Michael Jordan’s most phenomenal skill on the court was his supreme ability to score at will. But during his early years in the league, the majority of the Chicago Bulls’ offense running through him also helped in establishing himself as one of the best scorers.
But it all changed after the arrival of Phil Jackson. Jackson wanted the Bulls to have a team-centric approach, and that meant taking the ball away from Michael Jordan. The Zen Master revealed Jordan’s response to this strategy in an episode of ‘Tetragrammation with Rick Rubin.’
“I’d call Michael and say you’re not gonna have the ball all the time. You’re not gonna get 37 shots a game. You’re not gonna get 37 points a game. We have to share the ball. We have to distribute the ball, and everybody’s just playing for you, they’re just gonna defend you. It’s an equal-opportunity offense. He said, ‘I can still win the scoring championship. That’s not that big of a deal. I only have to get 8 points a quarter, 32 points, I’d still win the scoring title.’ I told him this, ‘Nobody that’s won a scoring title, has won a championship since Rick Barry.'”
(Starts at 2:27:07)
Phil Jackson essentially gave Michael Jordan the challenge of not only involving his teammates in the offense but also winning the NBA Championship while being the scoring leader of the league.
How did Mike respond? He won six NBA Championships while clinching the scoring title in each one. In his career, Jordan won 10 scoring titles, and it’s by far the most by an individual player.
Phil Jackson Helped Michael Jordan In Trusting His Teammates
Prior to Phil Jackson’s arrival at the Bulls, Michael Jordan was a one-man show. He would dominate the game on both ends of the floor. But he didn’t have a meaningful run in the postseason.
Sure, the supporting cast around MJ wasn’t that good during his early years. Mike’s inability to trust his teammates during clutch moments also played a role in his early struggles.
Fortunately, Jackson helped Jordan in overcoming that obstacle and it ultimately played a crucial role in ‘His Airness’ winning six NBA Championships.
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