Michael Jordan has become a mythical figure for modern basketball fans. However, he elicited this reaction from his peers, including his former teammate Horace Grant.
During his playing career, Michael Jordan was the most significant person in basketball. He helped the sport grow even bigger on a global scale due to his success and marketability.
Despite this popularity, Jordan always worked hard in practice. No one worked as hard as he did, which made his teammates respect him even more. He was dedicated to his craft, which was awe-inspiring to his Chicago Bulls teammates, like Horace Grant.
Jordan set the tone for the Bulls, helping the rest of the team play well. Even when he played for the Washington Wizards, he still had an elite work ethic. That inspiration helped the Bulls become one of the best teams in the league.
Photo by Tom Berg/WireImageGrant knows why Jordan is considered the greatest of all time
As one of Jordan’s most trusted teammates over multiple years, Grant became close to His Airness. They were both crucial members of the Bulls team that won three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993.
Grant played from 1987 to 1994 with the Bulls, firmly cementing himself as one of the most reliable starters. Since he had a big role, he always saw Jordan during practices and games.
With that experience of watching Jordan up close every day for multiple years, Grant saw what made MJ such a great player. He is often considered the greatest of all time, with only LeBron James also considered a candidate for that title. Grant even lovingly called Jordan the “devil” for how he carried himself.
“Man, let me tell you, we thought this guy was just the devil. When I say the devil, that’s out of respect. In terms of the way he practiced, we thought that we were the Detroit Pistons or the New York Knicks,” Grant said on the Scoop B Radio podcast.
Michael Jordan was the devil in practice said former Chicago Bulls teammate Horace Grant on the Scoop B Radio Podcast.
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“Man let me tell you, we thought this guy was just the devil. When I say the devil that’s out of respect. In terms of the way he practiced, we… pic.twitter.com/1sR2aFLhzP
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“This guy practiced so hard, and if you weren’t on his team in practice, you were his enemy.
“That’s how driven this man was, and that’s why you can say that he was the best player that ever played this game.”
Jordan was the benchmark for hard-working excellence
Jordan was certainly a gifted athlete, both with his physical tools and talent. However, he did not want to coast on that alone, as he wanted to work hard. He preferred to separate himself from the rest of the league.
The current generation might identify hard work in basketball with Kobe Bryant and the popular Mamba Mentality. However, Bryant also learned from Jordan, a player he looked up to. Bryant even modeled his game on Jordan’s play style, which is evident in how similarly they play.
This obsessive approach to winning basketball games is what made Jordan a winner. He wanted to keep winning by doing everything to win. That went well for the Bulls, as they won six championships across six NBA Finals appearances in the 1990s.
Michael Jordan 1991 Playoffs (Era Adjusted Stats):
• 33.7 PTS
• 6.4 REBS
• 9 ASTS
• 2.4 STL
• 1.4 BLK
• +8.1 rTS%
• GOAT level scoring
• Historic playmaking
• Elite guard defense
• Led a Top 5 Playoff Team Ever
GOAT.
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He has a spotless record in the NBA Finals, winning all six times he reached that stage. That is a tough record to match, which is a big positive for Jordan in the GOAT debate.
That debate will continue to rage on, but with Jordan’s resume and Grant’s admission, Jordan was a special figurehead. Not only was he a fantastic player, but he also worked hard to earn everything he did.