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Michael Jordan Reflects on His Harsh Leadership Style

SI's Robin Lundberg shares thoughts on Jordan's leadership and why even though it was harsh, it ended with positive results.

Jean Chery

In today's edition of Hot Clicks, Michael Jordan is moved to tears discussing his competitiveness in the latest edition of 'The Last Dance'. "You ask all my teammates. The one thing about Michael Jordan was he never asked me to do something that he didn't f---ing do. When people see this, they are going say, 'Well, he wasn't really a nice guy. He may have been a tyrant.' No, well, that's you. Because you never wanted anything. I wanted to win, but I wanted them to win to be a part of that as well. Look, I don't have to do this. I'm only doing it because it is who I am. That's how I played the game. That was my mentality. If you don't want to play that way, don't play that way."

SI's Robin Lundberg shares thoughts on Jordan's leadership and why even though it was harsh, it ended with positive results.

Read the Full Video Transcript:

Robin Lundberg: Was Michael Jordan competitive? One wouldn’t know from watching The Last Dance. Just kidding. It’s kind of a theme. As is the idea that MJ could be kind of mean to his own team. From antagonizing Scott Burrell for being too nice to punching Steve Kerr in the face, to not letting Horace Grant eat. But eventually his Bulls teammates did feast. To the tune of two separate three-peats. 

Michael Jordan
Ken Levine/Allsport

So while Jordan’s leadership style may not be for everybody, it certainly worked for them, at least when it comes to results. However, it was kind of unfair for MJ to think everyone could be as driven as him. That’s rarified Air. Which is why the idea of Be Like Mike was always kind of a farce. Because in order to be Michael Jordan...you’d have to be harsh. 

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Jean Chery
JEAN CHERY

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