Michael Jordan once revealed why Bulls needed to defeat Pistons: “They tried to change the game of basketball by dirtying up the game” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
When dissecting the illustrious career of Michael Jordan, one can never fail to mention the Detroit Pistons, especially during their Bad Boys era. A legendary rivalry which stood as the biggest barrier to the championship aspirations of the Chicago Bulls until the 1991 ECF.
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After landing three consecutive playoff exits, coupled with physical suffering, the Jordan-led Bulls finally got revenge. Sweeping Detroit 4-0 in the 1991 ECF, Chicago punched its first-ever NBA Finals ticket. Seen as the final chapter of their face-offs, the bitterness persists for many.
One of the most discussed aspects of this iconic rivalry was the introduction of the “Jordan Rules”. A physical strategy that Coach Chuck Daily and his crew of Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn swore by that helped curtail the impact of “His Airness.”
With the Bulls winning their first championship in 1991, Jordan addressed how the physical strategy employed by the Pistons was against the spirit of basketball.
“One thing about the Detroit Pistons, they tried to change the game of basketball to a certain extent by dirtying up the game, and they won a couple of championships with that, and other teams tried to pattern themselves behind that,” mentioned Jordan, adding how they tried to stay true to the game.
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“I think what we did to the league and what we did to them was to show that dirty is not going to last in maintaining the game. I think we all were taught differently of how to play the game with a lot of sportsmanship, and that’s what we tried to carry. They were playing dirty, but we tried to keep our poise and turn the other cheek, which sometimes is tough to do, but I think we did it successfully,” stated the Bulls legend, who continues to hold malice against some of them to this date, especially Isiah.
The chronicles of the Bad Boy Pistons
Taking pride in their physical brand of basketball, the Detroit franchise gave its opposition a hard time, especially physically. Amid the growing concerns against the philosophy that Coach Daily adopted, the Pistons managed to secure back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.
Treading in the gray area when it came to officiating, the Bad Boys made the most of their controversial playing style. Apart from Jordan, another victim falling prey to the physicality of the Pistons was Scottie Pippen, who received six stitches during their playoff matchups.
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Not getting the benefit of the doubt from the match officials or the league, the Bulls decided to take matters into their own hands. Leading from the front was Jordan, who spent hours in the gym, packing muscle to withstand all the shoving and intimidation. Ultimately, they got the results of their hard work in 1991.
Beginning of the Bulls dynasty
Clinching their first title in 1991 was just the beginning for the Bulls, who reigned supreme over the league for most of the decade. Going back-to-back in 1992 and 1993, Jordan led his team to a 3-peat, consequently announcing his retirement, owing to the physical and emotional turmoil.
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Making a return after approximately 18 months, initially a little rusty, Jordan reclaimed his throne in 1996. Etching another 3-peat, he continued to showcase his dominance and competitive hunger, with “The Last Dance” being the 1997-98 season, marking the end to one of the greatest stories told in sports.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.