31 things we learned about Michael Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls in "The Last Dance"

Read more:

10 behind-the-scenes facts you might not have known about the making of 'The Last Dance'

Shaq says Michael Jordan is 'the best player ever' and that he'd easily average 45 points in today's NBA

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Michael Jordan's 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team documented in 'The Last Dance'

40 things we learned from the first two episodes of 'The Last Dance,' ESPN's Michael Jordan documentary series that's captivating the sports world

Even to this day, Jordan says he still finds it "maddening" that the Bulls didn't try for a seventh title.

Jordan wrote a poem for his final goodbye to his teammates after the 1998 season.

When the series got to Jordan's iconic final shot with the Bulls, one thing was clear — his teammates knew he wasn't passing.

The moment was likely the emotional highpoint of the series, and director Jason Hehir said it came just 45 minutes into his first on-camera interview with Jordan.

Jordan did his best to answer for his harsh treatment of teammates, saying 'That's how I played the game.'

Jordan's intensity was put into focus in episodes seven and eight of the series, with his teammates even opening up about fearing him at practices.

Just ahead of the 1996 Finals, Sonics coach George Karl didn't say hello to Jordan while the two were dining at the same restaurant. Jordan decided to use the snub as a slight and went on to crush Seattle.

Jordan's minor league baseball manager, Terry Francona, claimed that with a few more years of focus, Jordan could have made the majors.

Jordan revealed that the last conversation he had with his father was about his desire to leave basketball and play baseball.

While fans around the world were enthralled with "The Last Dance," some of Jordan's former rivals, such as Patrick Ewing, weren't as amused.

Jordan's deal with Nike is still a force in the market, and the value some of his older shoes are skyrocketing.

But despite Nike's huge offer, Jordan was still drawn to Adidas, and even reached out to the company hoping they'd match the deal.

While Jordan's partnership with Nike is now worth billions, it almost didn't happen, as he had initially hoped to sign with Adidas until his parents forced him to reconsider.

Jordan really did say, "Republicans buy sneakers too."

Even off the court, Jordan's competitiveness was legendary. According to Barkley, Jordan would play poker every night during the Dream Team's run, often trying to buy the pot with his outsized wealth.

Playing against Jordan was always a revelation, even for some of the best players of that generation. Charles Barkley said Michael Jordan was the first person to make him realize he wasn't the best basketball player on Earth.

Kobe Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter accident in February 2020, was shown in the documentary praising Jordan, crediting advice he gave in helping him become a legend in his own right.

After losing to Detroit in the playoffs in three straight seasons, Jordan put on 15 pounds of muscle over the summer so he could hang tough with the Pistons.

The subject of a documentary getting the final say on topics may not be best practiced as a rule. Still, it did provide Jordan with some hilarious opportunities to respond to the comments of others, such as Gary Payton.

One of the conditions of producing the documentary was that Jordan would get the final say on any topic.

Even to his teammates, Jordan was an enigma. But when the Bulls won their first title, Jordan's emotional reaction showed the rest of the team that he was human.

But despite his eccentric interests sometimes taking him away from the court, few players worked harder than Rodman. It's possible no player in history was more committed to securing rebounds.

When Rodman made it back to the team, he was put to work, with Jackson leading the Bulls through some intense drills to get him back into playing shape.

Dennis Rodman was the star of the second night of "The Last Dance," with the series recounting the story of Jordan's mission to retrieve Rodman from an impromptu mid-season vacation.

During his interviews for "The Last Dance," Jordan was never seen without a glass of liquor next to him. As it turns out, Jordan's drink of choice was his own brand of tequila that goes for as much as $1,800 a bottle.

Jordan talked about passing on the party culture of the Bulls' 'traveling cocaine circus' in his rookie season.

In the first two episodes of "The Last Dance," former President Barack Obama made an appearance that included a hilarious chyron.

Jordan earned praise throughout the documentary, with legendary commentator Mike Breen saying he carried himself with a "mystique," the likes of which he had rarely seen.

We also learned how close that iconic performance was to never happening.

Jordan's abilities to hold a grudge and call his shots were both well documented throughout the series, like the time he went off for 63 points after losing a round of golf to Danny Ainge.

Early in his career, Jordan showed just how far he was willing to go to play and win, offering a classic response when asked to sit due to what could have become a career-ending injury.