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“F**k Michael Jordan and the Bulls”: Former Pistons legend claims he would’ve never shook any of the Bulls’ hands even if they’d lost the championship

Samir Mehdi
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“F**k Michael Jordan and the Bulls”: Former Pistons legend claims he would’ve never shook any of the Bulls’ hands even if they’d lost the championship

Rick Mahorn says ‘f**k Michael Jordan and the Bulls’ and stands with the Detroit Pistons’ decision to not shake any of their hands. 

Almost every single NBA great has had to go through the trials and tribulations of facing off against a team that pushed them to their limits. Michael Jordan certainly faced off against such a team back in the late 80s and early 90s in the form of the Isiah Thomas-led Detroit Pistons who were fairly labelled, ‘the Bad Boy Pistons’. 

This nickname, of course, stemmed from their brash nature and physical style of play that took full advantage of the lack of calls given in favor of the players on the offensive end of the floor. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls would face off against the Detroit Pistons in three consecutive ECFs from 1989 to 1991.

Also read: “Hey Larry Bird, you ain’t hit a jumper since ’84”: When Rodney Rogers instantly regretted talking trash to the Celtics legend at the 1992 Dream Team camp

The Pistons would sweep the Bulls in ‘89, take the Bulls to 7 games and eventually best them in ‘90, and would fall in merely 4 games in ‘91. The latter of these 3 series would famously feature Isiah Thomas and his crew walking off NBA hardwood without shaking any of the Bulls’ hands, a moment that was heavily scrutinized. 

Rick Mahorn feels no need to apologize to Michael Jordan and the Bulls for not shaking their hands in ‘91. 

Dubbed as being the ‘baddest boy of them all’, Rick Mahorn is one of the most physical players in the league during the era that he played in. He utilized his role as being a solid role player within the NBA to its max and even after 3 whole decades, carries himself with a similar attitude as the one he had back then. 

He recently came out and stated that he feels absolutely no remorse for not shaking Michael Jordan or any of the Bulls players’ hands when walking off the court. “F**k ‘em,” said Mahorn as he reminisced about playing against the Bulls.

Also read: “Michael Jordan made Hall of Famers look like high school kids”: Jamal Mashburn was awed at seeing the GOAT in action during the 1992 Dream Team camp

Fast-forward to present day and players are still walking off the court without exchanging pleasantries with the opposing team’s players following a loss. We’ve seen this take place in Game 5 of the Lakers-Suns series where LeBron James left with nearly 5 minutes left in the game, Paul George in Game 6 of the WCF, and James Harden in the ECSF against the Bucks. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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