In an exclusive interview with Michael Wilbon in 2009, Michael Jordan was asked if he ever thought about matching or surpassing Bill Russell's 11 NBA championships. Reflecting on the dominance of the Chicago Bulls during the '90s, Jordan expressed a firm belief that had the team's front office not dismantled the squad in 1998, they could have captured seven NBA titles and potentially more afterward.
As for whether they could win 11, MJ said it's an interesting subject of discussion, but he would never be in a position to say yes. However, "His Airness" could confidently confirm that their "competitive nature" would allow them to push themselves to win more than seven.
"We'll take it year by year," Jordan said . "I do believe we could win seven… We'll never know but it's' great for thinking, great for conversations, great for debating. But in my mind, I really believed we could've won seven."
"And then if we won seven, then, our competitive nature would be 'Just keep going. Let's get to eight, let's get to nine till someone beat us, till I actually lose in the Finals, which never happened,'" he added.
Winning 11 NBA titles was never the goal
Looking back at the '90s Bulls' legacy, it's hard not to believe in Jordan's bold take on the matter. While only a few would doubt Chicago's ability to win more than six NBA championships, the opportunity to do so never presented itself.
Ahead of the 1997-98 season, the Bulls front office, spearheaded by general manager Jerry Krause, abruptly ended the team's reign by letting Phil Jackson know that it was going to be his last season as the team's coach. With that in mind, MJ accepted the truth that it was indeed "The Last Dance" as he swore to never play for another coach but Jackson.
That said, Jordan just focused on capping off the Bulls dynasty "the right way." By that, he meant dominating and winning another NBA title one last time.
"Knowing that I married myself to him and obviously if he is not going to be the coach, obviously, I won't play. Phil started off the year, saying this is the last dance, and we played it that way. It also centered our focus to make sure we ended it right. Sad as it sounded in the beginning of the year, we tried to rejoice it and enjoy the year and finish it off the right way," Jordan once confided .
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MJ was capable of winning one more
Jordan's confidence was not unfounded, as the '90s Bulls' success was built on a strong foundation of teamwork and chemistry. With his unyielding drive and talent, it is conceivable that the Bulls could have continued to add to their championship tally and further solidify their place as arguably the greatest NBA dynasty of all time.
Some might disagree, considering what transpired after '98, but what many could never refute is Jordan's undeniable competitive drive and burning desire to win. That alone, as many have witnessed, could already lead a team to another NBA title. Maybe not five to reach 11, but at least one more.
Related: "People who didn't see Bill Russell play have no idea. There is no comparison!" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why Bill Russell is the GOAT over Michael Jordan
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