“He took ownership as a leader”- Dickey Simpkins on Michael Jordan’s approach towards the team when Chicago Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic
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Dickey Simpkins and Michael Jordan
It was the 1994-95 NBA season when Michael Jordan came back from his retirement and joined his team Chicago Bulls to earn the championship title once again. It was Bulls’ 29th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was also the team’s first season to be playing at the United Centre.
During the season initially, the Bulls struggled with 23-25 record at the All-Star break but after Jordan’s return to the team, it gave a big boost to the franchise. As Bulls later won 24 out of their final 34 games, and so moving ahead finished the season with 47-35 as a final record. With Jordan Back in the line-up, the Bulls recorded 13-4 on the roster.
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Having a difficult season that year they finished third in the Central Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Michael Jordan averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game that season. Returning back he also changed his jersey number to #47, but later in the playoffs in the same season, he again changed it to #23, his original jersey number.
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The Bulls had defeated the 4th-seeded Charlotte Hornets three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round of the NBA playoffs but eventually lost in the Eastern Conference semi-finals to the Conference champion the Orlando Magic in the six games. Following the win over the Bulls, the Magic went to the finals but eventually lost to the two-time NBA champion Houston Rockets.
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Dickey Simpkins praises his former teammate Michael Jordan for owning the loss of the Chicago Bulls against the Orlando Magic
In an interview on “The Highest Level” show with Evan Burk and Dickey Simpkins spoke about the winning culture of the Chicago Bulls under head coach Phil Jackson and the point guard Michael Jordan. Dickey Simpkins also spoke about the 1994-95 NBA season, and how Jordan reacted to the loss of the Bulls against the Orlando Magic.
Talking about Michael Jordan’s approach to the loss Dickey Simpkins said, “People talk about leadership; they talk about leaders on teams also the time I see guys that say, ’they’re only leaders when there’s good and they’re not leaders when there’s bad when it’s challenging.
One thing I can say is there was another level of increased focus and intensity that never happened in the game and that because MJ took ownership of how we lost in that series, he took ownership as a leader and basically set the tone that it would never happen again. And I think from a leadership standpoint that the biggest thing, there was no pointing finger there was no excuses, this won’t happen again embrace this moment and it won’t happen again.”
Having the same to be considered the Bulls went on to become the NBA champions for straight three years. 1995-96 champions against the Seattle SuperSonics, 1996-97 champions against the Utah Jazz, and 1997-98 against the Utah Jazz again making history that is remembered to date.
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Rajat Kumar Sharma
(86 Articles Published)