Michael Jordan was, from the moment he stepped on the court, a superstar. For the lack of a better superlative, let’s just say that he was destined to be great. From day 1. But all of the weight of expectation was crushing him, for his first 7 years in the league. But as soon as he won his first championship, he didn’t care about the money, nor the $10 million he was earning off the court. He only cared about how he stacked up to his compatriots and legends. Especially Magic Johnson.
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The rivalry between the two wasn’t as big as the one between Magic and Larry Bird. Bird and Johnson joined the NBA at the same time and prior to that had faced off in college. But Jordan was the thorn in both their sides. Despite the two being the headliners at the time, Jordan came in hard and fast.
MJ was, unequivocally, the face of the league. From the moment he stepped on the court. But all of the fame and fortune he collected didn’t matter. He wanted to win. Winning was the only thing he desired.
And he didn’t appreciate people comparing him to winners. Because in his eyes, he didn’t win. Not just yet.
Michael Jordan cared about being in the same league as Magic Johnson and not making a whopping $10 million off the court
For MJ the satisfaction of the win was in his heart and also the fact that he won meant that he will now be on the same level as other NBA champions meant a lot to him. “The difference is in here.”, Michael Jordan told Sports Illustrated in 1991.
Forget the fact that he would go on to make $3.7 million a year from the Chicago Bulls or the fact that he would scoop over $10 million a year thanks to endorsements and deals. To Jordan, winning a chip was far more satisfying.
And what’s more, he liked the fact that he was going to be in the same league as Magic Johnson and the like. An NBA champion. “I think people will now feel it’s O.K. to put me in the category of players like Magic,” Jordan told SI.
Michael Jordan’s relationship with Magic Johnson was full of ups and downs in the 1990s
The two players had a lot of respect for each other’s talents. But they were also fierce competitors who were often vying for the title of the NBA’s best player. Additionally, their personalities and playing styles were very different. Johnson was known for his flashy, team-oriented play and Jordan was known for his individual brilliance and fierce competitiveness.
Despite these differences, the two were able to find common ground and work together on the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team, known as the “Dream Team”.
Their shared experience on the team helped to forge a bond between the two, with Johnson later saying that he saw Jordan as a “little brother” and admired his drive and passion for the game.
