Here are five key points from episodes 7 and 8 of “The Last Dance”, the documentary series that explores Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ championship season in 1997-98:
* * *
1. So that’s why he was a jerk
This wasn’t merely a revelation, but rather a deep dive into Jordan’s mentality and driving force. While he was indeed pushing his Bulls teammates to the point of being tougher than most Marine drill instructors with new recruits, it was primarily for his own benefit. He needed reassurance that the Jordanaires had the capability to secure championships.
However, it was also intended for them. We witnessed some of the harshest forms of “tough love” imaginable in Jordan’s expectations, ridicule, and altercations with his fellow Chicago teammates.
Finally, we have Jordan revealing what’s behind the curtain.
“Victory comes at a cost,” Jordan stated in his recent discussions with the documentary team. “So does leadership.”
“When you joined the team, you adhered to the standard I set as I played the game. I was never going to accept anything less.”
Bill Wennington, a center who joined the Bulls during Jordan’s first retirement, received a straightforward welcome when the team leader came back. Wennington shared that Jordan instructed him, “I want you to jump on the cape. But you have to hold on.”
If it meant having to punch teammates like Will Perdue and Steve Kerr, verbally harass Scott Burrell, or even make Dennis Hopson cry (which happened in 1990-91, but was not included in the documentary), then so be it.
“He couldn’t be a nice guy, given the kind of mentality he had,” said B.J. Armstrong.
As podcast king Adam Carolla often points out, with Jordan, it wasn’t about you doing your best, but rather about you doing his best. He was very clear that he never asked a teammate to do anything that he himself didn’t do.
He got very emotional too.
“Desiring victory was my goal, but I also wanted them to participate in the victory,” Jordan expressed, his voice growing heavy. “If you’re not inclined to play in that manner, then don’t,” he added.
He paused at that point and said, “Break,” signaling an end to the scene himself.
2. James Jordan never left his side
We were bound to revisit the summer of 1993 when Michael Jordan’s father, James, was tragically killed in an arbitrary roadside assault on a Carolina highway. However, Episode 7 revealed that Michael’s decision to retire was not a direct result of his father’s untimely demise. He had already been contemplating retirement following his ’93 championship win, possibly even as early as fall of 1992.
His venture into baseball was largely inspired by his father.
Michael's No. 1 fan from the beginning.#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/nW4YeC1p7Y
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 11, 2020
Before his basketball career took off, Jordan had a passion for baseball, inspired by multi-sport athletes like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. However, it was his family’s love for baseball and his father’s advice to pursue what brought him joy that led him to Birmingham, Alabama. Despite skepticism from the sports world, he joined the Class AA Barons, a team in the Chicago White Sox system.
At his 1993 retirement press conference, just 10 weeks following his father’s murder, Jordan made two comments that particularly struck a chord. His first comment was, “The word ‘retire’ means you can do anything you want.” His second comment was, “He saw my last basketball game.”
The documentary constantly shifted in time, highlighting the constant presence of James Jordan by his son’s side, akin to Scottie Pippen’s significance. This was evident until the 6th game of the 1996 Finals against Seattle. For those of us reporting on the championship series, where Chicago initially led 3-0, only to lose Games 4 and 5, leading to a return to the United Center, we retrospectively questioned if it was poetic justice that the decisive game was played on Father’s Day. This was the first time that Jordan and the Bulls clinched their title without Michael’s father present.
We have witnessed NBA icons shedding tears and expressing their emotions when they finally grasp that moment of championship triumph. However, the sight of Jordan, lying on the floor of the trainer’s room, weeping while hugging the basketball and attempting to avoid the cameras instead of performing for them, was an entirely different level of authenticity.
3. Pippen’s star turn, minus 1.8 seconds
At the time Jordan first retired, he was working in Minneapolis where the cruel irony was instantly felt. The Timberwolves, a team that had been somewhat of a joke and generally terrible for their first four years in existence, were finally poised for their big break. They were set to host the 1994 NBA All-Star Game in February, marking their step into the major leagues.
And now, it was set to host an All-Star Game without the presence of Michael Jordan.
Of course, that was a narrow-minded perspective. Consider the emotions of Bulls fans when the best player in the game decided to quit at the peak of his career. Both groups were delightfully taken aback.
Pippen experienced the best individual season of his career, guiding Chicago to an unexpected 55-27 season, especially considering they had just lost Michael Jordan right before training camp. He ended up third in the MVP voting, falling behind Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. He also kept Twin Cities basketball enthusiasts entertained by filling Jordan’s shoes as the top star, even winning the All-Star MVP trophy.
Pippen was not the same kind of player as Jordan, and his personality was also different. His style resonated with his teammates. However, we’ve become so accustomed to Jordan’s intense, aggressive, and relentless way of pushing his teammates that some of the Bulls seemed a bit too comfortable, almost (dare we say) soft, for embracing the change.
The entire dynamic of the team shifted in just 1.8 seconds when Pippen declined to participate in the end of Game 3 of the East semifinals series against New York. Coach Phil Jackson had planned for Toni Kukoc to take the final shot, and Pippen wasn’t even on the court as a distraction. Instead, Jackson had Pippen, the team’s top passer, inbound the ball.
