28 examples of Michael Jordan's legendary competitiveness

Scott Davis,Cork GainesJun 22, 2022, 00:47 IST

Michael Jordan.Matt Dunham/AP

Michael Jordan is one of the most competitive athletes in all of sports.
Jordan's competitiveness is legendary, from his tireless work ethic, trash-talking on the court, mean streak in golf, and love of gambling.
MJ's competitiveness extended beyond the court, as he was known to be ruthless in golf and would look to make everything a competition — even drinking water.

Tony Manfred contributed to this post.

Former college teammate James Worthy said Jordan used to make him stay after college practices to work on their games and play one-on-one.

Michael JordanFocus on Sport/Getty Images

He trashed all his doubters in his Hall of Fame induction speech, saying of former Bulls GM Jerry Krause: "I don't know who invited him … I didn't."

Michael Jordan.Stephan Savoia/AP

As ESPN's "The Last Dance" revealed, Jordan and the Bulls were often ruthless to Krause, making fun of his height, weight, and appearance.

Jerry Krause.Bill Kostroun/AP

Jordan made it his mission to destroy players that Krause scouted and liked. He and Scottie Pippen famously shut down Toni Kukoc, a Croatian prospect, in the 1992 Olympics because Krause was recruiting Kukoc to the Bulls.

Michael Jordan and Toni Kukoc.Fred Jewell/AP

Jordan made it his mission to destroy players that Krause scouted and liked. He and Scottie Pippen famously shut down Toni Kukoc, a Croatian prospect, in the 1992 Olympics because Krause was recruiting Kukoc to the Bulls.

He punched former Bulls teammate Steve Kerr in the face during a scrimmage.

Steve Kerr.Getty Images

Kerr wasn't the only one — former Bulls center Will Perdue said Jordan also punched him. He said fights were common at Bulls practices because of their intensity.

Chicago Bulls practice.Charles Bennett/AP

Magic Johnson said he once trash-talked Jordan during a practice with the Dream Team and lived to regret it.

Michael Jordan and Magic JohnsonSusan Ragan/AP

He allegedly ruined Rodney McCray's career by dominating him in $100 post-practice shooting games.

Michael Jordan dunking in front of Rodney McCray.Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

He allegedly broke the jumpshot of former NBA point guard Muggsy Bogues with one sentence of trash talk.

Michael Jordan and Muggsy Bogues.Ruth Fremson/AP

He psyched out the Washington Bullets in the playoffs by smoking cigars before games.

Michael Jordan.Matt Dunham/AP

He put on 15 pounds of muscle in one summer to better withstand the beating of the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs.

Michael Jordan.Alan Mothner/AP

At age 50, he made it a goal to lose 45 pounds to get down to his playing weight of 218.

Michael Jordan.ESPN

He played through the flu and scored 38 points.

Michael JordanBrian Bahr/Getty

MJ once turned down a huge endorsement deal because he didn't like the name of the product.

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Kobe Bryant, whose competitiveness and overall game has been likened to Jordan's, said Jordan once tried to trash talk him during a friendly dinner.

Michael JordanBrian Bahr/AP

He destroyed O.J. Mayo, then a top high school prospect, in a pickup game at age 43.

Michael Jordan takes on OJ Mayo.YouTube

He played a Bobcats player one-on-one in 2013, and had to get treatment from the trainer the next day.

Michael Jordan liked to face his Bobcats players in practice.YouTube

He made a $500 bet with a fan that he could hit the green at a charity golf event in 2011, and won.

Michael JordanYouTube

Charles Barkley said Jordan used to bet "hundreds of thousands" of dollars on golf matches.

Charles Barkley and Michael JordanJohn Swart/AP

He forced Dream Team coach Chuck Daly to play him in golf by pounding on his hotel room door.

Michael JordanMatthew Stockman/Getty Images

He once trash-talked Bill Clinton on the golf course.

Michael Jordan and Bill ClintonAP

He had final say on who made the Dream Team.

The Dream TeamNBATV

He has even brought his competitiveness to the race track as the newest owner in NASCAR.

Bubba Wallace in victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway.Chris Graythen/Getty Images

He would play quarters with the United Center security guard. As shown in "The Last Dance," he once lost $20.

Michael JordanESPN

He led a group of hard-line NBA owners who refused to budge during the lockout in 2011.

Michael JordanChuck Burton/AP

He once told Shaq exactly what he was going to do against his teammate, and it worked.

Michael JordanJonathan Daniel/Getty Images

He continually cheated Scottie Pippen out of money by betting on pre-recorded races.

Michael Jordan and Scottie PippenJohn Swart/AP

Actor Will Smith said he's never met anyone as competitive as MJ.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

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28 examples of Michael Jordan's legendary competitiveness

Former college teammate James Worthy said Jordan used to make him stay after college practices to work on their games and play one-on-one.

He trashed all his doubters in his Hall of Fame induction speech, saying of former Bulls GM Jerry Krause: "I don't know who invited him … I didn't."

As ESPN's "The Last Dance" revealed, Jordan and the Bulls were often ruthless to Krause, making fun of his height, weight, and appearance.

Jordan made it his mission to destroy players that Krause scouted and liked. He and Scottie Pippen famously shut down Toni Kukoc, a Croatian prospect, in the 1992 Olympics because Krause was recruiting Kukoc to the Bulls.

He punched former Bulls teammate Steve Kerr in the face during a scrimmage.

Kerr wasn't the only one — former Bulls center Will Perdue said Jordan also punched him. He said fights were common at Bulls practices because of their intensity.

Magic Johnson said he once trash-talked Jordan during a practice with the Dream Team and lived to regret it.

He allegedly ruined Rodney McCray's career by dominating him in $100 post-practice shooting games.

He allegedly broke the jumpshot of former NBA point guard Muggsy Bogues with one sentence of trash talk.

He psyched out the Washington Bullets in the playoffs by smoking cigars before games.

He put on 15 pounds of muscle in one summer to better withstand the beating of the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs.

At age 50, he made it a goal to lose 45 pounds to get down to his playing weight of 218.

He played through the flu and scored 38 points.

MJ once turned down a huge endorsement deal because he didn't like the name of the product.

Kobe Bryant, whose competitiveness and overall game has been likened to Jordan's, said Jordan once tried to trash talk him during a friendly dinner.

He destroyed O.J. Mayo, then a top high school prospect, in a pickup game at age 43.

He played a Bobcats player one-on-one in 2013, and had to get treatment from the trainer the next day.

He made a $500 bet with a fan that he could hit the green at a charity golf event in 2011, and won.

Charles Barkley said Jordan used to bet "hundreds of thousands" of dollars on golf matches.

He forced Dream Team coach Chuck Daly to play him in golf by pounding on his hotel room door.

He once trash-talked Bill Clinton on the golf course.

He had final say on who made the Dream Team.

He has even brought his competitiveness to the race track as the newest owner in NASCAR.

He would play quarters with the United Center security guard. As shown in "The Last Dance," he once lost $20.

He led a group of hard-line NBA owners who refused to budge during the lockout in 2011.

He once told Shaq exactly what he was going to do against his teammate, and it worked.

He continually cheated Scottie Pippen out of money by betting on pre-recorded races.

Actor Will Smith said he's never met anyone as competitive as MJ.