The Rare Teammate Who Outscored Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, a man who dominated opponents and carved out a legacy built on scoring, championships, and sheer willpower. Throughout his legendary NBA career, Jordan had 107 different teammates—but only one of them ever averaged more points per game than him during their time together. That man was Jerry Stackhouse.
Stackhouse, a talented scorer in his own right, joined Jordan on the Washington Wizards in the early 2000s. By then, Jordan was making his final return to the NBA, and while he still showcased his brilliance at age 39 and 40, the Wizards relied heavily on the younger Stackhouse to carry a big part of the scoring load.
During the 2002–03 season, Stackhouse averaged 21.5 points per game, outpacing Jordan’s 20.0. It was a remarkable twist in history: for the first and only time in Jordan’s career, a teammate was the leading scorer. For fans who had seen Jordan dominate every teammate he ever played alongside—from Scottie Pippen to Patrick Ewing in Team USA exhibitions—this was something almost unthinkable.
The story of Stackhouse’s rise to lead scorer is often overlooked, partly because Jordan was still the main attraction. Even at 40 years old, Jordan had multiple 40-point games and continued to fill arenas wherever the Wizards played. Yet, the numbers don’t lie—Stackhouse carried the scoring torch that season.
It’s important to note that Jordan wasn’t in his prime anymore, and Stackhouse was entering his. Drafted third overall in 1995, Stackhouse came into the league with comparisons to Jordan because of his UNC background, explosive scoring, and athleticism. Playing alongside his idol years later was both an honor and a challenge.
Fans still debate what the Wizards’ dynamic could have been if Jordan had been younger or if the roster had been stronger. The team never made the playoffs during Jordan’s return, but the history books will always remember that Stackhouse did what even Pippen, Kukoc, or any other Bulls teammate never accomplished—outscoring Michael Jordan over the course of a season.
This rare stat also highlights just how consistent Jordan was in his career. From his rookie year to his final All-Star appearance, Jordan was almost always the focal point of scoring, leadership, and expectations. That it took a 40-year-old Jordan for anyone to surpass him shows the level of dominance he maintained for nearly two decades.
Stackhouse himself has spoken about the bittersweet experience of playing with Jordan. On one hand, it was a dream to share the court with the greatest. On the other, the Wizards experiment didn’t end in glory, and Stackhouse sometimes felt his own game was overshadowed by the constant attention on MJ.
Still, the connection between the two will always be part of NBA trivia lore. Fans who dig deep into the numbers are often surprised that Stackhouse, and not one of Jordan’s more famous teammates, holds that distinction. It adds another fascinating wrinkle to the legacy of both players.
When you think about Michael Jordan’s career, you think about the rings, the scoring titles, the MVPs, and the unforgettable moments. But hidden within all of that greatness is this small, surprising fact: the only teammate who ever scored more than Jordan in a season wasn’t an All-Time great, wasn’t his right-hand man in Chicago, but rather Jerry Stackhouse—a reminder that even legends pass the torch, if only briefly.
And that’s what makes this story so incredible: for one season, Jerry Stackhouse stood where no other teammate of Michael Jordan ever stood—at the top of the scoring list.
