Michael Jordan wanted to win his first championship with Magic and Bird in their prime: "There was no way I was going to get into their circle without winning a championship"

In 1991, Michael Jordan was already a very accomplished NBA star. He had won multiple scoring titles and had already received one MVP and one DPOY award. However, without an NBA championship, Jordan knew he wasn't yet on the level of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The only way to change that was to start winning chips.

But Jordan didn't just want to win championships; he tried to do so while Magic and Larry were still at the peak of their powers.

"There was no way I was going to get into their circle without winning a championship when at least one of them was still on top," said Jordan. "Magic and Larry had been the kings of the 1980s in terms of championships."

Title win over Lakers validated MJ's status

Johnson was the epitome of a team player who made his teammates better. Jordan was the opposite as he was perceived to be a selfish scorer. When the Lakers beat the Blazers in the 1991 Western Conference Finals, the challenge he had long wanted was right before him.

"By going through the Lakers, there was nothing anyone could say," added Jordan. "If both of them had been gone by the time we started winning championships, I'm sure there would have been talk about how I hadn't been able to beat Magic and Larry in their prime."

Doing something Magic and Bird never accomplished

After winning his first championship, MJ was hungry for more. But after capturing a second consecutive championship in 1992, Jordan contemplated retirement because he felt that the cohesive unit that Phil Jackson built was beginning to fall apart . But he pushed that plan back because he wanted to surpass Magic and Bird.

MJ had already entered the Magic and Larry airspace with back-to-back championships in the bag. However, neither Johnson nor Bird won three championships in a row. Back then, the only team to win more than a back-to-back was the historic Celtics squad from the 60s.

With greatness driving him, Air Jordan put his retirement plans aside and led the Bulls to a three-peat in 1993. By then, he joined the winning circle and transcended Magic and Bird, becoming the greatest basketball player ever.

Related: "I don't put myself above them" - Michael Jordan on why he doesn't think he's better than Larry Bird and Magic Johnson