Michael Jordan’s leadership has been described as tough, demanding, vocal, and competitive. It was effective in the end, as he led the Chicago Bulls to six titles in the 90s, winning all six Finals MVP awards.
Most teammates didn’t like it — sometimes it crossed the line, but the five-time MVP didn’t see any other way to achieve success without his cut-throat style.
Jordan’s leadership
When Luc Longley, who spent four seasons on the Bulls, described his former teammate’s leadership style as “carnivorous,” MJ couldn’t help but chuckle. But he didn’t deny it either.
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“Yeah, I mean, I can see that from his perspective quite naturally; yes, I can see that,” the Bulls icon said. “Look, I didn’t go there with that mentality, my mentality was to win at all cost and pull, push, yank whatever to get everybody on the same page.”
Every moment with Jordan in the locker room and on the court was intense, raw, and, as Longley put it, downright predatory. If he sensed a weakness in a teammate, he pounced — not out of cruelty, but because he believed pressure forged champions.
Longley played alongside “Mr. Air” during the Bulls’ second three-peat, and he experienced firsthand what it meant to be pushed by one of the all-time greatest. That ferocity translated to results on the court. Jordan demanded greatness and accepted nothing less.
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Extreme style
MJ didn’t just bring his fiery approach to gameday; he also brought it during practice sessions.
During an intense practice session, his approach went overboard when he got into a heated confrontation with sharpshooting guard Steve Kerr. It ended with the Bulls superstar landing a punch in Kerr’s face.
Looking back, the six-time champion doesn’t feel he would have chosen a different approach to being a leader.
“If I were to change my personality back to something totally different, I wouldn’t be who I would have been,” Jordan said. “I don’t think we had the same successes. I think a lot of players wouldn’t have been the same in terms of their perspective… I think it was needed in some respect, and I think our success illustrates that.”
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The practice incident was more about standards than actual bad blood. After the scuffle, MJ called Kerr to apologize, and the two became closer.
Now an accomplished coach for the Warriors, the former guard has often credited “His Airness” for toughening him up. He once hit one of the most iconic shots in Bulls’ history — the game-winner in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Jazz with a clutch assist.
Jordan’s leadership style wasn’t for everyone, and he knew it. Some players thrived under his demanding approach, while others crumbled. It was never about being liked — it was about winning, and he didn’t care if that made him the villain.