Ahmad Rashad is one of the few NBA media people who were in Michael Jordan's inner circle. As Rashad got close to "His Airness," he discovered MJ's unique approach to competition.
According to Ahmad, one of the most intriguing aspects of Jordan's mental game was his refusal to engage in casual conversations with his NBA peers. Rashad once revealed how he realized that Michael's strategy was not merely a personal quirk but rather a calculated decision aimed at maintaining his competitive edge over his toughest rivals.
"I would be with Michael, and I see some other players in the NBA, and I'd go over and say, 'Hi! Hey, man! How you doing? 'Hey, Michael's right over here.' And then Michael, he said, 'Don't do that anymore, man. I don't wanna talk to that dude.' I said, 'Wait, that's one of your boys.' [He said] 'Aah, no, I ain't talking to him. Let's just move right on,'" Rashad once said .
"I kept thinking, [then I said], 'OK, I see now! you're trying to keep your distance always, so you always have the edge,'" he continued.
Losing made MJ do it
Rashad's revelation only goes to show that for Jordan , friendships take a backseat when it comes to competing. However, what Ahmad couldn't tell is how the GOAT developed this trait. According to former Detroit Pistons big man John Salley, it all started when the Chicago Bulls struggled to overcome the "Bad Boys" in the playoffs.
According to Salley, Jordan and Isiah Thomas used to be pals off the court. However, after a series of devastating playoff losses to the Pistons, MJ realized he had to set aside his relationship with Zeke to focus on beating the "Bad Boys."
"The crazy thing is, Isiah and Michael were hella cool. I got a video when they were doing events; they were hella cool… And then, us beating them two times and coming back, Michael had to realize, 'I have to dislike this guy in order to beat him. I can't be cool with him,'" Salley said on VLAD TV.
Related: "You could just feel it, the lack of respect" - Alonzo Mourning on the tense environment in the gold medal game against France in the 2000 Olympics
MJ always wanted to win
Jordan understood that every moment spent chatting could detract from his performance on the court. By minimizing distractions, the six-time NBA champion knew he could better analyze his opponents, allowing him to stay one step ahead of them in every possession.
Indeed, MJ's psychological tactic often increased pressure on his foes and created a distinct aura of intensity. This speaks volumes about how badly Jordan wanted to win and how much he hated to lose.
Related: "It wasn't just Michael" - Ahmad Rashad shares how Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Tom Brady also had MJ's "lust for winning"
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