In a story re-told by former NBA guard Gerald Henderson, he explained how a 50+-year-old Michael Jordan once destroyed former big man Stephen Jackson and the starters in practice with nothing but the 2nd practice unit. According to Henderson, Michael Jordan himself showed up to practice after the team was getting beat down all week. Somehow, with Henderson and a bench of fringe role-players at the end of the rotation, Jordan beat the “first” team and talked smack the entire time.
“He looked like prime Michael Jordan, without the quickness and the jumping ability,” said Henderson, via The Athletic. “But it was just all Jordan’s work. Talking smack the whole time.”
Jordan specifically targeted Stephen Jackson, who was considered a major All-Star snub at the time. Jordan, who was clearly unimpressed with Stephen’s performance, challenged his All-Star status in front of the entire team.
“I think in the media he was talking about how Stephen Jackson should have been an All-Star. I guess Jack went to the basket and threw up a shot and the coaches didn’t call a foul. Jack yells out, ‘Yo, that’s a foul,’ this and that. MJ comes down and hits the game-winner. The game’s over and Jack is still talking, ‘That’s a foul.’ Jordan goes ‘The MFer ain’t never been an All-Star but wants all the All-Star calls.’ We were like, ‘Oh, s–t. Damn that was a little harsh.'”
Jordan Was A Ruthless Competitor
Michael’s antics that day were not just a one-time incident. In fact, that kind of brutal, tough-love mentality is exactly what he was known for in Chicago, during his peak years with the Bulls. During the height of his run, Jordan never backed down, and his fearless nature was reflected in his offensive game, which was unforgiving and purely unstoppable. In the locker room, this competitive edge manifested in the form of leadership that demanded the best out of everyone.
Even long after Jordan retired from the game, he never lost his spark and he used it to help inspire his own team down a similar path to success. Sadly for Jordan, his attempts to build an empire as owner did not pan out, as we saw during his reign in Charlotte that ended in 2023. As for Stephen Jackson, he left after just two seasons with the Bobcats and it’s tough not to think that being embarrassed by Jordan could be a part of the reason why.
An Unsuccessful Ownership Run
Back in March of 2010, Michael Jordan’s purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats was approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors and it ushered in a new era of hope for the struggling franchise. But things went from optimistic to concerning after Jordan’s arrival failed to generate much interest in the franchise. Even after a complete rebrand years later, Charlotte never became the success story that Jordan envisioned and it’s considered by many to be one of the great failures of his NBA tenure.
At the time of Henderson’s practice story, the Bobcats were in the middle of a particularly brutal stretch of play and it would be a common theme for them throughout Jordan’s run at the top. In 13 years, the Bobcats/Hornets don’t have much to show in the way of progress and it remains to be seen whether or not they’re better off in someone else’s hands.
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