Author: mlinh

Michael Jordan’s competitive fire never left him, even if he was at the tail end of his career or during his brief retirement in Washington.

If there’s one thing we know about Michael Jordan, he doesn’t take trash talk lightly — whether from competitors or teammates. The 6x champion said in his documentary “The Last Dance” that he takes almost everything personally. Whether it was Goerge Karl ignoring him at a restaurant, Magic johnson doubting him, or Karl Malone winning the 1997 MVP instead of him, Jordan always found a way to respond and make his competitors look like fools.

Even in retirement

Jordan’s competitive fire never left him, even if he was at the tail end of his career or during his brief retirement in Washington. When Jordan took a 3-year break after winning his last championship with the Chicago Bulls, he took over as president of basketball operations for the Wizards. Even as the big boss, MJ couldn’t stand it when his players would talk smack to his face (speaking of, LaMelo Ball better take note).

One time, Jordan’s player Laron Profit hit a shot in his face and yelled out:

 “‘Yeah, you can’t guard me with them old-ass knees!‘

“And I’m like ‘oh! Stop! Time-out! You don’t say that to the GOAT,” Profit’s teammate Richard Hamilton who also played for Jordan’s Wizards, said in his appearance at the All The Smoke podcast.

“MJ was heated. I mean, he was heated to the point that when I went to my exit-meeting, cause you know he was the president at the time, he was like ‘Ok Rip, your man, your buddy…’ cause he ended up trading Prof that summer ‘He’s out of here! You gon’ be there by yourself….‘

I was like ‘M, I don’t want no problems,” Hamilton added.

Power abuse or fair game?

In retrospect, Profit’s trash talk was undoubtedly a questionable choice. Even if it’s all part of the game, it’s safe to say that Profit should’ve talked trash to Hamilton instead. But one can also argue that Jordan shouldn’t have taken Profit’s jab too seriously to the point that he ended up shipping him out of Washington. Whatever the verdict, at the end of the day, MJ was president of basketball operations, so his final say had to be respected by all.

It’s also important to point out that Profit wasn’t worth keeping on the roster anyway. After playing two years with the Wizards and putting up underwhelming numbers (3.0 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in 68 games), the shooting guard eventually had to take his talents overseas. Profit returned to the Wizards after spending 3 seasons in Italy and China but barely made an impact in his second stint with Washington.

As for Jordan, he can also say that his Wizard’s tenure was much better than whatever Profit had. In Jordan’s last two years in Washington, he still put up 21.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 5.9 rebounds and was an All-Star in both years.So suffice it to say that Jordan (as the president and superior player) had reasons to kick Profit off his team — with or without the trash talking involved.

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest player to ever grace the game of basketball. But you don’t become the greatest without people trying to pull you down. In basketball, the rawest form of that comes between players as trash talk.

Many former players recall their experiences with Michael, who has probably seen the highest variety of trash talk on the court. Considering that he was the best, the opposing teams tried everything they possibly could to stop him.

Washington’s Michael Jordan still moving around Clippers’ Quentin Richardson in the 2nd half of the game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

However, by the end of his career, most of the players he was playing with had actually grown up watching him play. And he was very well aware of that, so he didn’t hesitate in reminding them every once in a while.

Vincent Yarbrough and his experience trash talking Michael Jordan

In 2003, Denver Nuggets had gone to the MCI Center to face Michael’s Washington Wizards. When the latter went down ten points in the first quarter, a Denver Nuggets rookie Vincent Yarbrough took that as an opportunity to take a jab at Jordan.

Yarbrough’s bio on the media guide said Jordan was his favorite player growing up, and from the looks of it, Michael was aware of that fact. Responding to Vincent’s trash talking, his Airness said, “You watched me, I didn’t watch you.”But Jordan didn’t leave it at that; he turned and strolled past Denver’s bench after hitting his 12th point of the fourth quarter, to give Washington an 84-70 lead.

Had the tables turned on Jordan?

Throughout his career, Michael never hesitated to throw some figurative ‘trash’ at his opponents. Moreover, he is actually famous for his trash-talking even to his own teammates. But one of the most famous instances of him taking a jab at his opponents is when he took a free throw with his eyes closedMichael always believed that your mentality is very important on the court. If you’re the best on the court, you need to let the other side know – with your actions and your words.

