Having won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, Michael Jordan knew well how it felt to play for the most dominant team in the NBA. With that in mind, MJ also understood that was no longer the case when he returned to join the Washington Wizards in 2001 at nearly 40 years old.
At the time, the Los Angeles Lakers were widely regarded as an unbeatable force, with superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal leading the charge. However, with his unwavering confidence and competitive spirit, Jordan didn’t think they were invincible.
“I’m not trying to diminish what they are, but there’s no way I think they’re so dominant they can’t be beat,” Mike said about the then two-time NBA champions ahead of his Wizards debut. “First, though, I need to worry about (winning) the East.”
MJ knew what it takes to win with the Wizards
Jordan may have been insanely competitive, but that didn’t mean he was blind to the reality that the Wizards were one of the worst teams in the league at the time. That said, “His Airness” knew they had to take it one win at a time with him playing the lead role…