Michael Jordan’s legacy encompasses more than just his unmatched scoring prowess and relentless desire to win. It also includes the fear he instilled in opponents since he first stepped onto the court, which sometimes included an over-ambition level of intimidation that forced him to push his teammates to excel. This resulted in a notable clash with Dave Corzine during his sophomore season.
After sitting out most of the 1985-86 season due to a foot injury, MJ made a comeback towards the business end and was determined to instill toughness in his teammates. In practice before a crucial game against the Washington Bullets, Jordan butted heads with Orlando Woolridge and even triggered Corzine.
Jordan admitted he wouldn’t get into a fistfight with Corzine
According to the Chicago Tribune, Mike got into a tussle with the 6’11” center under the rim. While Corzine initially didn’t react much, he went after the 1985 ROY when he continued taunting him, prompting other Bulls players to step in between and restrain Dave from advancing further.
One might anticipate Jordan being aggressive and immediately confronting Corzine, but surprisingly, that wasn’t what happened.
“I wasn’t going to fight Corzine. If I did, I’d hit him and run. You see, I’ve got my sneakers on. I was just trying to motivate the guys,” Jordan said. “Yeah, Corzine is a big guy, but I’ve got a lot of heart. Besides, I made sure there were four guys between us.”
Corzine on the heated scuffle with Jordan
Even though Mike Smrek mentioned that he had never seen Corzine so furious before, the Illinois native seemed to grasp the six-time Finals MVP’s intention and why he kept provoking him. As a result, Dave ultimately forgave and moved on.
“There are no personal problems between us. It’s something that just happens,” Corzine said. “You’re fighting somebody every day in practice, and you lose your temper.”
However, it wasn’t only ‘The Lumberjack’ who grasped Jordan’s intention; the whole team picked up on it, translating that energy onto the court and securing a 105-103 victory over the Bullets. While Mike dropped a game-high 31 points, four other Bulls players also scored in double digits. Furthermore, Corzine fell one rebound short of securing a double-double after playing the most minutes (41) for the team.
Without a doubt, Michael’s tendency to provoke his teammates might have caused some initial discomfort and conflicts, but it ultimately spurred them to give their best on the hardwood. Whether or not it was the best method is up for debate, but it definitely worked wonders for the six-time NBA Champ in the long run.
