Michael Jordan is the basketball GOAT for most people that follow the NBA, and his accomplishments are too numerous to list. Throughout his career, MJ played every season with hunger and ferocity, finding new ways to improve on his greatness, and eventually led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in 8 seasons, leading what is arguably the best team ever.
It wasn’t just Jordan doing everything, though, most know that his Head Coach during his most successful seasons with the Bulls was the legendary Phil Jackson. But before Jackson became the coach of the team and changed some things about Jordan’s game, there was another coach that unlocked Jordan and helped him grow and win his first MVP.
Dough Collins coached the Bulls from 1986 to 1989, giving MJ free reign on offense and putting the ball in his hands. Although the Bulls weren’t able to get beyond the Eastern Conference Finals during his time, he and MJ shared a special bond. And it started as early as Collins’ first game in charge of the team, against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. He once shared the story on 94 WIP SportsRadio.
“Two minutes to go in the game, the game was tied. I’m soaking wet with sweat. I’ve chewed my gum to a powder. It’s around my mouth.”
“And I saw this hand come out with a cup of water. And it was Michael Jordan. And he looked at me and said, ‘Coach, take a drink of that water. Clean that stuff off your mouth. I’m not going to let you lose your first game!'”
The one thing that defined Jordan during his playing career was his sheer hunger and will to win. There was nothing that could get between MJ and his desire to win and help his team win. After telling his coach this, MJ would go on to drop 50 points in the game on 48% from the field, with the Bulls winning 108-103. It’s stories like these that remind people exactly how special he was during his prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIyJbWyoWrk
