Gifted with nuclear athleticism, lightning-quick speed, and a limber physique that allowed him to soar through the air with the greatest of ease, Michael Jordan had physical attributes that most athletes could only dream of. MJ leveraged these natural gifts with a relentless work ethic and a fiercely competitive drive to cement himself as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
However, if you ask Isiah Thomas—who happened to be one of, if not Mike’s most ferocious rival—MJ’s biggest advantage was not his physical abilities or his mindset on the court. Rather, “Zeke” shared that what truly set Jordan apart was his superior intellect.
Mike was a genius on the hardcourt
Jordan arrived in the NBA in an era that primarily relied on brute force and toughness. While some players were supremely skilled and savvy with the rock, like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Thomas, the league was still ruled by physicality and intimidation.
But Jordan changed the game and added a different layer to it. His basketball IQ was off the charts, allowing Michael to anticipate plays and read defenses like a book. Despite opponents’ various defensive schemes against him, the former North Carolina standout could constantly adjust and find new ways to score points.
Simply put: “His Airness” could outsmart defenders just as easily as he could outmaneuver them with quickness and agility.
A great competitor
Thomas is well-versed in the art of battling Jordan. After all, he and the Detroit Pistons clashed with MJ and his Chicago Bulls four straight times in the NBA Playoffs, providing a massive hurdle that the 6’6″ shooting guard could not overcome until 1991.
Despite the intense physical defense the Pistons played on him, it never stopped the former Tar Heel from going at the “Bad Boys.” Every time they knocked him down, he got back up and kept coming at them with everything he had. It was this competitive fire that Thomas appreciated the most.
“All across the board, the language we use to describe sports now has been diluted. In today’s language, when we call someone a great competitor, it doesn’t carry that weight that I’m trying to say it with,” Isaiah said. “So when I say Michael was a great competitor, I say it with the utmost respect.”
Michael and Isiah have issues that remain unresolved to this day. However, Thomas’s respect for Jordan and his competitive drive are evident in his words. Despite the Pistons’ aggression, MJ never backed down or let them intimidate him. He continued to push himself and the Bulls until they got over the hump en route to winning their first NBA crown in 1991.