By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
In the ninth episode of “The Last Dance,” Reggie Miller recalls a tale from his very first matchup with Michael Jordan back in 1987. Miller, a rookie, tried to talk some trash to MJ after seeing him struggling in the first half, telling him “You are Michael Jordan? The guy who walks on water?”
Whatever the young Miller had in his mind didn’t work since Jordan went to completely outscore him in the second half. According to Miller, when Jordan was walking off the court he said “don’t ever talk trash to the Black Jesus.”
For generations of people worldwide, Jordan was – and still is- something akin to a deity. A figure that has commanded religious-like worship and adoration, an icon that inspired millions. MJ became a global phenomenon and his impact was correspondingly vast and felt through the whole planet, especially by those who as kids grabbed a ball and dreamt of becoming like him one day.
In light of the showing of “The Last Dance”, Eurohoops asked #23 (yes, the number is far from coincidental) EuroLeague players to discuss their experience from watching the documentary, how it affected them, and the inspiration they drew by getting such an inside look on Michael Jordan’s career, mentality and character.
The 23 players were asked the following questions:
1) Is your impression of Michael Jordan any different after watching The Last Dance?
2) What was the most surprising/shocking/unexpected perhaps thing you watched in The Last Dance?
3) What sort of inspiration do you think that The Last Dance provides for athletes overall and you personally? – What would you tell MJ if you had him in front of you right now?
The list of players is pretty diverse: It includes former EuroLeague MVPs, champions, Final Four MVPs, All-First Team Members and NBAers. There are players who come from different countries and backgrounds, hoopers who witnessed his “His Airness” in all his glory when the greatness was happening, others who first took a taste of it on DVD or a TV special, and some who probably got a serious idea of who he was mainly thanks to YouTube. There’s also someone who wasn’t even three years old when MJ played his last game with the Washington Wizards in 2003.
The factor that connects them? They were all inspired in one way or another by The Last Dance with some admitting that the documentary had a major, immediate effect on them.
The players are presented in alphabetical order.
Billy Baron: “Not only was he the best, he also worked the hardest”
1. My impression of MJ didn’t change, he’s always been the GOAT and always will be the GOAT.
3. I knew Dennis Rodman was doing his own thing most of the time but I forgot that he went and made an appearance during the finals with the WCW. That’s absolutely wild.
3) I always knew the type of leader MJ was. My agent my first few years out of college was BJ Armstrong and when I was preparing for the NBA Draft in Los Angeles I used to head over to BJ’s office and just ask him to tell me stories of Mike. When MJ said leadership has a price and that he didn’t make anyone do something that he didn’t do was by far the part in the documentary that was the most inspiring. Not only was he the best but he worked the hardest and got addicted to winning and made sure his team did something every single day that got them closer to the final goal. This is why I take pride in calling him the GOAT because of everything he stands for.
Malcolm Delaney: “The Last Dance actually made me have more respect for MJ”
1. No, my impressions of Michael Jordan didn’t change. I studied Jordan and I was well aware of most of these things growing up. It actually made me have more respect seeing it in this light because his mentality made him the killer he was. It wasn’t just skill.
2. The most shocking thing was seeing how Dennis Rodman left to take a vacation to Las Vegas and came back like nothing happened and the fact that he also missed a shootaround to go do wrestling and make some money during the finals (laughs).
3. The inspiration is really just showing what are the results when mental toughness meets physical preparation. Finding ways to self motivate and not always looking for the next person. And if MJ was in front of me I’d just thank him for what he did for basketball. And the sneaker world (laughs).
Amedeo Della Valle: “I wish I could have fun with Dennis Rodman one night”
1. Honestly, I was following Michael Jordan’career very closely the whole time. There were still some episodes that I didn’t know about but I really expected to see him like that. Because he wants to win so bad.. he wants it so badly that he’s going to do whatever it takes. He’s always given me that vibe and I’m glad that this was confirmed in the show.
2. The craziest things I experienced in The Last Dance was that many of the players were able to leave during the Finals. For example, Michael Jordan went to the casino and Dennis Rodman actually went to perform for WWE. In a wrestling stage. I loved his character before and now I love him even more because he’s so bizarre and so real.
3. I think The Last Dance is a big motivation for every basketball player. Especially since while we were watching the show, most of us weren’t in the gym [due to the shutdown]. And we wanted to get back in the gym, to go hard, to work out. Just by watching the show, it pushes you to get better. That’s the main thing.
Jordan is great of course but by watching the show… I wish I could have fun with Dennis Rodman for one night.