The intensity of Chicago Bulls practices during their championship runs in the 1990’s were legendary. With Michael Jordan, the ultra-competitive GOAT running the show, emotions occasionally ran high when things weren’t going well. Then again I suppose you don’t win six NBA Championships in eight seasons without the occasional practice escalating into fisticuffs between teammates. Arguably the most famous of these practice battles involved MJ and current Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. On Monday, former Bull Horace Grant joined HOT97 in New York and shared another Jordan battle; this time with center Will Perdue.
“Our practices were so intense because Phil, the mastermind behind everything, would put MJ on the second team, me and Scottie would be on the first team, and being competitive like he was, man. Unreal, unreal. Of course punches got thrown, many fights. I’m just so happy that social media wasn’t (around) back then.”
“I hate to tell the story but Will and I are still good friends … Typical Phil (Jackson) we run this play and Will set an illegal pick on MJ, and MJ said,’Will, don’t do that again.’ ‘Whatcha talking about’ that’s Will. MJ says alright; Phil says run it again. So naturally we run it two more times, illegal pick. MJ walks up to Will — boom. Lit him up. It was over; we grabbed Will — you’re not going to hurt MJ. MJ can take care of himself. The next day on the plane, Will gets on with this huge shiner.”
If social media was around back then, not only would we have pictures of Will’s shiner, but we’d probably also have video of MJ’s punch. Stupid internet was 15 or 20 years behind. What a waste.
