Why Michael Jordan wanted Bulls reserves to always play hard in practice: “I have to play tomorrow night and he doesn’t!” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
From the moment he entered the NBA, Michael Jordan made it clear to everybody that he wouldn’t settle for anything less than victory. He also understood that he had to have an uncompromising dedication and work ethic to achieve his goal.
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As the star of the Chicago Bulls, MJ took on the responsibility of leading by example. By that, Jordan meant that there should be zero tolerance for underperformance, even in practice.
According to the late former Bulls assistant coach Johnny Bach, “His Airness” constantly demonstrated the importance of relentlessly competing. Bach revealed that nobody in the team has earned the right to relax for Jordan, and even the third stringers have to work hard.
“Nothing he did surprised me: he was the hardest worker I have ever seen and the meanest competitor even in practice,” Bach said of Jordan in an interview with Hoops HD in 2016. “I recall many a time when I would tell him to lay off a rookie like Pete Myers and he would say, ‘I have to play tomorrow night and he doesn’t!'”
Phil always fueled MJ’s competitive fire
Bach was Coach Phil Jackson’s assistant for five consecutive seasons. He played a key role in the Bulls’ first three-peat and witnessed the beautiful chemistry between Jordan and “The Zen Master.”
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As Bach described it, there was no better coach for Jordan than the legendary Jackson. From what he had observed, only Phil could bring the best out of MJ, which was evident during team practice sessions.
For Bach, Jackson’s unique approach to running the Bulls’ scrimmages was intended to further fuel Jordan’s competitive fire. More often than not, the coaching staff achieved the results they wanted to see from Jordan during actual games.
“Phil was the master of motivation: he often had Michael practice with the 2nd team against the rest of the starters,” Bach further divulged. “Phil was able to reach Michael in a way most people could not have. The losing team in the scrimmage would have to run and Michael hated to do that.”
MJ wanted everybody to be useful
Some may have perceived Jordan’s unwavering competitiveness as extreme, yet the man in question himself begged to differ. For MJ, he understood why many viewed him as a demanding leader. However, it shouldn’t be considered negative as it was simply how he approached the competition.
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Jordan deeply believed that the key to a team’s success lies in its collective commitment to competing fiercely and relentlessly. In his eyes, any sign of weakness within the team was unacceptable and should never be tolerated. Ultimately, MJ believed that each member of the team must be fully dedicated to winning.
“I would never say I was cutthroat. I was a competitor. I didn’t really care If I broke ’em. If they did get broken, then they are not going to be helpful to us when we need them the most,” the six-time champion explained in one of the older ESPN documentaries about the Chicago Bulls star.
Throughout his prime years, Jordan fostered an environment where everyone strived to elevate their game and contribute to the team’s overall success. Judging by how the ’90s Bulls dominated their rivals, it’s safe to say MJ was a great leader.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.