During his reign with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan gradually learned to become a more mature leader. Though the 14-time All-Star learned not to get physical while voicing his discontent with his teammates, he couldn't help but trash-talk them in scrimmage sessions. This was evident even when he joined the Washington Wizards, constantly humbling those who challenged him. Just ask Bryon Russell , who wasn't just outplayed by the aging five-time MVP but relentlessly trash-talked.
MJ trash-talked Bryon Scott
When Mike joined the Wizards at the age of 38, after a three-year hiatus from basketball, he was undoubtedly in the twilight of his career as he lacked the same athleticism or the speed associated with his name. But center Brendan Haywood attested that MJ was an absolute beast, evidently dominating Bryon in their daily practice sessions. Not only did the 6'7" forward recognize his evident shortcomings, but he was even mercilessly trash-talked in the process.
However, in one particular practice session, upon witnessing Russell's refusal to back down, the six-time Finals MVP decided to demonstrate why he's the GOAT and, more importantly, inform Russell that he was called 'The Human Highlight Reel' for all the wrong reasons.
"Mike wanted to cut your heart out. He wanted you to fear him. Mike wanted, defensively and offensively, to dominate you…. He wanted to talk trash to you. He wanted to let you know that you couldn't guard him… One day, MJ was cooking him and he pulled up and hit a game-winner. He said, 'That's why they call you the human highlight reel. Not because you have any highlights of your own but because you are in all of mine,'" Haywood recalled . "That's GOAT trash talk. That shut it down."
Considering how hard Jordan went at other players like Kwame Brown and Russell in almost every practice, one might assume he didn't like them. But according to Haywood, who played alongside MJ for 126 games over two seasons, that wasn't the case.
Instead, Mike's relentless competitive drive made him push these players hard because he believed they weren't reaching their full potential.
"MJ liked you if you were playing well. But he didn't like you if you weren't playing well. Look at Kwame Brown. We all grew up idolizing Michael, " Haywood added. "So when MJ was just going at him, it hurt him because the criticism was coming from Jordan."
MJ had always humbled Russell from time to time
Nevertheless, considering the extent to which the six-time NBA Champ humiliated Russell only suggested that there was a more profound history between them.
During his baseball days with Birmingham Barons, Jordan visited John Stockton and Karl Malone while the Utah Jazz practiced in town. It was there that a confident rookie Russell got ahead of himself, questioned Mike's decision to retire prematurely, and even boasted about his defensive prowess—going as far as to tell a Bulls legend that he would effectively contain him had he arrived in the league earlier.
So, when the New York native returned to the NBA, he ensured that Bryon would never forget that moment.
"When I did decide to come back and we played Utah, I'm at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me," Jordan said during his Hall of Fame speech. "I look over and say, 'You remember this conversation you made in 1994 about how you said you could guard me?' Well, you about to get your chance."
Staying true to his nature of humbling his opponents, Jordan knocked the game-winners over Bryon in both Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals and Game 6 of the 1998 Finals.
It's safe to say that Russell trash-talking MJ resulted not only in him narrowly missing out on two NBA championships but also in enduring continuous reminders from the six-time Finals MVP of his true place, be it in Utah or Washington.
Related: "I don't put myself above them" - Michael Jordan on why he doesn't think he's better than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
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