27 examples of Michael Jordan's extreme competitiveness

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Tony Manfred,Scott DavisMay 5, 2020, 23:57 IST
27 examples of Michael Jordan's extreme competitiveness

Matt Dunham/AP Images

  • Michael Jordan is known as one of the most competitive athletes in all of sports.
  • Jordan's competitiveness is legendary, from his tireless work ethic, trash-talking on the court, mean streak in golf, and love of gambling.
  • Read 21 examples of Jordan's competitiveness below.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Michael Jordan's competitiveness is as legendary as his career.

Jordan was known as one of the fiercest competitors in the NBA, unafraid to talk trash and mix it up with other players.

However, that competitiveness extended beyond the court. He was known to be ruthless in golf and would look to make everything a competition — even drinking water.

Here are 21 examples of Jordan's extreme competitiveness.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Now, see where the other members of the 1997-98 Bulls are today...

Now, see where the other members of the 1997-98 Bulls are today...
Jordan and Scottie Pippen joke during a playoff game in 1990. Shannon Stapleton / Reuters
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The key members of Michael Jordan's 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team documented in 'The Last Dance' >

Magic Johnson said he once trash-talked Jordan during a practice with the Dream Team and lived to regret it.

Magic Johnson said he once trash-talked Jordan during a practice with the Dream Team and lived to regret it.
Susan Ragan/AP

Johnson told Jimmy Kimmel that his team was beating Jordan's in a scrimmage, and Johnson told Jordan, "If you don't turn into Air Jordan, we're going to blow you out today."

Jordan proceeded to lead his team to a comeback, hitting consecutive three-pointers and staring down Johnson. The coup de grace was a 360 dunk around David Robinson that blew Johnson away.

Read more: Magic Johnson has a fantastic story about paying the price for trash-talking Michael Jordan >

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He once told Shaq exactly what he was going to do against his teammate, and it worked.

He once told Shaq exactly what he was going to do against his teammate, and it worked.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Shaquille O'Neal says Jordan told him:

"I'm coming down. I'm going to dribble it between my legs twice. I'm going to pump fake, and then I'm going to shoot a jumper. And then I'm going to look at you. And that's exactly what he did."

Source: Dan Patrick Show

He had final say on who made the Dream Team.

He had final say on who made the Dream Team.
NBA TV

In his book "Dream Team," author Jack McCallum hinted that no one was allowed on the team unless Jordan wanted him on the team.

Magic Johnson even echoed the sentiment, telling McCallum: "Michael was all about who was going to be on the team. It was more important ... no, make that just as important, for Michael to have a good time as it was to play games."

Jordan denied having a say, specifically on not including Isiah Thomas on the team, in "The Last Dance."

Read the full story here >

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He continually cheated Scottie Pippen out of money by betting on pre-recorded races.

He continually cheated Scottie Pippen out of money by betting on pre-recorded races.
John Swart/AP

From ESPN's Amin Elhassan:

"[Jordan] would show up really early to get his shots up on gameday. If you show up to an arena early enough, you'll see the gamehouse people basically doing a dry run through everything. Everything from the national anthem to the … One of the things they have is that thing where it's like the three Bulls flying, and it's like 'Who's gonna win?' So Mike is watching this and is like, 'Oh, so you guys already know [who's going to win]?' And the guy says, 'Yeah we know; it's all pre-recorded.' [Jordan says] 'So you know who's gonna win tonight, right?' And he says, 'Yeah, the red one.'

"Fast-forward to the game. Timeout. Phil is drawing up a play. Mike goes to Scottie and says, 'Hundred bucks the red one wins.' And then proceeds to do this for the rest of the season and Scottie never catches on."

Source: ESPN

He led a group of hard-line NBA owners who refused to budge during the lockout in 2011.

He led a group of hard-line NBA owners who refused to budge during the lockout in 2011.
Chuck Burton/AP

Source: New York Times

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He used to never lose arguments.

He used to never lose arguments.

He would play quarters with the United Center security guard. As shown in "The Last Dance," he once lost $20.

