate yourself? You have to stay grounded.”
Ovechkin has often spoken about Jordan in interviews and was a big fan of Netflix’s The Last Dance, a docuseries with a particular focus on Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997-98. He also told Men’s Journal in 2020 that Jordan is the one athlete that he would most like to meet more than any other.
Jordan was one of the many famous faces to deliver Ovechkin a congratulatory message when Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals mark last April. “Hi, Alex, congratulations. Quite a record to break,” Jordan said.
Ovechkin also regularly wears a red Capitals hoodie before and after practice and games that reads “Well I’m not Michael Jordan” on the back. The now signature sweater was a gift from former Capitals winger Devante Smith-Pelly after Ovechkin said the quote during a pregame warmup soccer session years ago.
Jordan, who was once a member of the Washington Wizards for two seasons, has a list of accolades longer than a CVS receipt. Outside of his six NBA championships with the Bulls, he is also a six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner, NBA Rookie of the Year award winner, 10-time NBA scoring leader, 14-time NBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.
While Ovechkin’s personal trophy cabinet is a bit lighter, it remains one of the most impressive in hockey history. The legendary winger is a Calder Memorial Trophy recipient, a 13-time NHL All-Star, an Art Ross Trophy winner, a nine-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner, a three-time Ted Lindsay Award winner, a one-time Mark Messier Leadership Award winner, a one-time Stanley Cup champion, and a one-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
One thing that Ovechkin will have over Jordan is that he will still be playing in his age-40 season, as Jordan officially retired after his age-39 season with the Wizards. Jordan also only played in 1,072 career NBA games, while Ovechkin is just nine games shy of becoming only the 23rd player in NHL history to play in 1,500 career games.
