Asked him for an autograph one night after getting Jerry West’s autograph. When he refused, I mentioned to him that Jerry had given me his just minutes before. At the time, he and West were considered the 2 best guards in the game.
He went off on me like no player ever had. Stopping, turning around, screaming angry at me for asking for his autograph and mentioning Jerry West. I was shocked as were those around me. He made a fool of himself. An angry man yelling at a kid and out of control.
Maybe he had a bad night. No reason to go mental. But even the Big O is a human being with faults.
Perhaps he didn’t like being compared to someone else.
I never understood the focus on an autograph. I always thought a few words would be more valuable if you liked someone. But that’s just me who thinks having someone look down and focus on a piece of paper is less of an interaction.