Former NBA All-Star Rex Chapman reveals how Michael Jordan went after him ever since Chapman’s Heat beat Jordan’s Bulls once.
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Back in 1995-96, the Chicago Bulls were unstoppable. They went 72-10 and made an NBA record for the most wins recorded in a season. The record was intact for a whole 20 years, till the 2015-16 Warriors had a 73-9 season, to take the record.
Back in the ’95-96 season, no one could seem to beat the Bulls, till one day, the Miami Heat did. The Heat managed a 113-104 upset, all courtesy to Rex Chapman and his 39 points. Chapman and Jordan were good friends, and would often be seen going golfing or bowling a night before they played each other. However, being friends with MJ could not spare Chapman for what was due to come.
Rex Chapman explains how Michael Jordan took his revenge
Michael Jordan does not like losing. It is one fact that everyone who knows or looks up to MJ knows. No matter whether it’s his friend who is up against him or a foe. As Chapman and his Heat beat the Bulls in February 1996, Michael Jordan was looking to get back at them.
The opportunity finally came in April, as the Bulls and Heat had a back-to-back against each other. The Bulls won the first match 110-92. MJ scored 32 points while holding Chapman to a mere 12 points. In the second game, MJ went off for 40 points in three quarters, as the Bulls took down the Heat 100-92. In the second contest, Chapman had 16 points.
The man who put up 39 on Michael Jordan and handed him one of only 10 losses that year. Respect!
— some guy (@K_Val86) August 11, 2020
Describing his matches against Jordan in the ’95-96 season, Chapman said,
“I had a huge game against them in Miami,” he started off. “We sneaked them and beat them. I had 30, 38 or 39. We beat them. So, as the balls being thrown up for the next game, right? Jump ball goes up and Michael just goes CRACK! and got me right in the sternum. It almost took my breath and I went, ‘Oh f***! It’s going to be like that tonight, I guess’ and it exactly was.”
“He got like 40 in three quarters and had like 13 or 3 for 12 or something. He was just on a mission and had been thinking about us beating him for two weeks. And then we played them in the playoffs and they beat us like a JV team, three straight.”
The Bulls went on to win it all that year, as it was the starting point for MJ and Bulls’ second three-peat.