If there is one thing the hit Netflix and ESPN docuseries ‘The Last Dance’ has shown basketball fans across the world, it is that Michael Jordan will do absolutely anything to win.

Jordan was the focal point of the Chicago Bulls side which won six NBA Championships across eight seasons, cementing his place as arguably the greatest basketball player ever.

There has been widespread praise for Jordan’s ability to dominate matches and perform at the highest level continuously during his illustrious career since the 10-part series aired.

+19
View gallery

Michael Jordan is seen as the NBA’s ‘GOAT’ having won six championships with Chicago Bulls

+19
View gallery

A new documentary, ‘The Last Dance’ has showcased how Jordan guided the Bulls to greatness

But his methods to try and squeeze every last drop out of his team-mates in training often led to bad blood within the camp and some of his former colleagues have spoken out about him in recent weeks after the documentary aired.

Will Perdue, a team-mate for the first three titles, has called Jordan an ‘a***hole’ and a ‘jerk’ but ultimately praised him for dragging his team-mates to new heights on the court.

+19
View gallery

Sportsmail looks at how MJ’s team-mates and other NBA personalities have viewed the icon

Those Jordan and the Bulls demolished on their path to success also felt the brunt of his sharp tongue as well as his sharp shooting. Jordan was the king of trash-talking and was willing to match his opponents physically, as well as psychologically.

Here, Sportsmail looks at some of the most famous quotes that reflect how Jordan is remembered by his coaches, team-mates and opponents.

The Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals to complete their rise from flops to champions under Jordan, winning the first title in their first three-peat.

Johnson was the west coast star while Jordan was dominant on the east after finally toppling the Detroit Piston and Magic once admired Jordan’s incredible attitude.

+19
View gallery

Magic Johnson was the star of the west coast with the LA Lakers, winning five championships

He said: ‘If somebody says no to you, or if you get cut, Michael Jordan was cut his first year, but he came back and he was the best ever.

‘That is what you have to have. The attitude that I’m going to show everybody, I’m going to work hard to get better and better.’

Will Perdue

Perdue was Jordan’s team-mate for the first hat-trick of titles in Chicago before he moved onto the San Antonio Spurs when Jordan left to play baseball in 1995.

Perdue was traded to the Spurs for Dennis Rodman, a man who was a key component in helping Jordan and the Bulls get back on top when he returned to Chicago.

+19
View gallery

Will Perdue (R) featured in the first three-peat for the Bulls with Jordan between 1992-94

Perdue was one of those to take offence to Jordan’s motivational methods in practice but ultimately came to realise it made the entire team reach a different level.

He said: ‘Yeah, let’s not get it wrong. He was an a***hole. He was a jerk. He crossed the line numerous times.

‘But as time goes on and you think about what he was actually trying to accomplish, you’re like, “Yeah, he was a helluva team-mate”.’

+19
View gallery

Perdue labelled MJ ‘an a**hole’ but said, over time, he grew into a ‘helluva team-mate’

Phil Jackson

Jordan won all six of his NBA Championships under Jackson, the legendary coach who transformed the way the Bulls played and went on to have further success with the Lakers.

Jackson took over as head coach of the Bulls in 1989 and set about implementing a new style of play that demanded more circulation of the ball between the entire team, rather than a system flowing straight through Jordan.

Once the new style had been implemented, the Bulls managed to get further and further into the play-offs before eventually winning the title.

He said: ‘He was content to know that he was going to beat teams by being the provocateur and setting up his team-mates.

‘That was the defining moment, his transition from being a great scorer to learning how to beat teams without having to score. He knew we’d win championships because of it. It was a changing moment for him.’

+19
View gallery

Legendary coach Phil Jackson said MJ’s transition into a team-player was significant

Scottie Pippen

Jordan admits himself that he wouldn’t have been as successful without Pippen playing alongside him. The pair worked effortlessly together and combined to be one of the NBA’s most feared partnerships.

Reports suggest Pippen is furious with the portrayal of him in ‘The Last Dance’ after Jordan accused him of being ‘selfish’ by delaying surgery on an injury until the season had started.

Jackson made the most of the pair’s competitiveness in practice, regularly putting them on opposite teams to drive up the standards between them.

+19
View gallery

Scottie Pippen (R) was a crucial figure in the Bulls team and heaped praise on his team-mate

Pippen once said: ‘Well, it was just great because it taught us how to compete at all times. That was part of Phil’s practice philosophy— to get two guys out there who wanted to win all the time and put us on separate teams.

