Michael Jordan is always considered the greatest basketball player of all time. Therefore, there are also many players who have been compared, even nicknamed “the new Michael Jordan” in the eyes of the media and fans.

Harold Miner was once praised as such. However, his name has disappeared so quickly that to the younger generation of fans, they do not even know who this player was.

So how talented was Harold Miner to be called the “new Michael Jordan”?

Who is Harold Miner?

Harold Miner is a former American basketball player, born in 1971. From a young age, Harold Miner’s talent was noticed and he was nicknamed “Baby Jordan” by experts. In his senior year of high school, Harold Miner scored an average of 27 points per game, as well as leaving many other marks.

In college, Miner also showed impressive qualities. He was even selected to be honored in Sports Illustrated magazine’s “Best College Basketball Player” section in 1992.

Harold Miner was selected 12th overall by the Miami Heat in the 1992 NBA Draft. However, his NBA career did not go smoothly.

What happened to Harold Miner?

Despite his impressive achievements, Harold Miner only played for 4 years in the NBA. He won 2 Slam Dunk Contest titles in 1993 and 1995, but Harold Miner’s career was often tied to the hospital bed due to various injuries, the most serious being a knee injury.

In 1996, Harold Miner announced his retirement at the age of 25 because he felt his body could no longer withstand the constant injuries. This was a sad end for a talented player.

In addition, being compared to Michael Jordan also unintentionally put too much pressure on Harold Miner. The USC coach said that the nickname “Baby Jordan” was the worst thing that ever happened to Harold Miner’s career. Since then, the media has also begun to limit similar comparisons to any player.

What did Harold Miner do after he retired?

In fact, Harold Miner did not do any basketball-related work after retiring. In an interview with ESPN in 2023, Miner shared that he always felt pressured during the days of struggling in the top environment.

“When you’re compared to a great player, you always feel pressure. I grew up with a passion for basketball, working hard to give back to the fans. But I felt like basketball was against me.

I don’t want to think about it (the knee injury). I have to relive that feeling over and over again. But then I ask myself why do I have to torture myself with that pressure? I cried when I couldn’t become a top player,” Miner shared.

After retiring, Harold Miner lived a quiet life in Las Vegas, Nevada as a housewife.

Translated from SportBibble ‘s article.

SEE MORE: Does the East or West win more NBA championships?