“What you don’t want to do is p**s him off” - 3x NBA champion says Michael Jordan promised him a 50-point game after learning he was being guarded by a rookie
To this day, former players talk about their Michael Jordan memories for hours. Along with being one of the greatest to ever step foot on a basketball court, the Chicago Bulls legend had a vibrant personality as well.
One aspect that led to Michael Jordan becoming the GOAT was his competitive fire. No matter the situation, he was always willing to do whatever was needed to come out on top.
31 years ago today, Michael Jordan won his first NBA Championship & the rest is history 🐐
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Recently, former Laker Byron Scott appeared as a guest on the 'Getcha Popcorn Ready' podcast. Having played against some of the best the NBA has to offer, he has more than his fair share of stories to tell. To nobody's surprise, Michael Jordan ended up becoming a topic of conversation.
During the interview, Scott recalled a time when he was forced to sit out a game against Chicago due to an ankle injury. Upon telling Michael Jordan that a rookie would be guarding him that night, the Bulls legend proclaimed that he was going to score 50 points.
"He said well if you don't play who gonna guard me, I said Anthony Peeler and he said the rookie, 50, no hesitation."
Scott did all he could to prepare the rookie for the matchup, but Michael Jordan was determined to live up to his word. He ended up breaking the 50-point mark.
"He said he going for 50 tonight so what you don't want to do is piss him off... Every time MJ scored he looked at me on the bench I told you, 54 and missed a breakaway dunk."
Michael Jordan's competitive spirit was unmatched
Stories like the one Scott told are a reason why Jordan might be regarded as one of the most competitive players in NBA history. Even on a random night in the regular season where a rookie was matched up against him, he went out and made a statement.
#OTD in 1991, Michael Jordan switched hands mid-air in Game 2 of the NBA Finals vs the Los Angeles Lakers 🤯
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Few players had the ability to give their all every night like Jordan did. The only person who comes close is the late great Kobe Bryant. Jordan's burning desire to win is what made him such a respected figure among fans and former players.
It's the tiny untanigbales that separate the good from the great. There are a plethora of players who are highly skilled, but not all of them have this type of obsession when it comes to winning games. If Jordan had not harnessed his competitive spirit, there is no telling if he would have gone on to become the greatest ever.