‘Now, you’ve got two guys who have to get their own group together; they have to use their leadership, not just their ability to do what they can do on the court.

‘If you compete against Michael Jordan every day and you are able to beat him some days, then you feel like you can win most of the games every day.’

Jerry Reinsdorf

The owner of the Bulls during the successful period, and still the man at the helm of the Bulls, was regularly trying to keep the peace between Jordan and his team-mates and general manager Jerry Krause.

Krause wanted to shake things up at the end of their second three-peat and that was the backdrop for ‘The Last Dance’.

+19
View gallery

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf (L) featured in the documentary and had a host of fires to put out

Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago White Sox, had a number of fires to put out throughout the documentary and has admitted it is nice to get some recognition from Jordan for his efforts.

He once said: ‘Perhaps the most satisfying thing occurred when Michael Jordan became a team owner and said to me, “I owe you a lot of apologies. It’s a lot harder to run a team than I thought”.’

Sam Smith

Basketball journalist Smith is regularly seen throughout the documentary and offers a perspective from the media during the Bulls’ successful run.

He published a book called ‘The Jordan Rules’ in 1992 and it caused quite a stir within the Bulls locker room.

+19
View gallery

Journalist Sam Smith, who wrote Jordan Rules, has shared insights into Jordan’s ruthlessness

Smith once recounted a tale that summed up Jordan’s attitude towards his team-mates when things didn’t go to plan, denying Horace Gant a meal because of his performance.

Smith said: ‘Players would come to me over the years and say, “You know what he did? He took Horace [Grant’s] food away on the plane because Horace had a bad game”.

‘[Michael] told the stewardesses “Don’t feed him, he doesn’t deserve to eat”.’

Horace Grant

Grant has been one of the fiercest critics of the documentary since it aired, even going as far as to say ’90 per cent of it was bull****’ in a recent podcast.

He was present for all three of the Bulls’ first NBA championships but was regularly on the end of some stern words from Jordan in practice and the locker room.

+19
View gallery

Horace Grant has been one of the fiercest critics of the documentary since it aired

Speaking recently to ESPN 1000’s Kap and Co podcast, Grant said: ‘I would say [the documentary was] entertaining, but we know, who was there as team-mates, that about 90 per cent of it [was] BS in terms of the realness of it.

‘It wasn’t real – because a lot of things [Jordan] said to some of his team-mates, that his team-mates went back at him. But all of that was kind of edited out of the documentary, if you want to call it a documentary.’

Steve Kerr

Kerr becomes the star of the show towards the end of the series. The horrific tale of his father’s death is followed up by his dramatic winning shot in game six against the Utah Jazz in 1997, propelling the Bulls towards their second three-peat.

The 54-year-old has won eight NBA titles in his career, picking up three more as coach of the dominant Golden State Warriors in recent years. He hails the impact that playing alongside Jordan had in taking him from nowhere to one of basketball’s biggest stars.

+19
View gallery

Steve Kerr (R) became the star of the show at the end and had a strong connection with MJ

Kerr said: ‘For me, [playing with Jordan] completely changed the rest of my life. To that point, I had bounced around.

‘I was just an average player. I was able to play on these championship teams, made a name for myself, was able to get into TV, into broadcasting, into management and coaching.

‘And the reason people hired me for these jobs later on is because I had played next to Michael Jordan and I had been part of championship teams.’

Kendrick Perkins

Early on in ‘The Last Dance’ Jordan makes some pretty shocking admissions about the drugs and debauchery surrounding the Bulls during his early days in the NBA.

Some former NBA players have slammed his honesty, admitting there is no place to bring up things that could negatively affect his former team-mates.

+19
View gallery

Boston Celtics star Kendrick Perkins has hit out at Jordan over revelations made about the culture of drugs and debauchery surrounding the Bulls in his early days

Perkins, who won the NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and has become a pundit since retiring in 2018, is one of those and he has accused Jordan of damaging reputations.

‘When you look at the whole documentary, it made Michael Jordan look like a superhero and everybody else look like a villain,’ Perkins told ESPN.

‘Michael Jordan broke every player code imaginable. ‘The Last Dance’ was to praise Mike, which it should have been. But you didn’t have to tear down other people to praise your greatness, because your greatness alone speaks volumes for itself.’

