If there is one thing that puzzled basketball aficionados about Michael Jordan, it’s his ability to hang in the air. This was on full display when the Chicago Bulls legend went hard to the basket.
Considering he only stood 6-foot-6, it was hard to fathom how Jordan could score against taller defenders. But somehow, he always had something creative in mind.
Each time ‘His Airness’ made a jaw-dropping play, pundits would conclude that it was something he had been practicing. However, surprisingly, the third overall pick of the 1984 Draft said that wasn’t true.
“I’m not sure myself what I’m going to be doing once I’m up there,” Jordan explained. ”That’s when instinct takes over; that’s when the mind goes into its creativity.”
From another planet
One person who has witnessed MJ’s aerial feats is Bulls coach Phil Jackson. When asked about his thoughts about Jordan’s improbable gift of hanging in the air, he answered that most would likely take it in jest.
“Simple….Michael Jordan is from another planet,” Jackson told the New York Times.
Hence, there was no clear explanation of how Michael did it. Regardless, it was a skill that allowed him to score with ease and wow the basketball fans in the arena.
Winning remains important
Jordan could score at will. However, that meant nothing if his efforts didn’t translate to success.
When he entered the league, the Bulls appeared to be more about Jordan entertaining the crowd. However, the North Carolina product didn’t want fans to have that impression. He still preferred to be a team player—a necessity to win championships.
Jordan and the Bulls achieved that in 1991. MJ was still scoring at will, but the difference is that Chicago was able to surround him with players who could help.
That list included Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, and John Paxson. After figuring it out, the Bulls ruled the NBA for three straight seasons (1991-1993). Had he not taken a break in the 1993-94 season, a four-peat could have been possible.
In his 13 seasons with the Bulls, Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.5 steals in 930 regular season games. In addition, he won a total of six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and six Finals MVP awards, with his air-defying highlights still standing the test of time.