He would play quarters with the United Center security guard. As shown in "The Last Dance," he once lost $20.
via ESPN

Source: "The Last Dance"

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He once trash-talked Bill Clinton on the golf course.

He once trash-talked Bill Clinton on the golf course.
AP

They two were playing golf together when MJ forced the former president to play from the farthest-away tees.

"You're going to play from the little girls' tees?" Jordan asked him.

Source: Wall Street Journal

He forced Dream Team coach Chuck Daly to play him in golf by pounding on his hotel room door.

He forced Dream Team coach Chuck Daly to play him in golf by pounding on his hotel room door.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Rick Reilly reported that Jordan lost to Daly in golf in Monte Carlo. The next morning, he pounded on Daly's door at their hotel until Daly finally agreed to go play him again. Jordan won.

Source: Sports Illustrated

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Charles Barkley said Jordan used to bet "hundreds of thousands" of dollars on golf matches.

Charles Barkley said Jordan used to bet "hundreds of thousands" of dollars on golf matches.
John Swart/AP

Read more: Charles Barkley says Michael Jordan used to wager 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' on rounds of golf >

He made a $500 bet with a fan that he could hit the green at a charity golf event in 2011, and won.

He made a $500 bet with a fan that he could hit the green at a charity golf event in 2011, and won.
YouTube

Watch the video here >

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Former college teammate James Worthy said Jordan used to make him stay after college practices to work on their games and play one-on-one.

Former college teammate James Worthy said Jordan used to make him stay after college practices to work on their games and play one-on-one.
Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Worthy said he was better than Jordan for about two weeks before Jordan surpassed him as a player.

Source: "The Last Dance"

He played a Bobcats player one-on-one in 2013, and had to get treatment from the trainer the next day.

He played a Bobcats player one-on-one in 2013, and had to get treatment from the trainer the next day.
YouTube

Source: ESPN

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He destroyed O.J. Mayo, then a top high school prospect, in a pickup game at age 43.

He destroyed O.J. Mayo, then a top high school prospect, in a pickup game at age 43.
YouTube

Watch the whole thing here >

Kobe Bryant, whose competitiveness and overall game has been likened to Jordan's, said Jordan once tried to trash talk him during a friendly dinner.

Kobe Bryant, whose competitiveness and overall game has been likened to Jordan's, said Jordan once tried to trash talk him during a friendly dinner.
Brian Bahr/AP

Jordan said that at his peak, in 1991, he would have beaten Bryant during his respective peak. Bryant said he politely steered the conversation elsewhere.

Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live

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He allegedly broke the jumpshot of former NBA point guard Muggsy Bogues with one sentence of trash talk.

He allegedly broke the jumpshot of former NBA point guard Muggsy Bogues with one sentence of trash talk.
Ruth Fremson/AP

From Deadspin:

"On the biggest possession of the game, Mugsy had the ball with the Hornets down 1. Jordan backed off of him and told him: 'shoot it you f---ing midget.' Mugsy shot it, didn't come close. A year later Mugsy actually told Johnny Bach that he believes that single play ruined his career. His shot never recovered."

He psyched out the Washington Bullets in the playoffs by smoking cigars before games.

He psyched out the Washington Bullets in the playoffs by smoking cigars before games.
Matt Dunham/AP Images

From NBA star Chris Webber told Dan Patrick that Jordan walked into the Bullets locker room with a cigar and asked, "Who's going to check me tonight?"

Later on in the series, the team went back to Chicago. When the Bullets got off the bus, Jordan and Scottie Pippen were in a car, smoking cigars together.

"We get off the bus and we have to pass them with a lit cigar," Webber said.

"You want to talk about posturing? Forget Phil Jackson. You got Michael Jordan there behind the scenes smoking a cigar before the game, letting us know that he's the Red Auerbach before the game even started."

Source: Bleacher Report/Dan Patrick Show

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He allegedly ruined Rodney McCray's career by dominating him in $100 post-practice shooting games.