Roy Williams

Williams was one of the men who gave Jordan his first major break in basketball and put him on the path towards the NBA at the University of North Carolina, working as an assistant to head coach Dean Smith.

The 1982 NCAA Basketball finals were won by the Tar Heels thanks to some sublime performances from Jordan, including in the final against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Louisiana Superdome.

+19
View gallery

Roy Williams (C) was Jordan’s coach in college, and said his pupil ‘never freakin’ turned it off’

It was clear Jordan had the talent to go on and make it big with Williams one of the closest observers of his early greatness.

He said: ‘Michael Jordan is the only player that could ever turn it on and off, and he never freakin’ turned it off.’

Larry Bird

When Jordan first arrived at the Bulls in 1984, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, alongside LA Lakers’s Magic Johnson, was very much at the pinnacle of the sport, having guided the Celtics to two championships before adding a third in 1986.

Bird was also a member of the famous 1992 US Olympics Men’s Basketball team, and the documentary pinpoints a notorious scrimmage between the all-star players that saw Jordan establish himself as the number one player in the league.

+19
View gallery

Larry Bird (L) was one of the NBA stars who passed on the baton to Jordan as he came through

The Hick from French Lick makes an appearance in the documentary later on, as head coach of the New Orlean Pelicans, but MJ comes out on top in the Eastern Conference finals. Bird was full of praise for the Bulls icon.

‘I would never have called him the greatest player I’d ever seen if I didn’t mean it,’ Bird said. ‘It’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.’

Craig Hodges

Shooting Guard Craig Hodges was a team-mate of Jordan’s from 1988 to 1992, winning two championships with the Bulls.

The former Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks star has had a publicly fractious relationship with his former team-mate, not taking kindly to Jordan’s resistance to embroil himself in political discussions.

He has also been critical of Jordan revealing an insight into player culture as a youngster.

‘One of the things as players we call this a fraternity. So I’m watching the first episode and I was upset about the ‘cocaine circus,’ he said.

‘That bothered me because I was thinking about the brothers who are on that picture with you who have to explain to their families who are getting ready to watch this great Michael Jordan documentary event and they know you’re on the team, and now you’ve got to explain that to a 12-year-old boy.’

+19
View gallery

Jordan’s former team-mate, Craig Hodges, also slammed the revelations of the Bulls’ culture

Kobe Bryant

As Jordan once did with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant was seen as the man to take the baton as the Bulls star’s career was winding down.

MJ and Kobe enjoyed a playful rivalry when the LA Lakers star arrived in the NBA as an 18-year-old. Bryant would go on to win five NBA championships under Jordan’s coach at the Bulls, Phil Jackson.

+19
View gallery

Kobe Bryant (R) described Jordan as a ‘big brother’ and attributed his success to the legend

The Last Dance takes a look at Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

Bryant, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash earlier this year, saw Jordan as family.

‘He’s like my big brother,’ he revealed. ‘I truly hate having discussions about who would win one-on-one. Or fans saying you beat Michael one-on-one. I feel like, yo, what you get from me is from him.

‘I don’t get five championships here without him. Because he guided me so much and gave me so much great advice.’

The “Crying Jordan” meme has new life in 2017 and we have Michael Jordan himself to thank for this.

The Chicago Bulls legend and current owner of the Charlotte Hornets recently told Cigar Aficionado that so-called “super teams” have hurt the level of competition in the NBA.

According to the six-time champion, fans this season can expect to see “one or two teams that are going to be great, and another 28 teams that are going to be garbage.”

This isn’t exactly breaking news, even to the casual observer, but when No. 23/45 chimes in, it tends to spark conversation. Especially as the NBA off-season featured a dizzying spell of trades that saw star players take up new addresses alongside fellow all-stars.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the latest to try their hand at this, acquiring Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to join forces with franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook.

The Oklahoma City Thunder assembled the NBA’s lastest super team this summer with Paul George, left, reigning MVP Russell Westbrook, middle, and Carmelo Anthony. (Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images)

Faced with the possibility of wasting another year in the Big Apple, Anthony and the New York Knicks agreed it was time to turn the page. But while few, if any, were sad to see Anthony accept a trade, the haul they got in return left a lot to be desired.

