SUMMARY
- Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson helped led to the Bulls to two titles between 1996 and 1997.
- Jerry Krause wanted to rebuild the team without Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and their head coach.
Michael Jordan was a miracle that the Chicago Bulls desperately needed during the 80s. The basketball phenom was one of the top-ranked athletes in the sport during his time in high school. Eventually, he moved on to become a vital player on the University of North Carolina team’s roster. After leading them to an incredible NCAA Championship victory, Jordan, with the motivation of his college coach decided he wanted to take his talents to the main stage.
In 1984, Jordan declared for the NBA Draft and was projected to become a top pick. After Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie were selected as the top two picks in the draft, Jordan was the obvious third selection. The Bulls and Jerry Reinsdorf decided it was best to settle with a guard with great potential. While initially, he wasn’t seen as their savior during times of desperation, Jordan eventually earned his team’s respect.
Within the first few games, Michael Jordan proved that he was whom the Bulls wanted to call their leader. The young UNC player immediately challenged everybody on his roster including the best player on the team. Only to prove to everybody that he was something special, a change driven by success. In just under a decade of playing with the Bulls, he had already helped them win three consecutive titles.
Michael Jordan stood against the Bulls rebuilding without Phil Jackson
Moving past those three titles, Michael Jordan took a brief hiatus. In 1994, after nearly a two-year-long hiatus, “I’m back,” were his only words. Jordan returned to play with the Bulls and somehow, he led them to two more titles in 1996 and 1997. By that time, General Manager Jerry Krause was beginning to think the team needed another change. While Jordan didn’t want any of his teammates or coach Phil Jackson out, Krause still tried to move the commander.
After Jordan heard about the Bulls trying to rebuild without certain players and Jackson, he told the media, “Phil should be the head coach and I shouldn’t be put in a position to have to make a choice to play for another coach other than Phil Jackson. Sadly, as it may be, I have choices. You know, and I will not choose to for another coach.” These quotes were taken from Jordan’s Netflix documentary series The Last Dance.
Michael Jordan also defended his teammates, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, who were ideally the players Krause wanted to move. He publicly asked the Bulls management to show respect to the ones who laid the “ground works” for the team. The 6x NBA Champion was sure the Bulls could three-peat for the second time ahead of the 1997 NBA Finals victory. And he proved himself right, again.