Former Bulls Coach Doug Collins: ‘I Wish I Would Have Known When I Had Taken the Job How Good Michael Jordan Really Was Going to Be’

The tale of Michael Jordan has many chapters. Each of them is better than the previous one. Jordan came in as a young student right out of college and ready to take the NBA stage.

While his early career was hit with an injury, it did not stop him from slowing down. His former Chicago Bulls coach spoke about Jordan and how his mentality helped him become a better coach.

Jordan came into the NBA after spending three years with the legendary Dean Smith. It was at North Carolina where Jordan would learn the true meaning of hard work. This allowed him to push his own limits and become one of the greatest players in basketball history.

However, without that desire in him, it won’t have been possible no matter who he coached under.

Michael Jordan (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Recently, his former Bulls coach Doug Collins spoke about the star.

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The legend of Michael Jordan

Jordan came into the NBA with high expectations. However, it took him a while to get his first championship. That doesn’t mean he did not impress even the greatest of the greats at the time.

He made the NBA notice when he came in. Even after coming off a broken foot, Jordan got one of the most iconic praises from Celtics legend, Larry Bird.

Doug Collins elaborated: “I wish I would have known when I had taken the job how good Michael really was going to be.”

He continued, “I mean, Michael had just come off the playoffs where he had had a broken foot. During the year he had missed, I think all but 18 games. He then came back in the playoffs. And I mean the show he put on in Boston garden against the Celtics. I think Larry Bird had a comment one time he said the guy who I just played against god or somebody who was disguising himself as Michael Jordan.”

Collins further explained how Jordan always felt they had a chance to win if he was playing. It made Collins a better coach, and he hopes that helped Jordan along his journey as well. However, Larry Bird saw something that sure was worthy of the ‘‘God’ praise.

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Jordan dropped a playoff record 63 points against the Celtics that day. However, his historic performance came to no avail as the Bulls were taken down in double overtime. However, it was enough for Bird to understand just how great Michael Jordan really was.

Do you think Jordan could break his playoff record if he played in this era? Let us know in the comments below.

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