Michael Jordan, during his active years, was a force to be reckoned with. He was without a doubt a champion and thus, he was ready to do whatever it takes to win. But sometimes Michael took things too far. From bullying his teammates to trash-talking opponents, the legendary Bull was fearsome. Though, a former Knicks coach wasn’t much of a fan of some of MJ’s techniques.
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In 1995, Jeff Van Gundy took over as the New York Knicks coach. Having served for 7 seasons as the assistant, Gundy’s rise was imminent. He was even able to put up a good squad that won the conference finals in 1999.
However, before Michael retired from the Bulls, he had dominated the league without any regard for others. Van Gundy claimed Michael Jordan took it too far in manipulating other players. This inspired a punishing response from the legitimate GOAT contender.
Jeff Van Gundy accused Michael Jordan of manipulating players
Sports writer and Author Roland Lazenby detailed Gundy’s dissatisfaction with Michael’s ways. He wrote how the Knicks coach considered Michael Jordan a con man. He alleged that the Bulls star befriended opponents to soften them up and then destroyed them during the games.
Roland Lazenby: “New York coach Jeff Van Gundy, who coached two of Jordan’s best friends, Oakley and Ewing, had called him a con man, which prompted a season-high 51 on the Knicks. “His way is to befriend them, soften them up, try to make them feel he cares about them,” Van Gundy had said. “Then he goes out there and tries to destroy them. The first step as a player is to realize that and don’t go for it.”
After the game, Michael calmly narrated the events of his 51-point performance. Jordan said that he was prepared to do whatever it took. He also revealed that things almost slowed down for him during the game and he could execute every move skillfully.
Phil Jackson commented on MJ’s revenge on the rival coach
In the post-game interview, Bulls then-coach Phil Jackson confessed Michael’s vendetta was at play. Jackson claimed that Gundy had made a mistake by attacking Michael Jordan and he paid for it.
Phil Jackson: “It was probably a tactical mistake by the coach of the Knicks to attack Michael in the press. I thought he went out and played with a vendetta, a score to settle.”
Jackson’s words proved just how lethal and aggressive Jordan was. He could use his emotions to ridicule teams on the court. Jeff Van Gundy should have known better.
