Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan dominated the 1990s, leading the team to three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998. However, during this period, Jordan took a break from basketball, stating that he had lost the desire to play basketball. Play.
The Bulls legend briefly played baseball before returning to Chicago in 1995. Their interruption sapped the Bulls’ championship momentum at the time, leading many to wonder if they could win an eighth straight title.
However, according to Jordan, even if he hadn’t retired briefly, Chicago wouldn’t have won eight straight championships.
In 1998, Jordan discussed the obstacles that stood in the way of the Bulls’ eighth consecutive championship in an interview with ESPN’s Rick Trand. He emphasized that the change in the team’s atmosphere after their first three consecutive championships was the main reason why they would fail anyway:
“People say if I hadn’t played baseball for a year and a half, we would have won our eighth straight championship,” Jordan said.
“But I don’t think so. After three consecutive championships, the atmosphere of the team is different.”
In 1994, without Jordan in the lineup, Chicago, led by his partner Scottie Pippen, lost to New York in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Even after Jordan returned midseason in 1995, the team lost to Orlando in six games in the second round.
If Michael Jordan had never retired in 1993, it’s impossible to know how history would have turned out. However, most would probably agree that his retirement provides him with the extra motivation he needs to win the next three titles.
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Michael Jordan says Bulls’ first three championship teams were their best teams
In a 1998 interview with ESPN’s Rick Telander, the former player believed the Bulls’ peak came during their first three-peat, as Chicago finished in 1991 During 1993 there was a more complete lineup.
The Bulls legend added that the team was also more motivated at the time because most of the Chicago players had yet to win a championship:
“But I don’t think this is our best Bulls team,” Jordan said.
“Our first three championship teams were more balanced, younger and more agile. And the desire is stronger. It’s strong now, but at the time we had a lot of guys who had never won anything. It’s easy to become complacent now . It’s human nature. … You don’t even know you’ve done anything until you see signs in the game.”
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