"This is the teammate Chris Webber let down during his NBA career" - C-Webb reveals his biggest regret

Former NBA All-Star Chris Webber, celebrated for his versatile skills and team-first mentality, has always valued assisting his teammates as much as scoring himself. Standing 6'10", the power forward possessed a smooth touch both inside and beyond the arc, but he often took greater satisfaction in creating opportunities for others. For most of his 15-year career, Webber embodied the principle of "making your teammates better."

However, there was one moment when he felt he fell short. During the 1996-97 season, the Washington Bullets returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1988. Led by Webber, former Michigan teammate Juwan Howard, and veteran point guard Rod Strickland, the team finished 44-38 and secured the eighth seed. This positioned them against the defending champions, the Chicago Bulls, spearheaded by Michael Jordan.

After dropping the first game, the Bullets aimed to even the series in Game 2 at the United Center. Jordan, radiating confidence, approached Webber and Howard, teasingly asking who would guard him that night. "Hes like, 'Yo, whos checking me tonight?' And normally youd fire back, 'We got this,' Webber recalled. "But we looked at each other and said, 'Calbert got you,' referring to Calbert Cheaney, the 6'7" left-handed wing from Evansville, Indiana. Cheaney, while a solid 13-year NBA veteran, was simply overmatched against Jordan.

During the game, the Bullets led by seven in the third quarter, but Jordan responded with nine points in that period to regain the lead. In the fourth quarter, he exploded for 20 of the Bulls' 23 points, finishing with 55 points as Chicago won 109-104. Cheaney had even asked Jordan if he was getting tired, prompting MJ to demonstrate his willingness to carry the team when needed. "I have no problem carrying the team if I have to," Jordan later stated. "Im the leader. I want to win."

The Bulls eventually swept the Bullets, later capturing their second consecutive NBA title in the late 1990s by defeating the Utah Jazz. For Webber, the episode remained a rare moment in which he felt he had not lived up to his own standard of being the ultimate teammate.

Author: Ava Mitchell