Since arriving in 1984, Michael Jordan has been the focal point of the Chicago Bulls' offense. However, for the Bulls to make a deep run in the postseason, they needed to surround MJ with the right personnel.
Jordan could score at will. That said, Chicago still needed to improve its roster to help out MJ early in his career. One thing that the Bulls could have used at the time was bigger players, or at least that's what the public perception was.
So after Jordan dropped 50 points in the 1986-87 season-opener against the New York Knicks, he yelled at the reporters sarcastically, addressing their criticism.
"We're too small! We've got to get some big guys in here!" Michael said via UPI.
Chemistry is key
Jordan was tasked with spearheading the offense with the likes of Earl Cureton, Granville Waiters, Charles Oakley and Steve Colter as big men on the roster. Still, Mike had faith in the group he had that season. He kept the morale high, stressing what everyone on the roster could do if they all got on the same page.
"The key is chemistry. You can't win without chemistry, and we can get it. We haven't had any gripes, no flareups, and no fights," he explained.
There was only one thing that was certain at the time—Jordan was the cornerstone of the Bulls' franchise. However, he needed to be patient as management tried to improve the team's chances each season.
But what if they didn't? What if Mike's sarcastic comments grew into frustration? The logical answer is that Jordan might've considered a move somewhere else. At least, that is what critics say. However, according to then-coach Doug Collins, it would take a lot for Michael to abandon ship.
"I think it would have to be the absolute darkest, darkest moment for him to feel that we had no chance here," the Bulls coach stated.
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Holding up the fort
Jordan knew he had to step up for his team, even though he had yet to establish himself as one of the best players in the league. Coming off a historic playoff series against the Boston Celtics in 1986, he led the Bulls to a 40-42 record and a postseason rematch against the Larry Bird-led squad in the first round.
Unfortunately, Chicago was swept once again, with MJ putting up 35.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest. Bird led the C's, averaging a near triple-double—26.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists.
Related: Michael Jordan once shared why it was crucial for him to help Toni Kukoc find his place with the Bulls: “He's going to have to deal with expectations"
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