23 Epic Michael Jordan Tails
In honor of next years 20 hour Michael Jordan documentary we bring you some of the best stories from Jordan legend. These stories ares quintessential Michael Jordan. 23 Stories that Proved Michael Jordan’s scary psychotic competitive level. Ten stories that prove Michael Jordan may have been a religious figure. Way past competitive to maybe a psychotic level. These stories some up Jordan’s competitive fire and nature. Several of these stories come from ex-teammates and the old Bulls assistant Johnny Bach.
1) Counting Backwards
When Steve Smith was in his second season, he felt particularly good when he mentioned to a reporter that he was the best in the league at stopping Michael Jordan. After Jordan hit his first basked of the game, he simply told Smith “48”. After he dropped his next bucket he told the swingman “46”. Yep, you guessed it he counted all the way down to zero, ending the game with a total of 48 points.
2) USA Team vs NBA Stars
During the 1984 NBA draft Michael Jordan was selected 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls. At the time, he was playing with team USA who was being coached by Bobby Knight in Bloomington, Indiana. During the trials, team USA had scheduled a series of games to take on the NBA stars. The USA team featured the likes of . They would go on to play the NBA players in 5 different games. During the first game Jordan embarrassed the team of NBA veteran set by the league office. The NBA league took note and sent several all pro players like Kevin McHale, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird and Robert Parish. The second game was far more intense as several pros took shots at Jordan, including Mike Dunleavy, who threw an elbow then commented Jordan wasn’t shit. Jordan then lost his mind, preceding to show the world what was to come. The next three games Jordan absolutely dominated the NBA team winning each game they played. During the time coaching Jordan, head coach Knight initially thought “how could I start a two guard that can’t shoot. He eventually wavered to say that “ this Jordan good is going to be pretty good.” After team USA finished their exhibition series against the NBA stars, Knight said “He’s going to be the greatest player in the history of basketball”. Of course Knight would prove to be correct.
3) Welcome to the NBA Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr was just starting his NBA career when he had a quick run-in with Jordan. In a preseason game with Cleveland, Kerr had a court side seat as the game started. He caught the eye of Mr. Jordan, Michael caught the ball on the wing in front of Kerr. He palmed the ball and then looked directly at Steve Kerr and said “Watch This”. Jordan turned baseline, got by his defender and finished a vicious two hand jam over 7’1 center Brad Dougherty.
4) UNC Card Games
Michael’s one time college teammate Buzz Peterson has a story that doesn't exactly make Jordan the most ethical figure. Buzz caught MJ trying to cheat his own mother in a card game back on the campus at Chapel Hill during his sophomore season. Peterson waited until no one was in the room to ask him, “Michael are you that competitive that you have to cheat my own mother out of a card game”.
5) Labradford Smith Story
On March 19, 1993 LaBradford Smith went bonkers hitting 15-20 shots in route to 37 points against the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan claimed that Smith mocked him post game saying “Nice game, Mike.” Jordan wanted all 37 of his points back in the first half of their next meeting. They happened to play the next night in the Capital Center. Jordan started the game with16 straight points, eventually he finished the first half with 36 points. Years later Jordan admitted he made up the whole “nice game” comments. The best part of the story was that opposing Bullets players were in such awe of Jordan, Smith never denied the comments. In the post game interviews Jordan said, “That was a very embarrassing situation for me. Evidently I didn’t respect the guy and he’s certainly capable of putting up some numbers, and he did. Offensively, it wasn’t going for me and I let that effect my defensive effort and that’s something I will improve on. I look forward to the challenge”. According to some journalists close to the team, he also promised to score 37 points, LaBradford’s total, in the first half of the next game.
6) 20,000 Rock Paper scissors.
Jordan apparently used to wager $20,000 on a single match of everyone's favorite childhood game. According to his former teammate Jay Williams, Mike would consistently bet money playing 'rock, paper, scissors.’ Sometimes, these games made their way up to six-figures.
7) Jordans Pre Arranged Bets
His airiness would show up really early to get his shots up on game day. As a shot, he noticed the gatehouse staff doing a run dry through everything. He sees the three-color dot race up on the scoreboard. The story is he goes up to the PA system guys and asks “You already know who’s going to win the color race”. The guy responded thats the red one is going to win the race. Eventually when the game rolled around and the race game came on the scoreboard he turned to Scottie Pippen. Mike tells Scottie 100 bucks on the red one. Of course Mike collects his payment and precedes to do this practice for the rest of the season.
8) The airport gambling prank
During his days with the Bulls, he would bet with his teammates on whose luggage would come out first at the airport. Jordan would alway pre arrange for the airport security to bring his luggage out first. So Jordan won the majority if not all of those bets.
9) His strategy while playing against Charles Barkley in the Finals.
During the 1993 NBA Finals between the Bulls and the Suns, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley agreed to play a game of golf together the day before game four. The pair played 48 holes, and Jordan gifted Charles with $20,000 diamond earrings. When asked why the gift, Jordan responded with, "He won't get in my way the rest of the series, what's $20,000 to me? Charles thinks we're great friends. I hate that fat f*ck." After the golf match, MJ scored 55 points in game 4.
10) Mj embarrassed top HS prospect OJ Mayo at age 43
During one summer in at UCSB top high school prospect OJ Mayo showed up to Michael Jordan’s basketball camp. The schoolboy legend had a huge following at the time. He challenged 'His Airness' in front of the whole crow. That’s when MJ dismissed the attendees early, except for Mayo. Jordan proceeded to dominated the teenager, all while talking trash as only Mike can. "You better scream for momma. Mom-ma, mom-ma!" According to Mayo, Jordan preached..."Hey, young fella, let me tell you something. You may be the best high school player in the world, but I’m the greatest ever. Don’t you ever disrespect the great like that."
