It’s an understatement to say that Michael Jordan’s quest for his first NBA Championship was a difficult journey. As soon as he entered the league, he captivated audiences with his dazzling offensive chops. He dropped 63 points on the powerhouse Boston Celtics, knocked down epic game-winners and finished ferocious slam dunks. Still, his efforts were not enough to guide the Chicago Bulls to a deep playoff run.
Chasing a chip
Jordan realized he could not win that elusive Larry O’Brien trophy alone. He needed the help of the entire organization, particularly the front office, to acquire players that would complement his style of play and give Chicago a fighting chance at the title. Apart from spending countless hours in the gym perfecting his craft, MJ also knew he needed to sacrifice his earnings.
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“Jordan was having his own apprehensions,” Sam Smith wrote in “The Jordan Rules.”
“He didn’t think [Scottie] Pippen and [Horace] Grant were tough enough and he was lobbying for trades. Back then, players could defer some salary to give teams more salary cap space to sign players. Magic Johnson famously had done so, announcing it as everything.”
Jordan reportedly had a set of players he wanted the Bulls to sign, including Walter Davis, then an ageing veteran but still an effective scorer. Davis was one of MJ’s idols and one he tried to emulate.
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Rather than grant Mike’s wishes, Chicago acquired Dennis Hopson, a decent player but a baller Jordan didn’t want as his teammate.
“Jordan quietly had agreed to give up part of his 1990-91 salary, which I learned about at the 1990 draft, and wrote it. But then the Bulls used the cap room to acquire Dennis Hopson instead of any of Jordan’s choices.”
“Jordan was furious and Hopson had no chance, like Brad Sellers before him,” Smith wrote. “When Michael was mad at [general manager] Jerry Krause and the Bulls he’d take it out on someone.”
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Hopson’s bad luck
True enough, MJ unleashed his fury on the unknowing Hopper. As related by former Bulls forward Scott Williams, the GOAT abused Hopson during practices. Every frustration Jordan felt towards the front office was released on the swingman.
“It was the saddest thing I ever saw during my 15 years in the NBA,” Williams said. “The way MJ would guard a cat named Dennis Hopson. Hop was a great guy… They put him in front of Jordan every day in practice. Michael, he wouldn’t even call him ‘Hop.’ He called him ‘Dennis.’ He was the only cat on the team who wouldn’t call him ‘Hop.’ He was in his face, nose to nose. He talked trash to him. He got physical with him. He verbally and physically beat this man down ’til he was a shell of the player that he was. It was the worst thing that I ever saw.”
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It wasn’t all that bad for Hopson. Jordan eventually turned his negative energy into something good for him and the people around him. After finally getting over the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Black Cat powered the Bulls to their first-ever championship in 1991. For a few months, his war with the front office reached a ceasefire.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.