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Chicago Bulls All-Star forward # 23 Michael Jordan file photos. (Photo by Tom Berg/WireImage)
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Chicago Bulls All-Star forward # 23 Michael Jordan file photos. (Photo by Tom Berg/WireImage)
Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan dominated during his 15-season career in the NBA. No matter where the player played, in what condition, or against whom, His Airness was simply unstoppable. Many tried, and many failed. MJ led his team to the promised land 6 times, clinching the phenomenal record of 2 three-peats.
It’s natural for Jordan to have formed a few rivalries along the path to success. A resurfaced clip from 1993 shows one of his biggest rivalries highlighted.
Michael Jordan and the Detroit Pistons
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During the 1980s, the Detroit Pistons ruled the game of basketball. The “Bad Boys”, as they were dubbed, would soon form a formidable rivalry against the Chicago Bulls.
The young and agile Jordan was considered to be one of the biggest threats to the team at the time. After he dropped 59 points on them in 1988, the Pistons had to create their own strategy. It came to be known as the ‘Jordan Rules’.
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CHICAGO – 1991: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls jumps to shoot a basket against the Detroit Pistons as Cliff Levingston #53 of the Bulls, Dennis Rodman #10 of the Pistons and Isiah Thomas #11 of the Pistons watch the shot at the Chicago Stadium during the 1991 NBA Playoffs in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
The strategy was basically to put Michael on the ground, using as much physicality as possible to slow down the man. It was successful for the time being as it helped the bad boys win the 1989 and 1990 NBA titles.
As the years passed by, Michael Jordan formed a personal conflict with Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas. The hate remained so deep within Jordan that he wouldn’t be able to forget it even after retirement.
Jordan even went so far as to call Thomas an “a**hole’ in his Netflix documentary ‘The Last Dance’.
Thomas, of course, didn’t take the insult lightly.
Jordan dominates his rival in a resurfaced clip
A few hours ago, a YouTube channel titled ‘MJ23 His Airness Forever’ uploaded a game clip of the Bulls and Pistons from April 1993.
Made up of notable highlights, the clip featured Jordan, donning the number 23, leaving his opponents in the dust to score point after point. Despite being blocked by players like Thomas and Dennis Rodman, Michael didn’t hesitate.
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Making use of the ‘Jordan Rules’, Thomas tried to physically challenge Jordan and penetrate his defenses to try and throw him off balance. By that point, however, His Airness had realized what was what and wouldn’t be swayed. Moving like the wind, he left the 6’1 Thomas behind and proceeded to drop the ball into the hoop.
Throughout the match, Thomas was able to add 28 points to the team’s overall 103 points. Jordan, however, was way ahead of his rival. He was able to secure 36 points while his teammate, Scottie Pippen, secured 25 points for the Bulls.
With a total of 109 points, Chicago took home the victory.
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Michael Jordan’s supremacy gave the Bulls a platform to stand on and made them the best NBA team of the ’90s. While Isiah Thomas and Co remain a part of the history books, Jordan certainly had the last laugh.