11) Ping Pong
MJ once lost a game of ping pong to his teammate on the Chicago Bulls. The story goes that he absolutely lost his mind, bought a table the very next days. He immediately spent the next six months training every day. He trained for ping-pong both at home and at the Bulls facility until he beat the player in a rematch.
12) Muggsy Bouges
According to ex Bulls assistant coach Johnny Bach, their 1995 playoff series against the Charlotte Hornets was capped by a signature Jordan moment. On the biggest possession of the game, Muggsy had the ball with the Hornets down 1. Jordan backed off of him and told him: 'shoot it you f*cking midget.' Muggsy shot it, and didn't come close. A year later, Muggsy actually told Johnny Bach he believes that single play ruined his career.
13) Golf With Chuck Dailey
After losing to Dream Team coach Chuck Daly in a golf match, Jordan forced his way into Chuck's hotel room the next morning by pounding on the door nonstop, demanding a rematch. He wouldn't leave until he got dressed to play. MJ went on to win the second game.
14) The Michael-Kobe Dinner
The two best shooting guards in NBA history sat down for dinner after their playing careers were over in a Beverly Hills Steakhouse. Although not much was known about the topics of conversation, one story did manage to see daylight. Jordan compared his year in 1991, to Kobe’s peak year and suggesting he would have kicked Bryant’s ass. To which Kobe replied that Jordan should just enjoy the salad.
15) Rodney McCray
A former teammate said “he's the most viciously competitive player I’ve ever seen. He has practically ruined forward Rodney McCray for us”. When the two players are on opposing team in scrimmages Jordan is in his face, screaming “Your a loser! You’ve always been a loser!’. Rodney can hardly put up a jump shot snow”. McCray ended up winning a title that year but only averaged 15.9 minutes per game. It was also the last season he ever player.
16) Pre Game Victory Celebration
Chris Webber tells a story from his days with the Washington Bullets in 1997. They were ready to take on the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Webber remarked “I saw Michael Jordan come into our locker room with a cigar, while it was lit, and said, ‘Who’s going to check me tonight?’ And we looked at Calbert Chaney and we were laughing like little school kids knowing that Calbert Chaney was going to get him, we knew it wasn’t a game for Mike. Game 3 we get off the bus and I’ll never forget, Jordan was sitting on his Ferrari and Pippen was right there and they have a cigar lit. We get off the bus and we have to pass them with a lit cigar.”
17) Two Left Shoes
Alongside Jordan on the 92 Dream Team roster was Clyde Drexler. Drexler's Blazers had just lost to Jordan's Bulls earlier that summer in the NBA finals. In addition Jordan had completely cemented his position as best SG in history, a title that many had thought would be Drexler's just a few years earlier. That summer Drexler brings two left shoes to practice on accident. He is so fearful of what Jordan will say to him about forgetting a shoe that he wears the two left shoes for the entire practice.
18) Reggie Theus
“He was really mad at Reggie Theus, because when Reggie got traded, Michael was the draft pick coming in and Reggie was like “there’s no one that can replace me that’s a rookie”. So MJ said, just tell Reggie I’m gonna get 45 tonight. So i went to the locker room and said “Reggie, Michael said he’s gonna get 45 tonight.” “So he ended up with 43, he comes into the locker room, and said I didn’t get 45 but you gotta come to Chicago, he was mad that he didn’t get 45!”.
19) Your Wearing My Shoes Dumbass
During the 1996-1997 season, while Jim Jackson was on the Nets, Jackson was enjoying a good game against Michael Jordan and the defending champion Chicago Bulls. Jackson was talking trash to Jordan who shut up Jackson by pointing out that “Your wearing my shoes dumb ass".
20) Stacey King - I got Jokes
Stacey King walked into the locker room holding a box with a big smile on his face. All Jordan said was "Hope there's a jump shot in that box”.
21) Minor League Jordan
A member of the Birmingham Barons had this story about Jordan. There was a rain delay during one of their games and the players were all hanging out in the dugout waiting for the storm to pass. A few of the players noticed some cockroaches crawling around the dugout and watched them race around. Jordan sees the commotion and comes over to see what the noise is. He tells the team he's gonna bet $500 on one of the cockroaches.They pooled all the money together and got the cockroaches ready to start. They lifted the barricade and as soon as they do Jordan squashes the teams cockroach, picks up their $500 and walks away.
22) Give Me The Ball
In Game 5 of the 1989 playoffs against Cleveland. Bulls are down 1, last possession. Doug collins calls time out. Everyone knows the ball is going to Michael. Collins draws up a play to use MJ as a decoy and get the ball down in the post to Dave Corzine. Jordan slaps the clipboard of the coach's hand and says "Just give me the fucking ball.” Jordan makes the shot, and the Bulls win the game.
23) Mj Golfing Tales
One of Michael’s supposed friends wrote the book Michael & Me: Our Gambling Addiction...My Cry For Help! Jordan said of the book "I felt I was betrayed by this individual,”. “I don't consider him a friend, because friends don't do this to other friends.” The book told a story of Jordan running up a $1.2 million debt over a ten-day golf binge in San Diego—a debt Jordan supposedly played down to $908,000, negotiated down to $300,000, and ultimately paid $200,000. Charles Barkley told a story of Jordan putting for the small sum of $300,000.