Chicago Bulls: Takeaways From The Last Dance Documentary

1. Competition was what drove Michael Jordan

One theme that’s consistent throughout the entire series is that for Michael Jordan, competition, against anyone was always what drove him. For example, when the Bulls met the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals, Jazz Power Forward Karl Malone was the named the NBA’s MVP for the that season.

Subsequently, because Malone received the award, Jordan would make it a goal of his to beat Malone and Jazz in the NBA Finals. This is how simple it was for Jordan. If he saw something you had that he thought he wanted or deserved, he’d do anything in his power to figure out a way to get it.

If anything, Jordan’s competitive fire wasn’t just apparent during the Bulls’ championship runs in the 1990’s. Prior to that, he had to face the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons in earlier portions of his career and it was his own goal that he’d figure out a way to get past them.

Great athletes, in any sport, have a competitive fire that fuels them every time they play their respective sport. Jordan literally redefined what it meant to be a competitor, both on and off the basketball court and essentially redefined competition for any athlete.