Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is one of the best ever to play the game of basketball. He is always at the top of the list of most people when it comes to the ?GOAT? debate. He has been lauded for his competitive mentality, which helped him win all 6 of his NBA Finals appearances.
A lot of things shaped Jordan?s mentality from an early age and competitiveness is one of them. He quickly became competitive ever since he started playing one on one against his big brother in their backyard.
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But Jordan was not just competitive about basketball, it was with whatever he does. Be it a game of cards or a game of golf, he always wanted to win.?And he would bet during these games.
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MIAMI – MAY 26: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls drives the ball up court against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 1997 NBA Playoffs at the Miami Arena on May 26, 1997 in Miami, Florida. The Heat defeated the Bulls 87-80. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
But this wasn?t only with a group of friends while playing cards or on the golf court. He visited casinos now and then. Recently, one of Jordan?s rivals, Reggie Miller, was asked about the time Michael went gambling during the playoffs.
Michael Jordan went to gamble during the playoffs
Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller recently joined Dan Patrick for the ?Dan Patrick Show? podcast. Then Dan asked Miller about the time Michael Jordan went to gamble until 2:30 AM in Atlantic City after losing the first two games of the playoff series against the New York Knicks. It was the Eastern Conference Finals.?
Reggie said, “In today’s age with social media, with Instagram TikTok and everything is instant, very difficult to do. It would have been interesting if social media was back in our day. I’m sure there’s a lot of things that I look back on now and ?Uh no, Can?t do that!… So, yeah, it is very difficult in today?s age to do some of the things that I was allowed to get away with?”
But Michael Jordan and the Bulls came back to win the next 4 to reach the finals. They also won the NBA finals that year. And Reggie was amazed at the fact that Jordan and the Bulls won 4 straight after he gambled all night. Patrick suggested that if Jordan hadn?t won that series, the media and the fans would have been harsh on him.?
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At the time, when Michael was asked about it, he said that he just wanted to relax and wanted to leave New York. It seemed to have worked.
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Ajinkya Aswale