There was a similar vibe to the Thunder acquiring George as the disgruntled forward was moved by the Indiana Pacers for two players with a level of talent that can be found on any roster.

The immediate return may require Jordan to remove Oklahoma from the garbage heap, while the already-struggling Pacers and Knicks may slip even further.

Former Raptors GM weighs in

Glen Grunwald, a former general manager of the Toronto Raptors and Knicks, feels that Jordan misspoke with his “garbage” comments and in a way that commissioner Adam Silver would likely not appreciate.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily fair,” the current Athletic Director at McMaster University told CBC Sports.

“Golden State had struggled for many years before they drafted Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, and that made all the difference for them. Then… they took advantage of the increase in the salary cap to sign Kevin Durant.”

Grunwald acknowledges that having great players is necessary for success, especially in a league that has had dynasties dating all the way back to the late 1940s with the Minneapolis Lakers, through the 1980s with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, and the ’90s Bulls and so forth.

The differences in this era aren’t so much in how teams are built, Grunwald says, but in how the game is being played.

Playing by the rules

“What is often overlooked are the rule changes which don’t allow as much contact and hand-checking on the perimeter,” he says. “It makes it difficult for a less-talented team to equalize the disparity in talent through tough defence and being physical with a team like Golden State.”

As for the unbalanced trades involving George and Anthony, Grunwald believes that’s just the nature of the business.

“It’s always hard to do a trade and I think there have been more teams with very disparate interests,” he says. “Some teams are really trying to tank and that creates those unbalanced trades, where a team doesn’t particularly care… they want to be bad and get a good draft choice.”

Although the NBA has implemented new draft rules that aim at reducing the incentive to tank, the ability to prevent the forming of super teams is more difficult to tackle, assuming the desire even exists.

So for the time being, Jordan may have to deal with the reality of watching “garbage” teams for years to come.

“I think [Jordan’s] concern is the desire of great players to leave smaller markets or just leave any team, but that’s not a new thing,” Grunwald says. “But that’s what players are entitled to do and… [Jordan] being in a small market, that makes it less likely that [the Hornets] would be able to attract players.”

The insight and access it gives is extraordinary. You get to truly understand what made Jordan one of the greatest athletes of all time and the Bulls a once-in-a-generation sporting team.

Since the documentary’s release, some have said that Jordan hasn’t come out of it in a particularly good light, that he was a single-minded bully within the team who wasn’t much liked.

It has also raised questions whether this sort of mentality still exists within elite teams today, or if it was some sort of ‘old-school’ approach that has now been rightly erased.

Michael Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls

In my eyes, that is total nonsense. Jordan is revealed as an athlete with extraordinary physical abilities but with an even stronger mentality. His will-to-win was unparalleled.

Conor McGregor’s training partners predict Michael Chandler UFC clash

Through utter dedication and determination, he dragged himself and his team to record-breaking victories. He helped lift every single team-mate to greater heights – the average became good, the good became excellent, and the excellent became potential Hall of Famers.

Jordan’s mental strength is why he reached sporting heights others can only ever dream of. Would that have made him awkward to be around? Would he have irritated team-mates with his constant berating? Damn right. But would they have respected him without limit? 100 per cent.

Phil Neville once described Roy Keane as his greatest ever captain, even if he terrified him at the same time. Keane also clashed with team-mates and the manager.

He continuously berated team-mates to do better in training, just as Jordan did. They were uncompromising, but they were winners.

Roy Keane was relentless ( 
Image:
PA)
It is no coincidence that Keane and Jordan led the teams they played for to global stardom.

Every successful elite team needs an environment with an edge to it. An edge were team-mates openly challenge each other to do better.

They will talk honestly to each other and won’t waste words to get to the truth of how they improve individually and collectively in the pursuit of victory. It will be uncomfortable at times but that isn’t bullying, that is an elite mentality. The best thrive in that environment.

We had it in our GB Women’s Hockey team that won Olympic Gold at Rio in 2016. We knew the standards we expected of each other and anything else wasn’t acceptable.

The Last Dance should be watched by every sports enthusiast to understand what makes a champion like Jordan tick.

I have enjoyed watching the Bundesliga since it resumed action in Germany.

One player who caught my eye was young Kai Havertz at Bayern Leverkusen. Many people expect reduced spending in the next transfer window because of the coronavirus, but Havertz looks special.

