In the pantheon of sports history, Michael Jordan stands not just as a symbol of excellence, but as the ultimate arbiter of competitive hierarchy. His approval was the gold standard; a nod of respect from “His Airness” validated a career, while his dismissal could haunt a player’s legacy forever. Jordan played 15 seasons, won six championships, and collected five MVPs, building a mythology around his ability to crush anyone who challenged his authority. But Jordan was nuanced. He loved competition. He respected those who fought him with skill, dignity, and a “win at all costs” mentality—provided that cost didn’t compromise the integrity of the game.

However, there exists a shortlist of players—all elite, some Hall of Famers—who never received that coveted stamp of approval. For Jordan, these exclusions weren’t emotional outbursts; they were calculated judgments based on memory, history, and perceived violations of the game’s unwritten code. Drawing from decades of interviews, on-court evidence, and the revealing confessions in The Last Dance, here are the five players Michael Jordan never respected, and the specific reasons why their feuds remain unresolved.

1. Isiah Thomas: The Unforgiven Snub

The chasm between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas is perhaps the most documented personal conflict in NBA history. It transcends basketball, rooting itself in a deep psychological animosity that time has failed to heal. While Thomas was a brilliant player—a two-time champion and the heart of the Detroit Pistons—Jordan viewed him as the architect of a style of play that crossed the line from physical to criminal.

The “Jordan Rules,” Detroit’s strategy to physically batter Jordan every time he drove to the basket, was accepted by Jordan as a playoff reality. He bulked up, took the hits, and eventually overcame them. What he could not accept, however, was the perceived lack of class. The breaking point arrived in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. After the Bulls finally swept the Pistons, Thomas and key teammates walked off the court with time remaining on the clock, refusing to shake hands.

For Jordan, this was the ultimate sin. He believed that how you lost defined you as much as how you won. He had endured years of beatings from the Pistons, yet always acknowledged their victories. Thomas’s refusal to do the same confirmed everything Jordan despised about him. This moment likely cost Thomas a spot on the 1992 Dream Team and cemented a permanent barrier between the two legends. Even today, when asked about it, Jordan’s demeanor shifts to cold indifference. He didn’t respect Isiah because he believed Isiah didn’t respect the game.

2. Bill Laimbeer: The Symbol of “Anti-Basketball”

If Isiah Thomas was the face of the “Bad Boys,” Bill Laimbeer was the muscle, and Jordan had zero patience for his methods. Laimbeer was a bruising center who anchored Detroit’s defense, but his reputation—and Jordan’s assessment of him—centered on intent. Jordan felt Laimbeer wasn’t trying to make plays on the ball; he was targeting players.

Laimbeer embraced the role of the villain, openly admitting his job was to make opponents uncomfortable. But to Jordan, Laimbeer’s style wasn’t tough; it was cheap. He viewed Laimbeer’s penchant for hard fouls combined with his theatrical “flopping” on the other end as a form of gamesmanship that lacked integrity.

Jordan respected defenders who could stop him with positioning and skill. He did not respect those who relied on provocation and borderline violence. Throughout his career, Jordan noticeably omitted Laimbeer’s name from any list of respected rivals. In Jordan’s eyes, Laimbeer wasn’t a competitor pushing him to greatness; he was an obstacle that lowered the quality of the sport. Once the Bulls dismantled the Pistons, Jordan moved on, never feeling the need to acknowledge Laimbeer’s contribution to the game again.

3. Reggie Miller: The Self-Proclaimed Rival

Reggie Miller is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, known for his clutch moments and unparalleled confidence. However, confidence without dominance never impressed Michael Jordan. The friction here stemmed from Miller’s insistence on framing himself as Jordan’s equal before the results justified the title.

The Pacers and Bulls met frequently in the playoffs, most notably in a grueling seven-game series in 1998. Miller fought hard, hitting massive shots and engaging in relentless trash talk. But from Jordan’s perspective, a rivalry requires a shared control of outcomes. Jordan won almost every meaningful engagement. Miller was a nuisance, a hurdle, but never a true equal who dictated the terms of a series.

In The Last Dance, Jordan famously laughed at the suggestion that Miller was his rival, stating simply, “Reggie Miller was no rival of mine.” It wasn’t hatred; it was a dismissal. Jordan felt Miller tried to talk his way into a tier of greatness that was reserved for players like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. To Jordan, respect was a byproduct of winning, not of marketing oneself as a nemesis.

4. Gary Payton: The Delusion of “The Glove”

Gary Payton was the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, a relentless guard known as “The Glove.” In the NBA Finals that year, Payton’s Seattle SuperSonics fell into a 3-0 hole against Jordan’s Bulls before Payton switched onto Jordan defensively. The Sonics won the next two games, and Payton later claimed that he had “figured out” how to slow Jordan down, implying the series might have gone differently had he guarded MJ from the start.

Jordan found this narrative laughable. When shown Payton’s comments years later, Jordan threw his head back in amusement. His perspective was rooted in the cold hard facts: The Bulls were up 3-0. They had relaxed. Jordan shifted his role to managing the game and securing the title, which they did in Game 6.

To Jordan, Payton’s claim was a “moral victory,” a concept that didn’t exist in MJ’s world. You either won or you lost. Claiming you “slowed down” the greatest scorer ever while losing the series was, to Jordan, a sign that you didn’t understand what actually mattered. He didn’t respect Payton’s analysis because it prioritized individual stats over the ultimate result: the championship ring on Jordan’s finger.

5. Jerry Stackhouse: The Premature Prince

Of all the players on this list, Jerry Stackhouse might be the most cautionary tale. Entering the league with immense talent and hype, Stackhouse was dubbed by some as the “Next Jordan.” The problem? He started believing it—and talking about it—before he had accomplished anything.

Stackhouse was a volume scorer who challenged Jordan publicly, suggesting he could take him one-on-one. This was during Jordan’s later years, specifically when MJ returned to play for the Washington Wizards. Stackhouse, then with the Pistons, made comments implying Jordan was over the hill.

Jordan’s response was swift and brutal. In a 2002 matchup, the 38-year-old Jordan dropped 51 points on Stackhouse’s head. After the game, Jordan didn’t celebrate; he simply noted that he “took it personally.” Stackhouse had violated a cardinal rule: never poke the bear until you have the résumé to back it up. Jordan viewed Stackhouse as undisciplined—a player chasing stats rather than wins. By trying to skip the line to greatness, Stackhouse ensured he would never receive the mentor-like respect Jordan accorded to players like Kobe Bryant, who approached the game with humility and curiosity before displaying their alpha mentality.

The Verdict: Silence Speaks Volumes

Michael Jordan’s respect was a fortress. Those inside were treated as brothers in arms; those outside were dismissed as pretenders. Whether it was the bad blood with Isiah, the disdain for Laimbeer’s tactics, or the amusement at Payton and Miller’s claims, the common thread was integrity. Jordan demanded that basketball be played with a specific purity—hard, yes, but honest. Those who tried to cheat the code, physically or verbally, found themselves permanently exiled from his favor. In the end, Jordan didn’t just beat these men on the court; he defeated them in history, ensuring his version of the truth became the only one that mattered.