Michael Jordan’s name is synonymous with the Chicago Bulls. The GOAT spent 13 seasons with the organization, winning six NBA Championships in six trips to the Finals. Being one of the biggest superstars in the league, Jordan made considerable money, but only during the twilight years of his career.
There was a time even when the great Michael Jordan made just $3.85 million for the 1995-96 season. MJ obviously wanted a better contract from the Bulls and was even close to signing with the New York Knicks in 1996, had the organization failed to meet his demands.
“It was truly a rumor,” Jordan told Marvin R. Shanken in a 2005 interview. “We had one occasion when there was a dialogue. It must have been in 1996 or 1997 because of my contract situation in Chicago. But nothing ever really materialized.”
Jordan added: “If Chicago had not made a significant offer, New York was next. We actually had a dialogue with New York. If a phone call didn’t come in 30 minutes from Chicago, we had already given assurances that we would have gone to the Knicks for less money.”
Michael Jordan signed a one-year $30.14 million contract with the Bulls for the 1996-97 season. Jordan was the highest-paid player in the league by far. Horace Grant was the second-highest-paid player in the league while making $14.87 million for the season.
MJ took things to the next level and signed a $33.14 million contract for his final season with the Bulls. The salary cap for the 1997-98 season in the NBA was roughly $27 million and so, the Bulls legend made more than the entire salary cap.
Michael Jordan Leveraged The Knicks To Get A Better Contract From The Bulls
Michael Jordan averaged 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 4.3 APG in the 1995-96 NBA season. He also led the Bulls to a 72-10 record, which was the best regular season record in the league until the 2016 Golden State Warriors broke it.
The Bulls easily won the 1996 NBA Championship as well. It was Jordan’s fourth ring. Keeping that in mind, the Bulls superstar deserved a mega contract. ‘His Airness’ used the Knicks to essentially force the Bulls to hand him a $30 million-plus contract.
MJ got his wish, and the Bulls’ decision paid off as he went on to lead them to two more championships before retiring from the league for the second time in 1998.
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