“Prize Money to $20,000”: Michael Jordan’s Attempt to Strong Arm the NBA By Demanding $7500 Hike Ended With a Lie About Being Injured in 1989

A young Michael Jordan winning the 1988 All-Star dunk contest led to Rod Thorn, the league’s then president of basketball operations asking him to participate in 1989 as well. However, a reluctant Jordan ended up telling Thorn to increase the prize money by $7500 to participate in the contest. Convinced that the prize money will not be changed, MJ was stunned to receive another call just days later, with Thorn accepting his demand, according to Sam Smith’s Jordan Rules. 

Ever since a hugely entertaining battle with Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 contest, the NBA wanted to see Jordan again. MJ’s presence almost guaranteed increased worldwide interest in the All-Star festivities, which was the biggest reason behind Rod Thorn’s desperation.

Michael Jordan asked Rod Thorn to increase All-Star dunk contest to $20k

Initially, the prize money on offer was merely $12,500. MJ did not want to participate, and was convinced Thorn would not accede to his specific demand.

However, days after making it, Thorn called back and told him he had “done” the change. This led to Jordan facing the prospect of actually participating in the dunk contest:

“He’d gone through a dance like this with the league in 1989. Jordan didn’t want to compete in the contest, so he told Thorn when he called—as a way to get him to stop bothering him—to raise the prize money to $20,000; it had been $12,500. Thorn called back a few days later and said, ‘Done.’ Jordan was stunned. ‘I’ll think about it,’ he said. Besides the possibility of a fall from his dunking throne, Jordan had always found himself weary after the All-Star weekend, and had not played well in the succeeding games. It was time to let some kids come out of the bullpen and have a start, Jordan felt. But the league announced that Jordan had agreed to participate. Jordan called the Bulls; he needed the team to say he was injured so he couldn’t compete. No problem. Within a few days of the All-Star game, Jordan turned up with a minor injury and the Bulls said they didn’t want to risk Jordan exacerbating the problem.”

Apart from wanting to give younger players a chance, MJ also found himself weary after the All-Star weekend, as a habit. This led to him coming up with a backdoor plan.

Jordan asked the Bulls to tell the league that he was injured so he did not have to play. His franchise obviously accepted, and sent a statement claiming he was struggling with a minor injury, and that they didn’t want it to worsen.

Jordan once claimed coach Doug Collins “cried everyday”

Before the Bulls and MJ found success under Phil Jackson, they were under the tutelage of Doug Collins. With Jackson as the assistant, Collins’ presence caused widespread disarray in the organization.

Multiple players including Jordan had an issue with tactical limitations. Collins had regular run ins with multiple members of his staff, including Jackson and Tex Winter.

Tired of his constant whining, MJ once told the likes of Dominique Wilkins and Isiah Thomas at the 1989 All-Star game about his troubles with the coach. In response to his fellow greats complaining about their coaches, Jordan claimed that at least their coach “did not cry everyday.”