Bulls legend Michael Jordan didn’t need any extra motivation to dominate on the basketball court, but he always played a little extra harder against the haters and naysayers. In fact, throughout his entire career, Mike was always finding new ways to expose his doubters, both on and off the court.
In his podcast with co-host Ernie Johnson, NBA legend Charles Barkley looked back on a moment in the 1992 Olympics when Jordan went face-to-face with a Puerto Rican athlete who said some questionable things in the media.
“This is when I knew Michael Jordan was crazy,” said Barkley. “Me, him, Chuck Daly and David Robinson go play golf. We’re playing Puerto Rico that afternoon… then we get to the game. Michael [Jordan] looked up and said ‘I got the point guard. ‘He said some sh** about me in the newspaper’ and I’m gonna get him.’ And we’re looking around like ‘uh oh’ this little kid is in trouble. It’s just amazing how he played 36 holes of golf and he’s guarding this dude like it’s Game 7. And he’s talking ‘don’t you ever say my damn name again.'”
https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1673709160918130692
When it comes to MJ, his abilities on the court were just part of what made him so special. Along with talent and athleticism, Jordan had a competitive spirit that always demanded the best. He never let himself get outworked and was always looking to prove himself to those who dared to challenge his legacy.
Chuck Tried To Distract MJ During 1993 Finals
Just a year after the Team USA experience, Barkley faced MJ as an opponent in the Finals. Obviously, Jordan and the Bulls went on to win the series but it wasn’t for a lack of trying from Chuck.
“When he played for Phoenix. … He [Michael Jordan] claimed he hadn’t read Sam Smith’s Jordan Rules, which was a best-seller,” said former Suns player Robin Ficker. “I read him some of the embarrassing excerpts where he made comments about his teammates. … Occasionally I would make things up, and he would turn around when I did that and shake his head.”
By all accounts, Jordan was truly an unbreakable competitor. In the face of trash talk and heckling, or whatever else teams thought to throw at him, Jordan always had an answer and he never wilted under the pressure.
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