Michael Jordan‘s former teammates unsurprisingly remember many great things about him. For former Chicago Bulls big man Scott Williams, Jordan’s unmatched work ethic often stands out the most.
To this day, Williams still vividly recalls the moment when tension rose during a regular practice day because of Jordan’s commitment to working on his craft. Williams recounted that Bulls head coach Phil Jackson did not want his superstar player getting fatigued or even worse, hurt, so he asked him to take a break.
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But No. 23 refused to obey Jackson’s orders and continued. At that point, the legendary coach had no other choice but to be extra firm with Jordan.
“The only time [Jordan] he ever took a drill off, or maybe cut practices a little short, was when Phil Jackson absolutely made him,” Williams told Yahoo Sports in 2018. “And he went to the sideline cussing.”
Only LeBron is like MJ in that aspect
Williams was still a young player when he played for the Bulls. It was the first time he saw someone as driven and intense as Jordan.
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As for the incident between Jackson and MJ, Williams emphasized that it was also the first time he witnessed something like that happen, considering how dominant the Bulls were at the time.
After leaving Chicago, Williams got to play alongside other big-name stars such as Allen Iverson, Ray Allen and Stephon Marbury. However, none of the aforementioned players matched Jordan’s work ethic.
It was only when he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in the final season of his career that he saw a player similar to Jordan. Ironically, that guy also wore No. 23.
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“I never saw that again out of another player,” Williams said of Jordan’s unceasing drive. “Until, in my 15th year, I joined Cleveland. I played with a bunch of star players in the league who were very talented [but] weren’t professional – I’mNotGonnaSayAnyNamesIverson.”
“There was something about MJ and LeBron that, you could tell right away, this is a different type of superstar,” he added.
Jordan admired Phil’s coaching style
Although MJ didn’t like being stopped from grinding, that didn’t mean he didn’t admire Jordan’s coaching style.
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For a player as big as him, Jordan knew well that he needed a coach with a strong personality; someone who could set the tone without causing friction between him and the players. That’s exactly what Jackson was to the Bulls and that’s what made them such a dominant team.
“The main reason we do so well is Phil. I like him because of the atmosphere he creates,” Jordan said per ESPN Magazine. “Sometimes he can say one word, one sentence, and shake you up, make you think… It’s not a curse, but you get the point.”
Williams’ story about how passionate and determined Jordan was also gave fans a glimpse of what type of coach and leader Jackson was.
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Ultimately, the two meshed not because they adored each other but because both impactful figures understood that no matter the situation, they had a common goal: to win. Six championships in eight years prove they did it like very few coach-player duos throughout the history of the NBA.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.