In terms of competitiveness, there is only one undisputed G.O.A.T. in the NBA. Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls icon, took being competitive to another level. As revealed in “The Last Dance”, MJ does have a habit of “taking it personal”.
Advertisement
Stories of Jordan’s fiery spirit have not been limited to the basketball court either. Jordan was never one to take a loss lightly, be it golf, the odd poker game, or even small pick-up games.
Jordan’s rules for winning weren’t off-limits for family or best friends either. Even Jordan’s long-time best friend George Kohler wasn’t immune to the guard’s need to win. Even with a literal handicap, Jordan went at it to get the win against his best friend. After all, bragging rights over pain, isn’t that so?
Kohler describes the humiliation he suffered against a crippling Michael Jordan. And it is also proof of the fact that a pro-NBA star can whoop an average Joe, even on one leg, a slight reminder to the very critical ones among you.
Also Read: “Everyday, I Demand More From Myself”: Michael Jordan Once Shared His Secret To Becoming the GOAT
How does Kohler describe his basketballing experience against a crippled Michael Jordan?
In 1986, Michael Jordan had just suffered a broken foot which was set to rule him out of pro basketball for a while. His Airness was just taking off, but had met with the first setback of his career.
Back home, Jordan was reunited with his best friend, George Kohler. George turned up at his friend’s place and got ready to play basketball with his bud. Except, this time, his friend was crippling.
Kohler, for a second, saw himself clinching a win against the franchise star and savior of the Chicago Bulls. However, all such hope was short-lived.
“‘I played and coached some basketball. Chicago boy, Foreman High, Belmont and Cicero. I’m the typical white guy. Can shoot, can’t jump, not very quick. But his leg has been immobilized for months. It’s the size of my arm. So I figure I’m playing a cripple. I go up 6-3 or 7-3, and Michael says, ‘OK, that’s it.’ He wins 21-9. The all-time competitor, Michael is” describes Kohler, about his minor moment of glory against his celebrity friend.
Kohler’s story is just additional proof of how crazy a competitor Jordan is. MJ was livid at his friend taking a lead over him even while he was crippled and risked further harm to his leg to beat Kohler.
This was not the first time a Jordan masterclass coincided with sickness. The most famous of those remains “The Flu Game”.
What is the story behind Michael Jordan’s flu game?
On June 11, 1997, Jordan was reportedly showing symptoms of the flu. The circumstances are of note here. The date marked the occasion of Game 5 of a heavily contested NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.
Karl Malone and Co., however, did not benefit from an illness to the Bulls superstar. MJ started the game and dropped a miraculous 38 on them. Even a sick Michael Jordan was enough to do a job for you in a clutch game.
Jordan was “almost dehydrated” and reportedly struggling for breath, approaching the match. None of that really showed during the clinic he put out at Salt Lake City.
MJ had reportedly fallen victim to a saboteur mission to intentionally harm the star. A pizza delivered by five people which only the Bulls star ate, was identified as the possible source of whatever harmful content affected Jordan.
Regardless, the ploy didn’t work, and it probably enraged Jordan too. All the wrath landed on Malone, Stockton, and Co., who were left ringless in the wake of MJ’s dominance.
