Michael Jordan has cemented his GOAT status by being an electrifying player and a true competitor. During his playing years in the NBA, MJ left fans in awe of his game and, as former Chicago Bulls head coach Doug Collins , even his presence.
In a rare interview back in 1986, Collins raved about how people went crazy over Jordan in the flesh. For Collins, there was an unforgettable photo back then in which MJ appeared as if he was Jesus, and everybody was vying to get close to him.
"It's almost scary when you go on the road to see the reaction that people give Michael. I mean, kids that come to the hotel to try to catch Michael getting onto the bus… And the look of disappointment on their face when they don't get his autograph," the coach described .
"There was a great picture from the Portland paper, Michael walking onto the floor with our team, and there's a single-file line, and you see in the background, all these kids standing, taking pictures and like reaching out to touch him. It's like, I compare it to Biblically, about people reaching out trying to touch Christ's garment," he added.
Scottie says Doug was a Mike fanboy
It was common knowledge that Collins was a huge Jordan fan despite being the Bulls ' head coach. In fact, former Bulls forward Scottie Pippen even accused Collins of being obsessed with "His Airness."
Pippen thought that, more often than not, the Bulls coach was biased toward Jordan, and it affected the dynamics of the team. On top of that, Pip also felt uncomfortable when Collins and MJ kissed each other's cheeks in front of the camera.
"They made up before long, Michael kissing Doug on the cheek in front of the cameras. I thought it was disgusting for two grown men to act like that," Pippen wrote in his 2021 book, "Unguarded."
Related: "You can't really cuss them out in front of everybody" - Anthony Edwards explains why he doesn't agree with Jordan and Kobe's leadership style
NBA's "Black Jesus"
For sure, Collins's comparison of Jordan to Jesus could strike some people as an exaggerated remark or even borderline blasphemous. On the other hand, some hoops fans could relate to it, as it wasn't the only time MJ was likened to Jesus. However, only in a basketball context.
In retrospect, it all started when Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird referred to the Bulls star as " God disguised as Jordan ." Since then, reports suggest that other NBA players and personalities followed suit and began calling MJ "Black Jesus."
Regardless of how people slice it, the truth is that Jordan was nowhere near Jesus. However, many would agree that he almost performed miracles on the court.
Related: MJ's jumping ability abandoned him when he needed it the most to escape the wrath of angry pigs: "Left him with a burn across his chest"
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