“I am the One Who Won it For You”: When Michael Jordan Poked Fun of His Teammate Upon Winning the Title

When Joe Kleine was crying after winning the title in 1998, Michael Jordan had a typical response.

It was the Bulls’ third consecutive title in 1998. With stars like Scottie Pippen, Denis Rodman apart from Jordan in the team, Kleine was far from being amongst the best in the team. And Jordan didn’t shy away from letting him know.

“Why are you crying? I am the one who won it for you,” Jordan had said as a new Instagram post from SZN Update recalled the incident.

ESPN’s The Last Dance celebrating the greatness of Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls

The 1998 season was Jordan’s final season at the Bulls. With the win, the Bulls had won their sixth title in eight years. ESPN’s latest documentary, The Last Dance, highlights Jordan’s greatness while concentrating on the 1997/98 season.

Prior to the documentary’s release, Kleine looked back at Jordan and how he was a great leader.

“He set the tone,” Kleine said in April, “Every day he set the tone, He was almost always the first guy there, putting in extra time shooting and lifting. I was fortunate that in 1984, I was on the Olympic basketball team with him in LA, so I knew Michael before he became ‘Michael Jordan.’”

Jordan started his NBA career in 1984 with the Bulls drafting him in as the third overall pick. Over the years, he established himself as not only an NBA star but as a global superstar. He was hugely influential in popularizing NBA across the world.

He is also one of the most efficiently marketed athletes, making him the richest athlete in the world. He finished his career as a six-time Champion and a five-time MVP. Incredibly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Jordan has 14 All-Star selections after playing 14 seasons in the NBA.

Joe Klein, meanwhile, played 15 years in the NBA for eight different teams. He played for the Bulls for two years between 1997 and 1998. He has an NBA title to his name thanks to his stint at the Bulls.