Throughout his illustrious career, Michael Jordan faced criticism for his highly intense approach to the game. His competitiveness was often viewed as borderline cutthroat, and his thirst for excellence sometimes caused tension within the team.
However, Jordan himself once dismissed these notions, tagging his behavior as an expression of true competitive spirit rather than an example of unreasonable relentlessness. There should be no room for weakness for the Chicago Bulls star if the team's goal is to dominate and win.
"I would never say I was cutthroat. I was a competitor. I didn't really care If I broke 'em. If they did get broken, then they are not going to be helpful to us when we need them the most," Jordan explained in one of the older ESPN documentaries about the Chicago Bulls star.
MJ only knew one thing about winning
Despite being viewed as demeaning and ruthless, Jordan takes pride in being non-emotional, especially when he is zoned in on winning. By consistently doing so, "His Airness" was able to get the results he wanted and build a legacy.
Before long, Jordan's zero tolerance for weakness became both a curse and a gift. He morphed from a promising NBA star to the most dominant player in the league. Championships and a wide array of recognitions and awards followed suit. However, he certainly didn't have the title of best teammate on his resume.
Though being a demanding leader wasn't really something to be proud of, Mr. Air once stressed that he innately knew everything about beating his rivals . For MJ, it's his is a coveted trait in basketball, as winning is all that matters at the end of the day.
"It's my knowledge of basketball that is really high. I know every facet of the game, every trick of the trade, every little motivation, every little technique. But mostly, I know how to attack people," the six-time NBA champion once explained.
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Not all could understand MJ
Jordan's commitment to winning was indeed unparalleled. From his early days with the Bulls to his later seasons with the Washington Wizards, he constantly pushed himself and those around him to excel. His famous work ethic was often epitomized by his grueling practice routines and relentless pursuit of perfection.
Though MJ struck many as a harsh leader, he went on to prove that his measures, though sometimes too much for his teammates, were not deployed to collect individual accolades or chase greatness but rather to foster a culture of undeniable supremacy.
Unfortunately for Jordan, not all players could comprehend things from his unique perspective. Perhaps it's one of the known downsides of being the GOAT.
Related: “Oh, come on! You’re not Michael Jordan” - How MJ employed a unique strategy to get away from the public eye
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