Despite times being tough, I expect all the big teams to be clamouring to get the midfielder’s signature this summer.

Michael Jordan is regarded by most as the greatest basketball player of all time, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, and picking up countless personal accolades along the way.

Everyone wanted to ‘Be Like Mike’ in the ’80s and ’90s, however the former NBA star is self-admittedly not perfect.

His achievements on the basketball court and in the commercial world, where he has racked up a wealth of around $2.1billion, are almost unmatched, but throughout his career, Jordan showed hints of a darker side.

+7
View gallery

He is regarded as the greatest basketball player ever, but Michael Jordan also had a dark side

Punching Steve Kerr

In the 1990s, NBA team practice was a lot more intense than it is in the modern era. Nowadays, players are given more time to rest and recover amid the packed game schedule.

But in a Bulls training camp before the 1995-96 season after Jordan’s return from mini-retirement, Jordan and Steve Kerr started getting rough with each other, to the point where a heated scuffle broke out between the two of them ending with Kerr receiving a black eye.

There are apparently no hard feelings these days, and Kerr, who is now head coach of the Golden State Warriors, actually believed it helped out in the long run.

‘I would definitely say it helped our relationship,’ said Kerr in recent interview on TNT. ‘Practices were really intense. They were a huge part of the Bulls and Michael setting a standard for our play.

+7
View gallery

Jordan once punched Steve Kerr during Bulls practice, leaving him with a black eye

He also says practice fights were more common than people might think in the teams he played for, revealing there were ‘probably three’ just in that season alone, although didn’t mention whether Jordan was involved in the others.

After the incident, Jordan and Kerr won three NBA championships together, including a famous moment where Kerr hit the winning shot against the Utah Jazz in 1997 after a crucial pass from Jordan.

Keeping quiet on political issues

Although he wasn’t obligated to share his political opinions with anyone, there is no doubting that a lot of people were disappointed when Jordan didn’t endorse politician Harvey Gantt in his 1990 senatorial race against Jesse Helms in North Carolina, where Jordan lived from a young age.

It was almost expected that as a highly respected black athlete, Jordan would speak out against Helms, who was against having a holiday dedicated to Martin Luther King, was accused of being pro-segregation, and was also against homosexuality.

However, Jordan chose to remain silent, and things became worse for his brand when he was quoted as saying ‘Republicans buy sneakers too’ when asked why he wasn’t speaking out.

+7
View gallery

Some criticised Jordan for not endorsing Harvey Gantt’s North Carolina senatorial campaign

Jordan has since claimed that it was a throwaway joke made on the Bulls’ team bus, but people still took it to mean he was more interested in making money by selling his Nike branded shoes than fighting for social justice.

Even former US President Barack Obama weighed in, appearing on Netflix’s The Last Dance documentary.

‘For somebody who was at that time preparing for a career in civil rights law and public life, and knowing what Jesse Helms stood for, you would have wanted to see Michael push harder on that,’ said Obama.

Jordan says he did donate to Gantt’s campaign, but Helms went on to win the 1990 election, and held the position of North Carolina senator from 1973-2003.

Rivalry with Isiah Thomas

Before winning six NBA championships, Jordan and the Bulls spent a lot of time chasing after the Detroit Pistons. The ‘Bad Boys’, so-called for their aggressive, defense-oriented play, and led by Isiah Thomas, won back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.

The Pistons knew how good Jordan was, so came up with the ‘Jordan Rules’.  Simply put, the Pistons would bully Jordan physically, and commit players to him in order to starve him of the ball. It eventually led to Jordan beefing up to compete with strength of his own.

Then in 1991, the Bulls swept the Pistons in the championship finals and the Bad Boys walked off the court before the final game was even over, controversially refusing to shake hands.

There were a number of other incidents throughout Jordan’s early career that are attributed to their rivalry, and it eventually led to Thomas allegedly being kept off the 1992 US Olympic Dream Team due to Jordan, despite being one of the top picks.

+7
View gallery

Jordan and the Detroit Pistons’ Isiah Thomas had a vicious rivalry spanning many years

‘I don’t know what went into that [selection] process,’ said Thomas on The Last Dance. ‘I met the criteria to be selected, but I wasn’t.’

Although Jordan denies it, people have suggested that Jordan made US head coach (and Detroit coach at the time) Chuck Daly keep Thomas off the team for the Barcelona Games.

