Rasheed Wallace knew when not to challenge Michael Jordan—wisely avoiding a one-on-one showdown.

Rasheed Wallace is widely regarded as one of the craftiest defenders in NBA history, but even he knew not to get embarrassed by Michael Jordan. During Jordan’s 1993-94 college visit to a North Carolina practice, Wallace understood that challenging a player who had dominated the game for years would be a futile risk.

In an appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Wallace recalled the day Jordan came to observe a UNC practice after taking a hiatus from the NBA. He described the moment when Jordan joined in for portions of the session and then stayed to watch, while players worked on their forms and shot routines afterward.

After practice, Wallace and a few of the big men headed to the locker room. He was icing his ankle with his shoes off when a manager informed him that “Coach” wanted him back on the floor. Wallace joked that he wasn’t sure which coach was being referenced, but he returned to participate. He watched Jordan play some one-on-one with players such as Stack, Donald Williams, Touché, Jeff McInnis, and Dante Calabria, and was even asked to join in.

Wallace declined, citing his own limitations and the pressure of facing a player of Jordan’s caliber. He remarked that his schoolyard-style handle wasn’t enough to contend with someone who had already proven himself against professionals. He had seen enough from Jordan, having watched his performance on numerous occasions, and recognized that as a freshman, the gap between a rising college player and a late-career all-time great was simply too wide.

Looking back, Wallace acknowledges why he chose to watch rather than challenge Jordan that day. Jordan’s reputation as a five-time Most Valuable Player and one of basketball’s fiercest competitors by the mid-1990s already extended far beyond any freshman’s reach.

Wallace’s UNC tenure lasted two seasons, from 1993 to 1995, before entering the NBA Draft. In his freshman year (1993-94), he averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 60.4% from the field. The following season (1994-95) he increased his averages to 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, shooting 65.4% from the floor and earning a second-team All-American honor.

Ultimately, for Wallace, one of the clearest memories from his college days wasn’t a landmark NCAA tournament run or a dominating scoring night. It was recognizing when not to challenge Michael Jordan and appreciating the difference in levels between a freshman and one of the greatest players in basketball history.