When you’re Michael Jordan, you are entitled to get special passes. The NBA legend reportedly had a unique contract with the Chicago Bulls. The clause ‘Love of the Game’, allowed him to play the game wherever and whenever he wanted. So no one can stop him from doing so even for injury concerns. His Airness was the only NBA player who had such a deal with a franchise and is that even surprising?
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Michael Jordan is not just a name. It is a brand. Not everyone can match up to the Chicago Bulls legend’s legacy. MJ was drafted in the 1984 NBA Draft. It did not take long for him to establish himself as one of the most competitive players.
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Given his reputation in the league, he obviously could make such interesting demands. And for an athlete who is as competitive as MJ and loves the game, the clause sure did come in handy.
The special clause in the contract of Michael Jordan
Teams don’t want their players to go about playing in just about every game putting them at risk of injuries. Several players such as Monta Ellis and baseball legend Babe Ruth faced suspension after they sustained injuries during the offseason. So you could imagine the concern of the Chicago Bulls. However, Michael Jordan was not ready to accept that.
With the ‘Love of the Game’ clause, MJ was free to take part in any exhibition games or just random pickup games if he wanted to and no one could stop him. Jordan’s demands showed his love for the game which is why he was the only player GM Jerry Krause even considered giving the deal.
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Before Jordan joined the Bulls, the franchise did not have a huge fanbase. The arena would mostly remain empty during most games. But everything changed after the Bulls drafted MJ. Suddenly, arenas were getting sold out for every game and he also led the team to their first-ever championship. Bulls fans were solely relying on jersey No. 23 to lead them to glory and so he did.
“The toughest thing that we’ve tried to overcome and we’re still working is to give the ball to Michael and watch. And now you’ve got four guys standing in place, watching his work,” said Bulls coach Doug Collins in a 1980 interview.
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It is probably safe to say that the six-time NBA champion put the Chicago Bulls back on the map after he joined the team.
What do you think about this interesting clause in Michael Jordan’s contract? Let us know in the comments.