We love to imagine what it would be like if MJ, Shaq, and Kobe were on the same team. At least Shaquille O’Neal muses about how many rings he could’ve won if he was Michael Jordan’s teammate. The exits of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson marked the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty and paved the way for the Shaq & Kobe-led Los Angeles Lakers dynasty. For Coach Phil Jackson, it was just another day at work bagging a championship or three. However, there’s an urban legend that he almost drew Jordan to be a part of the Lakers before he retired. Aries Spears reminded us of it, but is it true?
Jordan very briefly retired a second time after his sixth chip but returned to play with the Washington Wizards. Following MJ’s retirement, Jackson signed with the Lakers. There was speculation that Jackson wanted to work with Jordan again. But their collaboration in the post-Bulls dynasty era was different.
Did Phil Jackson Seek Out Michael Jordan?
During an appearance on VladTV, Aries Spears commented, “At one point Phil Jackson said to Michael [Jordan] while retired, ‘If you come back, come play with the Lakers.’… Kobe, Michael, and Shaq.” For context, the comedian meant that Jordan and Scottie Pippen had been a super duo for the Bulls but Jordan was never part of a superstar trio. That could’ve been possible if he was on the same team as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
This is a story that’s gone around the NBA circles for years with no confirmation from the people involved. It gained traction after The Last Dance, where Jordan said he wouldn’t have played with the Bulls if Phil Jackson was not the coach. After the 1998 championship, Jackson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers leading up to the 1999-2000 season. Fans couldn’t help but wonder if Jordan would play for a different team coached by Jackson.
Just before they acquired some championship quality with the former Bulls coach, the Lakers had a poor season. Dennis Rodman, who was traded from the Bulls to the Lakers, appeared in just 23 games. Despite Shaq and Kobe’s efforts, the Lakers lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. They needed some of that magic the Bulls had in the past decade.
They got Phil Jackson along with Ex-Bulls, John Salley and Ron Harper. But not MJ. Even then, they went on to win the championship. Jordan came out of his second retirement but would not be on a super team. His real retirement season ran parallel to Shaq and Kobe’s three-peat. While he had no role as a player in the Lakers dynasty, it is true that Jackson relied on Jordan and other Bulls players to build a stronger team.
Michael Jordan mentored the Lakers stars
Apart from the bitter divorce with the Bulls, Jordan also opted for a second retirement in January 1999 ahead of the start of the lockout-shortened season. It wouldn’t have been ideal for Jackson to force him out of retirement in a situation neither knew he could keep playing. Yet, Mike’s invaluable experience was an asset. The HC reached out to him to mentor Kobe Bryant, who at that time was picked out of high school and still finding a footing in the league.
Jordan offered to visit the camp and have a chat with Bryant. “I solicited his [Michael’s] help, you know, here with the Lakers. The first year I was here he was out of basketball. He just came and talked to Kobe a little bit about playing the guard position in this triangle offense. And how [it] can be frustrating because it could be a lot about spacing,” Jackson said.
While Kobe and MJ hit it off, O’Neal probably was disappointed his fantasy of being Jordan’s teammate didn’t pan out. He got another former Bull on his tail. Just before Jackson’s new job was public, John Salley called him to say that the Lakers could benefit from the triangle offense. He didn’t know Jackson had already taken the job then but when he found out, he offered to hop five doors down and teach his neighbor, Shaq, the triangle offense. Jackson did him one better and they convinced GM Jerry West to sign Salley. That was the start of Salley’s longstanding friendship with Shaq. Even with limited playtime, he was O’Neal’s mentor and retired with a fourth ring in 2000.
If Jackson really tried to get Jordan in purple and gold, we’ll only know if either says it himself. We can only join Shaq and wonder what could’ve been.