As a 6x champion, Michael Jeffrey Jordan achieved great success in his NBA career. While he had plenty of help along the way from guys like Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr, he never had to go out and ask for it.
His trainer, Tim Grover explained why Jordan never recruited other players to Chicago, even as the team pushed for him to do so.
(via Tim Grover: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness):
Michael possessed unshakable confidence in himself that never wavered. He didn’t have to know what was coming, but he was always ready. He knew when to take the shot and when to pass to someone else. When to talk and when to stay silent. When to speed up and when to slow down. When to respond to criticism and when to laugh it off. He never recruited superstars to play alongside him, although the organization was always asking him to do so.
In one particular example, the Bulls were doing everything they could to sign Sam Bowie and wanted Jordan to help convince him. But MJ’s confidence was so strong that he couldn’t actually admit to needing Bowie.
At one point, the Bulls management ask him to be part of a conference call with Sam Bowie, who was a free agent at the time. Everyone made their pitch to Sam about why he should join the Bulls and how much the team wanted and needed him in Chicago. Phil made his pitch, along with Jerry Krause and Scottie…and then it was MJ’s turn. “Sam, you comin or not? He said. We’re winning with or without you.” His belief in himself was so powerful he never doubted the outcome.
Jordan was as stubborn off the court as he was on the court. He never lost faith in his abilities or in his team’s chances to win. The truth is, no matter who else was on the roster, Jordan was going to fight — and win.
In the end, it all worked out for MJ. Without recruiting anybody, he won six titles and put together a dominant stretch that very few teams can ever claim to match.
All he needed was himself, and nobody knew it better than him.
