“Michael Jordan Was a Bad Dude”: Former Magic Star Recalls Biggest Mistake He Made

Published 09/07/2021, 11:28 AM EDT

The legacy of Michael Jordan is clear for everyone to see. The former Bulls shooting guard tied up his legacy after incredible performances on the basketball court. To this dy, Jordan’s determination is unmatched; the ability to pull yourself when the chips are down is an understatement for MJ. He was always on top. Despite retiring from the league after winning three NBA titles, he never lost his mojo.

And former Orlando Magic guard, Penny Hardaway found that the hard way.

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Penny Hardaway’s take on Michael Jordan

Penny established himself as one of the best guards in the league. With his immaculate passing ability and inside scoring prowess, Hardaway was a threat to everyone.

But after MJ returned from a stint in the MLB, he returned to send shock waves to every single player. Hardaway recollected the time when they met the Bulls after his comeback matchup.

“We were all fans before we got to the league. When we got there, he wasn’t in the league. He came back, and I was kind of like, ‘I am the big dog. Michael is Michael, but you don’t have to show me.’ That was my mentality because I had already been in the league and established myself.”

“But playing the Bulls, you could tell he was rusty but you could tell he was a bad dude man. The respect was always there. But my thing was you have to attack him before he attacked you, but all we did was piss him off. Once he got that year under his belt and got his feet back wet, he went right back into pitbull mode; it was over,” said Hardaway.

Never underestimate Michael Jordan because he is the greatest basketball player on planet Earth; the steely resolve and gritty determination were never going away.

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MJ’s return to the league

After one and half years, Jordan came back. He came back determined to land more NBA titles. After coming back, he played in 17 games and averaged 26.9 points and 1.8 steals, which is still amazing. But, the next year was a different story.

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He went on an amazing run of games which saw him averaging 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.

The real dude was back!

That season saw him land his fourth NBA title and two more followed for the Bulls, thereafter. The legacy of Jordan is concrete. Not only was he an incredible player on the court, but his off-court personality was also quite something. MJ is truly the GOAT of basketball.

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Written by:

Jacob Gijy is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Gijy finished his Masters in Counselling Psychology and worked in a hospital for 2 years before his passion for sports compelled him to find his way to sports journalism. A fan of the great Tim Duncan, he is always ready to pick up a debate with anyone who does not offer the centre the respect he deserves.

“Michael Jordan Was a Bad Dude”: Former Magic Star Recalls Biggest Mistake He Made

Penny Hardaway’s take on Michael Jordan

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MJ’s return to the league