Long before Michael Jordan cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest player to have ever touched a basketball, there was a period when he needed to refine his skills and learn the fundamentals of the game. While fans remember Mike to have always possessed unprecedented confidence, there was a time, believe it or not, when he was nervous, scared, and intimidated meeting the legendary Dean Smith for the first time.
Jordan on meeting Coach Smith for the first time
After averaging 26.8 points across 23 games during the 1980-81 season at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, Jordan was one of the most highly recruited players entering the collegiate basketball realm. Despite his impressive showing at the high school level, he still needed time to develop his skillset and master the fundamentals of the game.
Although MJ knew he would learn a lot under Coach Smith at UNC, he felt nervous and intimidated meeting a coach renowned for his strict methods.
“Scared. Intimidated. I mean, his reputation preceded him,” Jordan told SLAM magazine in 1997. “I was pretty nervous about it, but he was easy to talk to, very knowledgeable, very caring coach.
In the first episode of ‘The Last Dance’ documentary, the two-time national championship-winning coach praised Mike’s unmatched competitive spirit. Although he admitted that His Airness was ‘inconsistent’ as a freshman, Smith urged that the 14-time All-Star was relentless in his efforts to improve, which only highlighted the deep respect the pair shared over their three years together at UNC.
No one other than his parents had a bigger influence on Mike
From guiding Jordan to win the ACC Rookie of the Year award in 1982 by trusting him with the game-winning shot against Georgetown to helping him earn the ACC Player of the Year award in 1984 after averaging 19.6 points per game, Coach Smith was instrumental in developing MJ’s ability to stay calm under pressure and make a name for himself.
Put simply, the journey of a young boy from North Carolina to becoming the ‘Black Jesus’ was a testament to Coach Smith’s influence, and the six-time Finals MVP was always aware of his coach’s pivotal role.
This was evident when the former passed away in 2015 at the age of 83, the Chicago Bulls legend penned a heartfelt note to the man who molded him into the biggest sports icon of the 1990s.