Petty Michael Jordan, Who Was Irked by Dennis Rodman Making Him Run More in Practice, Once Imposed an Odd Condition to Stop Training: ?He Was Really Into It?

Michael Jordan was one of the fiercest athletes on the basketball court. The Chicago Bulls legend’s desire to win pushed him to go the extra mile every time he was playing. However, his winning mindset was not restricted to the games. Many former teammates have shared the tale of his fierceness and extra dedication during practice sessions as well. Recently, former Bulls star Luc Longley claimed that Michael Jordan, who got irritated by Dennis Rodman making him run more in practice, once imposed a peculiar condition to stop training.

Luc Longley was a part of the Chicago Bulls team when MJ returned to the team after coming out of his first retirement in 1994. The Australian basketball veteran won three championships alongside Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman at the Bulls.

Michael Jordan played in practice as he did in games

In a recent interview, Longley revealed that the Bulls’ practice sessions under Michael Jordan were quite intense. He also stated that the practice sessions went on for hours until Jordan was satisfied.

Longley shared that Jordan defended the pick-and-rolls like a real game during practice. The six-time NBA champ often got physical and played hard against the assigned player. Moreover, Longley claimed that the Bulls’ practice sessions would often not end on time as MJ did not stop playing until he won.

READ MORE: $1.7 Billion Worth Michael Jordan?s Expensive Hobby in Jeopardy With $50,000 Controversy

Luc Longley said, “We ended up having long practices because… If Michael?s squad got beaten in practice, then he would have to have another game until he would win. He was really into it.”

The NBA veteran reckoned that the Bulls team would often end up having prolonged practice. If his team had lost the game, MJ would push for a rematch and kept playing until he secured a victory.

How did Dennis Rodman irk Jordan during practice?

In his docuseries, ‘The Last Dance’, Michael Jordan talked about how Dennis Rodman became the reason why he had to run more in practice during the 1997-1998 season. Midway into the season, the unpredictable Rodman decided to take a personal vacation to Las Vegas. Unfortunately for Jordan, Rodman showed up unfit from Las Vegas. As a result, the former Bulls coach Phil Jackson put the whole team through a conditioning drill to get the two-time All-Star back in shape.

It resulted in Jordan and his Bulls teammate having to go through an intense running drill that irked him. Michael Jordan said,?“So, I’m saying. Well f**k, this is kind of messed up. Because now I’m getting up in the Dennis get-in-shape drill when in essence, I hadn’t taken a vacation.”

MJ shared his frustration about being dragged into the drill to get Rodman in shape even when he did not take a vacation.

WATCH THIS STORY:?Top 5 NBA signature celebration moves, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, and more