After years of playing second fiddle to Jordan and eventually ascending in rank, Pippen found himself, in his view, relegated back to a supporting role to rookie Kukoc. Kukoc was the European discovery of General Manager Jerry Krause, who had already been a source of irritation to Pippen.
Despite how correct his reasons may seem now, he was completely mistaken. It was captivating to witness the footage from ’94 and the retrospective views from different Bulls members on the reactions of grown men who felt betrayed by a colleague. This event took place after Kukoc impressively scored the buzzer beater, temporarily holding off the Knicks.
“It was devastating, he quit on us,” said Steve Kerr.
Bill Cartwright, the center, was so upset that he cried when he called out Pippen in the locker room.
Pippen immediately apologized and according to Kerr, the team accepted his apology. Despite the Bulls being eliminated, he displayed a ferocious performance in the final three games of the series.
Pippen’s legacy is firmly established. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, was recognized as one of the Top 50 players in NBA history in 1997 (even though he still had seven seasons left in his career), and is generally regarded as the most significant No. 2 player in the history of any NBA team.
Even today, you can find replica jerseys in Chicago that, instead of showing his usual number 33, have “Pippen 1.8” written on them.
4. Comparing Jordan’s ‘bodies’ of work
The NBA’s top player took a break to play minor league baseball for a season. He might have continued if not for the prolonged labor dispute in the sport that lasted until spring 1995.
Jordan’s display of swinging his bat at curveballs was a stark contrast to his usual tongue-out dunks. Yet, he maintained his signature style throughout, as he reflected on that deviation and re-watched the footage on Sunday.
However, he wasn’t. He had exchanged his exceptional basketball physique for one more appropriate for baseball. Was there much talk about this at the time?
Back in the day, the period from March 1995 through the Bulls’ defeat against Orlando seemed to be primarily remembered for Jordan’s remarkable performances during his comeback. This includes his short stint wearing the number 45, instead of his iconic 23, on his Bulls jersey. However, it turned out that Jordan wasn’t simply rusty or too unfamiliar. His arrival on the reformed Chicago team was more than just an Air-drop.
Jordan had trained to become a baseball player instead of a basketball player, and he had to undergo a physical transformation to revert back.
Good Guys Wear Black (& Red) #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/gi6LnaJL3W
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 11, 2020
“Reflecting on it, I didn’t have sufficient time to get my body back into basketball shape,” said Jordan.
Without meaning to disrespect young Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, or former Bull Horace Grant, it would be challenging to get Jordan to admit it.
The explanation was supported by Jordan’s personal trainer, Tim Grover, and the Bulls’ Chip Schaefer. The reflexes, strength, and agility required for one sport significantly differed from the other. The difference might not be as obvious as transforming Yankees’ hitter Aaron Judge, who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 280 pounds, into a functional NBA power forward. But it was a real distinction.
This section of the document depicted Jordan stepping into his role in “Space Jam” in the summer of 1995 and his determination to restore his form. He had the film studio build a complete court and gym, known as the “Jordan Dome,” on its premises for his daily two-hour workouts. In the evenings, he would lead high-level pickup games with NBA talent, refining his skills and scrutinizing theirs.
5. Don’t look, talk or even breathe at Jordan
If you want a chance to defeat him, it’s not an option. Jordan’s tendency to turn perceived insults – whether genuine or fabricated – into intense motivation was fully demonstrated on Sunday.
It’s often said in sports that players and teams can occasionally tap into their full potential and extend their focus during critical moments. However, it’s considered unrealistic for them to suddenly elevate their performance like flipping a switch or hitting the nitrous oxide on a drag strip.
Apparently, Jordan was the exception. Not only did he transform instant resentments into extraordinary performances, but he also discovered methods to create them. At that point, he was like Bruce Banner transforming into full Hulk mode.
The LaBradford Smith story was early legend. That’s when Jordan got so incensed by the Washington guard’s big scoring night against him in Chicago that he torched Smith the very next night of a back-to-back. But the kicker was Smith’s alleged remark (“Nice game, Mike”) after the first game never happened. Somehow, Jordan convinced himself that it had and got his revenge.
Sunday was filled with the kind of happenings that caused a rift between Isiah Thomas and Jordan. For instance, Nick Anderson’s postgame comment following the Magic’s victory in Game 1 of their ’95 playoff series was noteworthy. He stated, “45 isn’t 23.”
Seattle coach George Karl was stuck in a predicament, whether he paid respects at Jordan’s table in the restaurant or not. Regardless, Jordan was indifferent to Carolina guys.
“That’s everything I required,” he stated. “It then turned personal for me.”
Lastly, a recap of Jordan’s response from earlier in the series to a comment made by Thomas, while watching a video from a tablet that was handed to him. This time, it was Gary Payton expressing his view that the ’96 Finals might have had a different outcome if Karl had used Payton to defend Jordan prior to Game 4.
Gary Payton thought he found a way to get to MJ … Mike wasn't sweating the Glove #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/Z8NG7qN5hW
— ESPN (@espn) May 11, 2020
“Continuously, I was striking and pounding him, which significantly wore Mike down,” said Payton. “That’s when the series took a turn.”
Despite Jordan’s cackling, the standout moment was his condescending pronunciation of Payton’s nickname, “The Glove,” as he returned the tablet.
However, the cackling was also quite impressive.
* * *
Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.
