#MichaelJordan Might Be Your #GOAT, But He Was Definitely an #Inspiration: How One Player Turned MJโs Legacy Into His Own Fire
Chicago, IL โ August 2, 2025
To most, Michael Jordan is the GOAT โ the gold standard of greatness, competitive fire, and six-ring immortality. His Airness didnโt just dominate the game; he changed it, elevated it, globalized it. But for Tyrese โT-Flightโ Wallace, the newly crowned NBA Rookie of the Year and rising Chicago Bulls star, MJ wasnโt just a highlight reel from the ’90s โ he was the spark.
> โI watched The Last Dance more times than I shot free throws my freshman year,โ Wallace joked after leading a youth camp at United Center this summer. โMJ wasnโt just about buckets โ he was about obsession, about doing it the right way every time. That mindset? Thatโs what I chased.โ
๐ The Modern Flight
Born in Wilmington, North Carolina โ just like Jordan โ Tyrese Wallace grew up idolizing #23 not just because of the dunks and fadeaways, but because of the drive.
At just 6’2″, Wallace was constantly overlooked. Too small. Too flashy. Too streetball. But he carved his own lane โ just like Mike once did. By the time he hit his junior year at Duke, scouts couldnโt ignore him anymore. The Bulls took him at No. 3 overall in the 2024 Draft. The symbolism? Not lost on anyone.
> โYouโre drafted by the Bulls, you feel the pressure. But to me, itโs legacy pressure โ not fear. That statue outside? It motivates me every time I walk in the building.โ
๐ฅ Channeling the GOAT
Wallaceโs rookie season was the stuff of fiction.
21.7 PPG, 6.8 APG, 1.9 SPG
Game-winner over Milwaukee in his first nationally televised game
Ankle-breaking crossover that went viral with the caption: โJordan would be proud.โ
And when asked who he studies on film?
โMJ. Every time. Footwork, patience, balance. That dude didnโt rush anything. Even his fadeaway had rhythm like jazz.โ
Even Wallaceโs off-court demeanor echoes Jordanโs influence: private, intense, selective with media, focused on building a brand based on grit โ not gimmicks.
๐ Inspiration Over Imitation
While the GOAT debates flood social media (#LeBron, #Kobe, #Curry), Wallace isnโt interested in arguing.
> โMJโs the reason I play. He doesnโt have to be your GOAT, but heโs definitely my fuel. And at the end of the day, inspiration can go further than imitation.โ
Now heading into his sophomore season, Wallace is training with Jordanโs longtime trainer Tim Grover, and has a Jordan Brand signature shoe deal rumored to drop this winter โ the Flight 1s. The design? Subtle nods to the Air Jordan 11s, but with a modern, low-cut twist.
๐ Legacy in Motion
Michael Jordan may not lace them up anymore, but his impact is still lighting fires under the next generation. Tyrese Wallace is proof that GOAT status isnโt always about stats โ itโs about standard. And if Jordan set the bar, Wallace is hellbent on reaching it in his own way.
As Wallace posted after winning Rookie of the Year, alongside a photo of MJ in his Bulls prime:
> โThe crown ainโt mine yet. But I know who showed me where it sits.โ
#GOATworthy #Inspiration #FlightContinues #BullsLegacy ๐๐ฅ๐
#MichaelJordan didnโt just inspire a generation. Heโs still creating greatness โ even from the rafters.
