Michael Jordan was adored by fans and has become a legendary figure in sports history. However, beyond the iconic performances and emphatic championship runs lies the real MJ, an extremely competitive player who had a tendency to become borderline arrogant.
It’s what Bulls chronicler Sam Smith aimed to unfold in his 1992 book, “The Jordan Rules.” Bulls head coach Phil Jackson commended Smith for his ability to capture the true essence of Jordan. Through detailed accounts and insightful analysis, Smith delves into MJ’s personality on and off the court, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the man behind the basketball icon.
Jackson appreciated the nuanced approach Smith took in depicting Jordan’s strengths, weaknesses, and the challenges he faced at the time. Rather than presenting a one-dimensional view of MJ as a flawless superstar, Smith’s narrative reveals a more human side to “His Airness.”
“I think it gave him more of a humanistic appreciation,” Jackson told Bulls.com of MJ’s portrayal in the book. “It brought his star down to a level where he was a human being who was extraordinary in every sense of the word athletically and was driven by an incredible amount of competitive drive to win a championship. I think that was probably the defining message that came from that book.”
Phil knew not all MJ and Bulls fans would like The Jordan Rules
While Jackson was impressed by how Smith delves into the intricate details of Jordan’s career in The Jordan Rules, the legendary coach also had reservations about how fans might perceive the book because it portrays their idol.
Like avid Jordan fans, Jackson admired Jordan’s incredible work ethic, competitive drive, and relentless pursuit of greatness. On the other hand, Jackson also understood that behind Jordan’s public image as a captivating NBA superstar, there were complexities in his personality that The Jordan Rules sought to reveal.
With that in mind, early on, “The Zen Master” already had a feeling that some fans would be gutted by how the controversial book explored Jordan’s intense personality, vulnerabilities, tendencies, and imperfect relationship with other Bulls players.
“I knew it was going to be controversial, and Sam had kind of warned me,” Jackson said of The Jordan Rules. “It was an inside look at the team and about the dynamics and the characteristics of our leader, Michael Jordan. Not everybody was going to be happy with it; I knew that.”
Firsthand encounters
With fans divided over The Jordan Rules, one of the most notable questions that arose after the book’s release was whether the stories and encounters conveyed were indeed accurate. Some might still doubt it, but once and for all, Jackson confirmed the authenticity of Smith’s accounts.
Phil noted that Sam was given direct access to the team at the time and witnessed many of the situations firsthand, allowing him to capture the events and interactions behind the scenes with great precision.
“A lot of it rang true; a lot of it, of course, was taken to the extreme perhaps,” Jackson divulged. “But a lot of it was a really good portrayal of the team, how the team was going, and also the influence that this terrific player had on basketball.”
“The interesting thing about that period of time was that Sam was around at the end of when the NBA teams were taking commercial flights,” he explained. “The writers used to fly a lot on the same planes as teams. He was there as we waited to board, and the opportunity was there to converse. Sam got the benefit of the camaraderie that went on between the coaches, players, and journalists that ended in the very early 1990s.”
Phil said Smith got the green light from the Bulls
Regardless of how readers viewed The Jordan Rules, Jackson ultimately applauded Smith for his work in the book. He liked how Smith utilized the freedom given to him by the Bulls organization to paint an honest and unfiltered picture of the team.
Despite the intrigue generated by the shocking revelations about MJ, Phil still thinks Smith did a good job, especially in making people comprehend what the Bulls wanted to be as a team at the time.
“The Bulls allow him a great amount of freedom to write what he feels about the team and the direction in which the team and league is going. I think that’s nice,” Jackson concluded.
Unsurprisingly, Mike wasn’t thrilled by The Jordan Rules. He once remarked that the book presented “a lot of misconceptions” about how he and the Bulls operated and interacted. MJ and Phil weren’t on the same page on the subject, but their contrasting takes on the book weren’t profound enough to affect their relationship and performance.