Michael Jordan’s uber-competitiveness and intensity were some of the major highlights of ‘The Last Dance’. The ESPN documentary, perhaps the biggest solace for fans after the pandemic ground all sport to a halt, centered around the star’s career, with particular focus on his final season with the Bulls.
While the sharpshooter’s leadership strategy came under criticism, he found an able ally in former Miami Heat star and Hall of Famer Ray Allen, who defended the tactics on The Encore with Sage Steele. He opined that it was nothing personal but was done with the intent of instilling a winning mentality to the side.
“Once we go on the court, you know we’re friends and I love you, but I need you to do your job,” he explained. “And if I get on your butt, don’t take it personal. Don’t get mad back at me because you can’t handle what I’m saying to you.”
Despite Jordan being hard on his teammates, Allen said the leadership punt worked, and the end result was the Bulls’ three-peat and six championships.
“The proof is in the pudding when you win six championships.”
Michael Jordan Explains His Winning Mindset And Intensity In The Last Dance
It was all or nothing for Jordan when he suited up for Chicago, and losing wasn’t an option. If that meant riding his teammates hard, he would. Something Steve Kerr has a story to share about. But in the end, it was worth it. The final moments of Episode 7 gave valuable insight into his leadership tactics.
“When people see this, they gonna say, he wasn’t really a nice guy. he may have been a tyrant. Well, that’s you, because you never won anything. I wanted to win, but I wanted them to win and be a part of that as well. Look, I don’t have to do this. I’m only doing it because it is who I am. That’s how I played the game. That was my mentality. If you don’t wanna play that way…don’t play that way.”
For Allen, this was what greatness was all about as he lauded the consistency and the mental toughness Jordan brought along with his game. And to him, that was one of the bedrocks of the Bulls’ successful run.
“If you guys want to see this man and anybody at this level be extremely incredible and you want to watch them night in and night out, this is the commitment that it takes.”
Each of the ten-episode docuseries focuses on specific events of the player’s life interspersed with the events that led to him playing his final season in 1998 for Chicago. The Last Dance is currently streaming on Netflix.
