Michael Jordan ’s competitive spirit appeared to have its foundation rooted in his childhood upbringing, where he constantly competed against his siblings for every matter. However, one of the first individuals to directly experience the extent of this trait was his UNC Tar Heels teammate - Matt Doherty. Notably, as the five-time MVP’s drive to be the best became evident in an off-the-court activity, Matt eventually became certain how Mike always seriously meant business.
Doherty on experiencing MJ’s competitive spirit
It’s no surprise that the six-time Finals MVP harbored a relentless desire to emerge victorious, whether he engaged in card games, golf, or even the most simple activity, such as flipping the bottle. Doherty bore witness to these tendencies firsthand when he participated in a game of pool with the 6’6” shooting guard.
During his appearance on the ‘Endless Hustle’ podcast, the 6’7” forward recounted an incident during their collegiate days. After losing, MJ took his frustration out on the equipment before abandoning their contest.
"Everything was competitive," Doherty said . "He talked a lot of junk... We're shooting pool on a road trip at UVA. I'm playing pool against him, and I win. He looks at the table, takes his pool cue, throws it on the table, and says, 'This table's not even regulation.' And he walked out."
This propensity wasn’t only on display in the pool matchup, but Doherty also learned how young Mike got infuriated when someone questioned his antics on the basketball court when they played a friendly pickup game.
"Another time we were playing pickup and he calls a foul. I’m like, 'Dude, that's not a foul. That's soft. That's not a foul.' We didn't finish the game. We walked off the court," Doherty added. "Michael liked to win, and he liked to win at everything."
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Matt was thoroughly impressed by MJ
It wasn’t like Doherty was annoyed by MJ’s competitiveness. In fact, being a year older than the New York native, he actually admired how Mike joined the Tar Heels and immediately made his mark, becoming the best player just through his determination to learn and improve.
"His competitiveness, his eagerness to learn… James Worthy was the best player on the team. We had Sam Perkins. Sam Perkins was a great player. Michael came in and did things that were so unique, " Doherty continued. "His hang time, his ability to drive baseline and hang and find an opening and shoot the ball with touch was incredible."
Honestly, if it wasn’t for his relentless drive to be the best at all costs, his legacy probably wouldn’t be as huge as it is today.
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