Credited for Guarding Michael Jordan, Pistons Legend Discloses Tactic That Stopped Peak MJ

Led by Chuck Daly, the ‘Bad Boys,’ came to be the stone in the shoe for Michael Jordan. Three consecutive conference championship defeats and MJ would live his biggest failures. Charged by Isiah Thomas, strategies devised by Daly, and it was the backcourt partner of the former who would catch the Chicago Bulls icon’s eyes with tough defense; very silently.

“I will say this is that by far, I think we were the most physical team with him, by far.” Joe Dumars first gave credit to his Pistons team before revealing his method. “Then, second, me personally, and it’s just my personality, and we talked about this since you know I never said a word to him (Michael Jordan). But I tried to go so hard at him, that spoke loudly.”

The 2x NBA Champion also stated that he never had to trash talk to Michael Jordan. “Like you can go real hard at a person and just look and never say a word and they hear you.” Plus, Dumars also explained to Hear District podcast that he had the support of ‘Bad Boys’ so was never worried about losing out on the key battle. This defensive approach earned the current EVP and Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA, praise from the Bulls legend.

“He thought well, and he was very smart about his defense,” MJ said in one of the interviews with ESPN. “He introduced certain tricks to make me expand on my talents as an offensive player, and that is why I consider him one of the best.” Michael Jordan and Dumars even became close friends because of the respect they earned on the court.

His Airness even revealed that their wives used to converse all the time. The bond grew stronger when they played on the same during one of the All-Star games. Thus, the eventual respect in court blossomed into a friendship that also extended to their families. “I’d always admired his athletic ability and basketball talent and a good friendship has been built.”

But that friendship also got questioned when the Bulls finally managed to topple the Pistons. And it became a turning point that gave rise to the Bulls dynasty.

Pistons legend had an issue with the budding friendship between Michael Jordan and Dumars

MJ won his first championship in 1991, when they beat the Lakers 4-1. But just before, the Bulls avenged their three previous defeats, sweeping the Bad Boys 4-0. As they did, Isiah Thomas once mentioned that Michael Jordan learned about the Pistons players inside out. And hinted at Joe Dumars for snitching.

“Yeah, they got to be friends, so Jordan got to get inside our inner workings and find out who was who and what made this guy tick. When you look back on it, you see the games that he played in the media and how he moved that guy and moved that guy. It was masterful,” Zeke spoke to Mitch Albom.

Although there is no proof, Thomas and his frustration against the Bulls is understandable. Pistons might have eliminated the Bulls from 1988-1990, but as MJ came back all prepared, they would fail to proceed beyond the first round in 1992 and then to the playoffs the next year.

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