He allegedly ruined Rodney McCray's career by dominating him in $100 post-practice shooting games.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

ESPN's Rick Reilly wrote he witnessed Jordan eviscerate McCray in practice in 1993.

A source told him: "MJ is in Rodney's face, screaming, 'You're a loser! You've always been a loser!' Rodney can hardly put up a jumper now."

He played through the flu and scored 38 points.

He played through the flu and scored 38 points.
Brian Bahr/Getty

It was the pivotal game of the 1997 NBA Finals. Jordan had a nasty flu, but he dropped 38 points and the Bulls won. They won the series two days later. "The Flu Game" is considered one of Jordan's defining moments.

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At age 50, he made it a goal to lose 45 pounds to get down to his playing weight of 218.

At age 50, he made it a goal to lose 45 pounds to get down to his playing weight of 218.
YouTube

Source: ESPN

He put on 15 pounds of muscle in one summer to better withstand the beating of the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs.

He put on 15 pounds of muscle in one summer to better withstand the beating of the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs.
Alan Mothner/AP

His trainer, Tim Grover, said: "I would give him a certain amount of reps to do, but he would never stop at that number. If I asked for six, I knew he was gonna do 12."

Read more: Michael Jordan once added 15 pounds of muscle in one summer to prepare for a rival and changed the way athletes train

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Kerr wasn't the only one — former Bulls center Will Perdue said Jordan also punched him. He said fights were common at Bulls practices because of their intensity.

Kerr wasn't the only one — former Bulls center Will Perdue said Jordan also punched him. He said fights were common at Bulls practices because of their intensity.
Charles Bennett/AP Images

"He did, and I wasn't the only one," Perdue said. "That's how competitive our practices were. That wasn't the only fight, that was one of numerous. But because it involved Michael Jordan, and it leaked out, that it became a big deal. And the funny thing was, in that practice that it happened, we basically separated, regrouped and kept practicing -- it wasn't like that was the end of practice. Stuff like that was common, because that's how competitive our practices were."

Source: CBS

He punched former Bulls teammate Steve Kerr in the face during a scrimmage.

He punched former Bulls teammate Steve Kerr in the face during a scrimmage.
Getty Images

Kerr said he talked back to MJ during training camp, and then:

"He punched me in the face … It was one of the best things that ever happened for me. I needed to stand up and go back at him. I think I earned some respect. But, we have a great relationship ever since … you gotta prove it, and then once you prove it, you're fine."

Source: Dan Patrick Show

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Jordan made it his mission to destroy players that Krause scouted and liked. He and Scottie Pippen famously shut down Toni Kukoc, a Croatian prospect, in the 1992 Olympics because Krause was recruiting Kukoc to the Bulls.

Jordan made it his mission to destroy players that Krause scouted and liked. He and Scottie Pippen famously shut down Toni Kukoc, a Croatian prospect, in the 1992 Olympics because Krause was recruiting Kukoc to the Bulls.
Fred Jewell/AP Images

As ESPN's "The Last Dance" revealed, Jordan and the Bulls were often ruthless to Krause, making fun of his height, weight, and appearance.

As ESPN's "The Last Dance" revealed, Jordan and the Bulls were often ruthless to Krause, making fun of his height, weight, and appearance.
Bill Kostroun/AP Images

As it's told in "The Last Dance," Jordan and his teammates' mocking of Krause was a result of feeling like Krause didn't appreciate their work and success as a team. They often tried to prove points about their talent over other players to make a point to Krause.

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He trashed all his doubters in his Hall of Fame induction speech, saying of former Bulls GM Jerry Krause: "I don't know who invited him … I didn't."

He trashed all his doubters in his Hall of Fame induction speech, saying of former Bulls GM Jerry Krause: "I don't know who invited him … I didn't."
Stephan Savoia/AP

Watch the video here >

Actor Will Smith said he's never met anyone as competitive as MJ.

Actor Will Smith said he's never met anyone as competitive as MJ.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

"Mike will compete with anything, though. If we're drinking water, Mike will be like, 'I'll race you!'"

Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live

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