"We physically beat the hell out of him" - '80s Bulls star on how they toughened Michael Jordan up

Michael Jordan had a wide array of memorable moments with the Chicago Bulls , but Gene Banks remembers him the most for his remarkable resilience. As one of the most athletic players on the team, Banks said he and other Bulls veterans would test young MJ's limits by intentionally playing physical with him during scrimmages. Despite the pain, Jordan never wavered and ate it all.

According to Banks, Mike took all those beatings like a grown man and embraced them as a challenge to push himself further. In the process, he became one of the toughest young players of his era, both mentally and physically.

"He loved to practice. He came at you in practice; we took him out. I mean, we physically beat the hell out of him, and he took it. But he did some things in practice that were amazing. He just really worked hard in practice; he came at you. So, the games for him were pretty much easier than practices were," the former Duke star told Earfluence in 2020.

MJ knew when to turn it on

Banks also remembers Jordan's demeanor on and off the court. As he described it, MJ appeared calm and composed in most situations, giving off an aura of coolness. However, once practice began, His Airness transformed into an ultimate competitor.

Jordan's ability to switch from a laid-back attitude to an intense competitor highlights his immense dedication to the game, a trait Banks saw in Mike early on in his career.

"He was like a machine you know, he would never cross the line before practice he'd chew his gum and talk, but once he crossed that line, he was a maniac," Gene said of young Jordan.

MJ always competed like crazy during practices

Jordan's commitment to excellence was evident in his approach to practice early in his career, and as most of us witnessed, it remained so until his final NBA season with the Washington Wizards . According to former Wizard Hubert Davis, Jordan approached every practice session with a high level of intensity and focus as if it were Game 7 of the NBA Finals .

By treating every practice as a high-stakes game, MJ was able to hone his skills, sharpen his mindset, and maintain his competitive edge. In retrospect, it all worked out well for Jordan as a player.

Related: "I think he taught Michael Jordan how to play" - Shawn Kemp credits controversial ex-Bull for MJ's growth as a player