It was the first time the US had sent a team of NBA players to the Olympics. ‘Dream Team’ assembled was dominant in 1992, and the US men’s team has won every gold medal since then apart from in 2004.

You wouldn’t begrudge Thomas from feeling left out, especially as Jordan says himself that: ‘the best point guard of all time is Magic Johnson and right behind him is Isiah Thomas. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game.’

Gambling

Jordan has made no secret of the fact he enjoys gambling over the years, and although it has appeared to be an issue at some stages during his career, he is adamant that he has never had a problem.

The most famous incident when Jordan’s gambling came to the spotlight was during the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

In order to take some time away from basketball and the bustle of New York, Jordan took a trip to gambling hub Atlantic City, but reports say he went a little overboard.

‘We got a limo, we went and gambled for a couple hours, and we came back,’ he said on The Last Dance. ‘Everybody went totally ballistic. It wasn’t late. We got home by 12.30, 1.’

However, the New York Times say someone spotted him out at 2.30am, and the attention only grew when the Bulls lost game two the following night after an underwhelming performance by Jordan.

+7
View gallery

Jordan went on a trip to a casino in Atlantic City before playing the New York Knicks in 1993

It has also emerged that he skipped the Bulls’ trip to the White House after winning the 1991 NBA Finals so that he could go gamble with golf shop owner and convicted cocaine dealer James ‘Slim’ Bouler.

Then Richard Esquinas published a book called ‘Michael and Me’. Esquinas was a self-described recovering gambling addict and addressed his and Jordan’s alleged problems in the text.

He also claimed Jordan owed him a staggering $1.2million in gambling debts from golf bets. Jordan denied that and Esquinas later said they settled with a payment of $300,000.

The Bulls team would also play cards for huge sums of money on flights to and from games, and he supposedly once lost $5m in a Las Vegas casino in a single night.

Jordan insists that he does not have a gambling problem, saying ‘no, because I could stop gambling. I have a competition problem, a competitive problem.’

Trash talk / ‘bullying’

There’s always going to be some ribbing in sport, however some have suggested that Jordan took his trash talk too far on a number of occasions.

He has been accused of bullying Bill Cartwright when he joined the Bulls in 1998, replacing Jordan’s friend Charles Oakley.

Jordan didn’t take kindly to the new recruit initially. He accused him of having bad hands, and would throw bad passes at him at practice to try and highlight this. He would also call him ‘Medical Bill’, although Cartwright did end up helping the Bulls to their ‘three-peat’ championship victories in the early 90s.

+7
View gallery

Jordan was accused of ‘bullying’ Bill Cartwright when he replaced Charles Oakley on the Bulls

He also reportedly called Rodney McCray a ‘loser’ in practice when he arrived in Chicago as a reserve forward.

Plus, Jordan’s words have been attributed to the decline of Muggsy Bogues. Playing against the Charlotte Hornets in 1995, Jordan backed off Bogues, and former Bulls assistant coach Johnny Bach claims Jordan said: ‘Shoot it you f****** midget.’

Bogues, the shortest player to ever play in the NBA at 5’3″, missed the shot, and never had a better season in the NBA after that.

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two basketball icons of different eras, shared a deep and enduring friendship that extended far beyond the basketball court. In a revealing moment, Michael Jordan shed light on the reasons behind his passionate support and admiration for his legendary best friend, Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant’s impact on the world of basketball is immeasurable. His relentless work ethic, unparalleled skill, and commitment to excellence made him one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His legacy continues to inspire athletes and fans worldwide.

Michael Jordan’s friendship with Kobe Bryant was rooted in shared values. Both players possessed an unwavering dedication to their craft, a fierce competitive spirit, and an unrelenting pursuit of greatness. Their common mindset forged a unique connection between them.

Throughout Kobe’s career, Michael Jordan served as a mentor and a source of guidance. The elder statesman of the game shared invaluable insights with the young prodigy, nurturing his development both as a player and as a person. Their mentorship evolved into a deep and mutual respect.

Jordan and Bryant’s friendship transcended the realm of sports. They became like brothers, supporting each other through the highs and lows of life. Their connection was not just about basketball but also about family, values, and the shared journey of life itself.

In revealing the reason behind his passionate support, Michael Jordan highlighted his admiration for Kobe’s commitment to leaving a lasting legacy. Kobe’s pursuit of excellence on the court and his dedication to inspiring the next generation resonated deeply with Jordan.

