Michael Jordan is not afraid to take and make big shots, which he showed several times in his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. However, all of that resulted from years of playing in the NBA. When he entered the league as a rookie in 1984, there were questions on whether he could deliver in the clutch. Jordan was so hyped then that many wanted to see if he could handle the pressure.
Then, Bulls coach Kevin Loughery knew the North Carolina prodigy would be in for a tough rookie season. Jordan needed to back the hype and deliver immediately.
"He's got to produce immediately. It can't be down the road. The question is: Can this player do it?" the former Bulls coach said.
Former Bulls general manager Rod Thorn approached it milder, suggesting it was a wait-and-see scenario. However, he cautioned that even if Michael were to live up to initial expectations, things would only get harder.
"He's been able to do it so far, but the demands will increase. I'm excited to see how he's going to evolve," Thorn said.
Come fly with me
With his talent, Jordan was compared to previous NBA greats such as Julius Erving and Jerry West. Thorn pointed out how Dr. J thrived on pressure and got better when the game was on the line. Would MJ be able to do the same?
Jordan had a modest but cocky response concerning that comparison. He says that such situations normally come to him because, for some reason, he is at the right place and at the right time.
"It's like a coincidence, maybe a knack I have, to always be in the right place at the right time. But, I don't go hunting for it. I like it to come to me," Jordan said via the New York Times in 1984.
Tireless Jordan
Despite already being blessed with God-given talent, Jordan continued working on his game as much as possible. In 1984, Jordan's entry into the NBA raised several questions. What were the chances that "Air Jordan" would get burned out?
At the time, Michael had just concluded his collegiate hoop career and went on to play for the United States in the 1984 Olympics. When the NBA started, MJ averaged 38.3 minutes per contest in 82 regular season games. Hence, there were worries about potential burnout . However, Jordan shot down all those concerns and emphasized that his love for the game motivated him.
"I love to play basketball. The Olympics? The NBA schedule? No problem," Jordan said .
From there, most know how Jordan evolved into one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Michael ironically capped his Bulls' run with one just like that regarding handling clutch moments. Everyone remembers his iconic game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, handing Chicago its sixth and last crown so far in franchise history.
Related: “I can do this any day, in any gym against any bunch of guys” – During his first retirement Michael Jordan was confident he is still the best player
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