One could safely assume that the Washington Wizards players were hyped when Michael Jordan announced his return to professional basketball. After all, MJ was the undisputed GOAT at that time, and they would have the opportunity of a lifetime to rub elbows with a legend.
While they were initially in awe of His Airness, things soon turned sour in the locker room. Richard Hamilton , the swift Wizards shooting guard, reportedly quarreled with Jordan, an incident that ended in a trade.
Rip vs. Mike
A report by The Baltimore Sun described a tense standoff between Jordam and Hamilton. At the time, Richard was a rising star in the NBA, averaging 20 points per game.
Analysts at the time felt Rip's output would greatly increase if he were the focal point of the offense. However, the Wizards' offensive playbook mostly featured Jordan.
"One of the officials said even the acquisition of Stackhouse came about partly because of a player unwilling to defer to Jordan," the report read in part. "Late last fall, Richard Hamilton and Jordan got into an ugly shouting match. According to the two officials, it began when Hamilton told Jordan he was tired of being a 'Jordannaire,' the term used for Jordan's role players in Chicago."
After just three years in Washington — one as Mike's teammate — Hamilton was sent to Detroit in a massive trade. The Wizards got Jerry Stackhouse , then an athletic veteran who averaged 20-25 points per game. However, it seems that Jerry suffered just like Rip.
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Jerry also regrets playing with Michael
Stackhouse claims that his stint with the Wizards wasn't exactly ideal . For one, he didn't want to leave the Pistons, as he believed they were an up-and-coming squad. Second, the offense still revolved around Jordan, which Jerry claimed wasn't the best strategy.
"Honestly, I wish I never played in Washington, and for a number of reasons. I felt we were on our way in Detroit before I got traded there. It was challenging to be able to be in a situation with an idol who, at this particular point, I felt like I was a better player," Stackhouse said .
"Things were still being run through Michael Jordan," he continued.
This was the dark side of Jordan's stint as a player with the Wizards. While fans and analysts were hyped that the GOAT was back, players on the team weren't happy. Yes, MJ was still good, but it seemed like his mission was to boost his legacy more than and not help the franchise long-term.
Related: "All of them turned their backs on me" - Wes Unseld said all Wizards players refused to give Michael Jordan a retirement gift
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