Scott Williams recounts how MJ pushed everyone to play hard during a charity game

Scott Williams tells the story of Michael Jordan demanding pro players to play hard in his charity game.

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For all of Michael Jordan’s incredible basketball skills and athleticism, what really sets him apart from everyone else who has ever handled a basketball is his insane competitiveness. There are many tales of Jordan’s almost maniacal desire to always come out on top and former teammate Scott Williams tells the story of how His Airness demanded everyone who participated in his charity game to play their hardest.

Charity game for underprivileged kids in Charlotte

According to Williams, a fellow UNC product who won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early '90s, Jordan had brought some pros to Charlotte to play in a charity game for underprivileged kids in Charlotte in 1990. As charity games go, players often take it easy and focus on crowd-pleasing showmanship rather than playing hard. Jordan, however, had other ideas.

“So Jordan, the Carolina guy, he put me on his squad and I got a good physical strong game. Jordan addresses the squad, and he says, [if] you're not here to play a real, physical brand of basketball, there's the door you can leave,” Williams shared.

“It's kind of funny because all these guys were pro guys, but we're not getting paid for this. It's just to support him.”

Paved the way for Williams to become a Bull

Jordan’s words were music to Williams’ ears. A 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward, Williams used his heft and physicality to play well and even set Jordan up for what eventually became the game-winning bucket.

“That allowed my best talents to show through. I got a rebound late in the basketball game, an offensive rebound, and found Jordan over the right corner and delivered a strike to him and he knocked down what was essentially the game-winner," Williams recalled.

Williams’ play during that game did not go unnoticed. As he got picked up by the Bulls based on the MJ's suggestion. 

“And as he's leaving the arena pulling off in his little red Corvette, Fred Whitfield tells the story to a friend of mine that Michael Jordan calls Jerry Krause, and says you should give Williams a look-see. And so Krause called my agent and they gave me an invitation to try out for the rookie summer program,” Williams continued.