How Does Clyde Drexler’s Net Worth Compare to Michael Jordan’s?
While Michael Jordan may be the greatest basketball player of all-time, even he had his fair share of rivals. During his time on the court, His Airness dueled with the likes of Larry Bird, Karl Malone, and Isiah Thomas. Then, there was Clyde Drexler.
As we know now from The Last Dance, Jordan didn’t appreciate being compared to the Trail Blazers guard. Today, though, how do the two NBA legends match up when it comes to net worth? Has Clyde the Glide managed to catch up to His Airness?
Michael Jordan’s incomparable basketball career
These days, Michael Jordan has achieved legendary status as both a sports and a pop culture icon. When you consider his basketball career, it’s not hard to see why.
After famously failing to make his high school’s varsity basketball team on the first attempt, Jordan grew into a legitimate star. He was named a McDonald’s All-American before heading to the University of North Carolina; as a freshman, he hit the game-winning jumper to claim a national championship.
In the pros, His Airness took things even further. He averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists as a rookie, and only continued to improve, changing virtually everything about basketball along the way. By the time he retired, he had scored over 30,000 points, won six championships, and six MVP awards while growing in a modern mythological figure.
Clyde Drexler was a Hall of Famer, too
On the basketball court, it’s tough for anyone to compare to Michael Jordan. Clyde Drexler, however, was an accomplished athlete in his own right.
Drexler played his college ball at the University of Houston as a member of Phi Slama Jama. The team made two consecutive Final Fours, but couldn’t get over the hump; although the guard never claimed a national title, he developed a reputation as both a high-flyer and a talented all-around player.
The Portland Trail Blazers took Drexler with the 13th overall pick of the 1983 draft; while he didn’t see much action as a rookie, the guard would burst onto the scene during the 1984-85 campaign. Before long, Drexler and the Blazers were battling for the Western Conference title.
Dexler, however, couldn’t get past Michael Jordan; the Trail Blazers lost to the Bulls in the 1992 NBA Finals, and the His Airness beat out Clyde the Glide for that season’s MVP award. He would eventually win a championship with the Houston Rocket, however, and was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He might not have been Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson but, with a career average of 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, Drexler was still an all-time great.
Michael Jordan still stands head and shoulders over Clyde Drexler
During his playing career, Michael Jordan took on all comers, including Clyde Drexler. That trend didn’t stop with retirement, though; when it comes to wealthy athletes, His Airness is still the top dog.
Today, Drexler’s net worth is pegged at approximately $25 million. While most of that money came from his playing days—the guard inked a record-setting $8 million extension toward the end of his career—Clyde the Glyde hasn’t disappeared. He’s still an analyst for the Houston Rockets’ TV broadcasts and serves as the commissioner of the Big3 basketball league.
While that’s nothing to sneeze at, it pales in comparison to His Airness. The NBA legend’s net worth comes in at an estimated $2.1 billion; most of that value comes from his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets, but his deals with Nike and other brands still bring in a pretty penny.
Whether you’re looking at his basketball career or his net worth, Clyde Drexler did incredibly well for himself. Unfortunately for the Trail Blazers legend, everyone looks worse when they’re compared to Michael Jordan.