Michael Jordan’s friendship with Kobe Bryant serves as an inspiration for fans and athletes alike. It underscores the idea that deep and meaningful relationships can be formed through shared values and experiences. Their bond is a testament to the enduring impact of sports on personal connections.

Michael Jordan, the iconic basketball legend, and Serena Williams, the tennis sensation, are two athletes whose names are synonymous with excellence in their respective sports. Recently, Michael Jordan surprised Serena Williams with a heartfelt gesture that celebrated her incredible achievement of winning her 23rd Grand Slam title.

Serena Williams’s remarkable career has been marked by her unparalleled success in the world of tennis. Her 23 Grand Slam titles stand as a testament to her skill, determination, and enduring legacy in the sport.

Michael Jordan’s name is etched in basketball history, with six NBA championship rings and a legacy of greatness that transcends generations. His influence in the world of sports is immeasurable.

Michael Jordan’s decision to surprise Serena Williams with exclusive Air Jordan shoes is a touching tribute to her remarkable achievement. These customized shoes symbolize the fusion of two legends, combining the style of Air Jordan with Serena’s unparalleled talent.

The gift of exclusive Air Jordan shoes represents more than just footwear; it is a gesture of respect and recognition between two sports icons. It signifies the mutual admiration that exists between athletes who have achieved greatness in their respective fields.

Michael Jordan’s surprise gift to Serena Williams serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes. It illustrates the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of fellow sportsmen and sportswomen, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect in the world of athletics.

In the world of basketball, few names resonate as powerfully as Michael Jordan. Revered as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Jordan’s legacy extends far beyond his achievements on the court. However, behind the veil of his enormous popularity lies a captivating tale: the NBA’s decision to ban his iconic shoes.

During his illustrious career with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan revolutionized the sneaker industry with the launch of the Air Jordan line in collaboration with Nike. These sneakers not only boasted cutting-edge technology but also reflected Jordan’s unparalleled style and charisma. As a result, they quickly became a cultural phenomenon, coveted by fans and athletes alike.

Yet, amidst their skyrocketing popularity, the NBA made a controversial move: banning Jordan’s shoes from the court. The league argued that the vibrant red and black color scheme of the Air Jordans violated its uniform policy, leading to fines each time Jordan wore them during games.

Instead of stifling the shoes’ appeal, the ban sparked a frenzy of demand. Sneakerheads clamored to get their hands on the forbidden footwear, turning them into coveted collector’s items. Meanwhile, Jordan’s rebellious defiance of the NBA’s rules only served to enhance his image as a maverick and trendsetter.

Moreover, the ban inadvertently fueled the creation of sneaker culture as we know it today. It ignited a fervent passion among fans, transforming sneakers from mere athletic gear into symbols of status, style, and self-expression.

In hindsight, the NBA’s attempt to curb Jordan’s influence only amplified his iconic status. The ban became a pivotal moment in his career, cementing his place not just in basketball history but in the annals of pop culture.

the NBA’s decision to ban Michael Jordan’s shoes may have been intended to limit his impact, but instead, it catapulted him to even greater heights of fame and influence. Behind the scenes of this controversy lies a fascinating story of how adversity can sometimes be the catalyst for unparalleled success.

Basketball icon Magic Johnson recently reminisced about a memorable trash talk encounter with Michael Jordan during a practice session with the legendary Dream Team.

In a candid interview or public appearance, Johnson shared details of the intense back-and-forth banter that took place between him and Jordan on the practice court. The exchange, which was characterized by playful jabs and competitive taunts, showcased the fierce competitive spirit that defined the Dream Team’s legendary lineup.

As two of the greatest players in NBA history, Johnson and Jordan shared a mutual respect for each other’s talents but were not above engaging in spirited trash talk to fuel their competitive fire. Their verbal sparring sessions during Dream Team practices became the stuff of legend, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already star-studded roster.

Johnson’s recollection of the trash talk with Jordan offers fans a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the Dream Team, highlighting the camaraderie, competitiveness, and sheer talent that defined the historic squad.

As basketball enthusiasts continue to celebrate the legacy of the Dream Team, Johnson’s anecdote serves as a reminder of the unforgettable moments and lasting friendships forged on the court, immortalizing the team’s place in basketball history.