?Knock on Michael Jordan?s Door, Wouldn?t Answer the Telephone?: When Bulls GOAT Forced Ex-Coach to Cancel Practice in 1988

Michael Jordan?was a prolific sports athlete who constantly honed his abilities daily in practice to stay on top of his game. The six-time NBA champ had the same intensity in training as he did on the court. Many of MJ’s former Bulls teammates have told?the tales of how lethal and competitive the Bulls GOAT was?during practice sessions. However, a resilient Michael Jordan once forced the former Bulls coach to cancel practice on Christmas eve in 1988.

The?Chicago Bulls, led by former coach Doug Collins made it to the for the third straight year in 1988-89 and lost in the Eastern Conference finals. Earlier in the season, the Bulls traveled to Charlotte right before Christmas. Collins’ plan for the team was to dominate the ‘lowly’ Charlotte Hornets and take a day off from practice on Christmas eve. However, the Jordan-led Bulls lost the game, prompting a frustrated Doug Collins to call players for practice at the Multiplex in Chicago on Christmas morning. However, Michael Jordan had other plans and was unwilling to cancel them for the practice.

Rare occasion where Michael Jordan called off practice

Michael Jordan had plans to spend Christmas with his family in North Carolina. So, on Christmas morning, MJ did not show up to join his teammates on the bus that was supposed to drive them to the airport, leaving coach Doug Collins furious. As a result, he sent former Bulls trainer Mark Pfeil to check on Jordan and get him to the bus.

Sam Smith’s 1991 book?‘The Jordan Rules’?states,?“Collins was frantic. He sent then-trainer Mark Pfeil to knock on Jordan’s door, Jordan wouldn’t answer the telephone. Jordan told Pfeil he wasn’t going back to Chicago for practice just because Collins was angry. Because he would then have to travel all the way back to North Carolina for Christmas as he planned.”

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When Pfeil went back to inform the former Bulls coach about Jordan’s response, Collins sent the former trainer back to Jordan to make a deal with the Bulls legend. Collins instructed that if Jordan came to the airport, he would cancel the practice. However, Jordan said that he would only come on one condition.

Jordan’s Bulls teammates discovered Collins’s plan due to one mistake

Jordan told Collins that he would only come for five minutes. The bus left for the airport, and Jordan arrived shortly. The former Bulls coach gathered the team and told them he was calling off the practice as a reward for Christmas. However, MJ’s then-teammate John Paxson noticed one detail that exposed Collins’ scheme.

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As per the book,?“Jordan turned and started walking away. Paxson noticed he was not wearing socks. No socks? Going to Chicago in December? The players knew immediately why practice had been canceled.”