Latest news with #MichaelJordan
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"When you start endangering people's health, it's taking away from the beauty of the game" - Michael Jordan criticized how the Pistons and the Knicks played the game
"When you start endangering people's health, it's taking away from the beauty of the game" - Michael Jordan criticized how the Pistons and the Knicks played the game originally appeared on Basketball Network. By the early '90s, Michael Jordan was already a household name in the greatest basketball league in the world, but his road to the top wasn't paved with flowers and open lanes to the bucket. Advertisement Back then, the NBA was a war zone, especially if you tried to make a living attacking the rim. During a 1993 interview with Larry King, MJ broke down just how brutal the game had become and why, despite the chaos, he never backed down. It wasn't just basketball; it was survival of the fittest. "I think it's part of the game, but I think when you start endangering people's health, it's taking away from the beauty of the game. I think the game should be played hard, but you should show sportsmanship, I think you should not show hatred or anger to the other people. I don't think anyone should be afraid of going to the hole and a lot of guys are getting to that point where they are afraid of going to the hole," Jordan disclosed in his first post-retirement interview. Detroit started the overly physical trend When the Detroit Pistons created the infamous "Jordan Rules," they didn't try to hide their approach and intent to hurt Mike. They were going to hit him, shove him, drag him to the ground — anything to break his rhythm and get in his head. And for a while, it worked. Jordan kept getting bounced out of the playoffs, outmuscled and outnumbered by the Bad Boys team that played with "bad intentions" and zero apologies. Advertisement But His Airness didn't flinch. He bulked up, adjusted his game, and leaned into the contact instead of avoiding it. He saw the hits coming and still took flight. "No! Never! I mean I had to live that way, that's how I make the living," the six-time Champ replied in a typical Jordan-esque way when asked if he was afraid of bruising his way to the rim. That's what separated him. While many feared the consequences of entering the paint against those Detroit teams, Jordan welcomed it. That stretch of beatdowns didn't scare him off; it just made him better. MJ got stronger, both physically and mentally. Once the Chicago Bulls finally got past their arch-nemesis in 1991, the floodgates opened and what followed was a pure show of basketball domination. Related: "I don't think I should defend myself anymore, I'm done with that in my life" - Allen Iverson on why he's had enough trying to defend his public image The Knicks wanted to emulate that same physicality Detroit wasn't the only team playing demolition ball. The New York Knicks soon adopted a similar playbook. Heck, even Jordan himself acknowledged that the squad from the Big Apple tried to copy Bad Boys the most. Advertisement Pat Riley's Knicks were bigger, stronger and sometimes even dirtier. Whether it was Charles Oakley, Xavier McDaniel or John Starks, everyone had the green light to take a shot — literally and figuratively — at MJ anytime he stepped into the lane. "What was happening was, because of the Detroit Pistons and the way they won, a lot of teams were trying to use that brutal type of play — the physical play. The Knicks were one of those teams who were built on intimidation, players who tried to physically demean you or make you scared of them," the legendary Bulls guard once said. Jordan never let the bruises change his approach or style. That would've meant he was beaten and if there's one thing we know about Mr. Air, it's the fact that he never wanted to lose at anything. So, he embraced the chaos, elevated through it and built a legacy on defying fear. The hits kept coming, but so did the buckets. In the end, greatness always found a way through the pain. Even though he might not have liked it at first, it made him who he is. Advertisement Related: "I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scottie Pippen sees himself in Thunder star Jalen Williams, but believes Williams can be even greater
Jalen Williams has upped his scoring total in each of the first five games of this year's NBA Finals. The 24-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder wing starred Monday with 40 points in a triumphant, series-tilting Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers. Advertisement Williams doesn't always take center stage, though. In fact, the first-time NBA All-Star is often second in command, behind league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Together, they've combined for a whopping 291 points in the Finals. Here are the only tandems to score more more points through five Finals games, according to ESPN Research: the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 1993, the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in 2017 and the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in 2017. That's legendary company, and Williams is drawing comparisons to one member of that decorated group in particular. Advertisement Pippen, Jordan's Hall of Fame sidekick during a six-championship run in the '90s, told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that he sees a lot of himself in Williams. "I don't even want to put a cap on him to say that he's going to be me," Pippen said, via ESPN. "I see him being greater, if I can say that. Just because of where the game is today. They have offensive freedom. We didn't have that. We mostly ran out of a system. These guys have the freedom to shoot 3-balls and things of that nature. Players that are playing in today's game have a chance to be better than players in the past because of the ability to shoot the ball." Pippen added, via ESPN: "If this kid continues to shoot the 3-ball the way that he shoots it, I'm not going to sit here and argue with nobody and say that you can compare us. Because you can't. He wins." Williams is a 38.2% career 3-point shooter, and he's coming off a prolific Game 5 performance, in which he went 3 for 5 from deep. Pippen, meanwhile, shot just 32.6% from long range during his 17-season career and didn't have a season with 100-plus 3s until he was 29 — Williams already has two of those in his first three years in the league. Advertisement But the parallels between the versatile playmakers are mostly uncanny, as depicted by MacMahon in his feature. Both unheralded high school prospects who blossomed at mid-majors — physically with growth spurts and on the court in production — Pippen and Williams seemingly came out of nowhere and then broke out in the NBA. Pippen played at Central Arkansas. Williams played at Santa Clara. They each maintained their guard skills while adding more height and ultimately landing in the first round of their respective drafts, separated by 35 years. "He is pretty special," Pippen said of Williams, via ESPN. "I see a guy rising to be one of the top players in this league. He's definitely a player that is capable of being able to lead that franchise to multiple championships — him and Shai, of course." The Thunder, led by their MVP and Pippen-like-sidekick, could clinch the first of those championships Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Magic explains why winning a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics means more than NBA or NCAA titles: "I finally got the chance to play with Michael and Larry"
Magic explains why winning a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics means more than NBA or NCAA titles: "I finally got the chance to play with Michael and Larry" originally appeared on Basketball Network. When it comes to winning, Magic Johnson's resume is a masterclass in greatness. Five-time NBA champion, three-time league MVP, NCAA title at Michigan State, Olympic gold medalist, and the face of the Los Angeles Lakers Showtime dynasty that shaped the 1980s basketball. Advertisement Johnson's trophy cabinet is practically a museum packed with accolades that define what it means to be one of the all-time greats. But for all the rings, hardware, and moments, there's one title that still stands above the rest in Magic's heart. And no, it's not the '80 showdown with the Philadelphia 76ers in which he pulled a 42-point and 15-rebound stat line to close out the series in Game 6. It's not his epic rivalry with the Boston Celtics all through the decade. It's not even the 1987 Finals when he hit the "junior sky hook" in Boston Garden. The one that meant the most came in 1992 — when he finally got to share the floor with his rivals instead of against them. "I think the Gold medal, because of this…" said Johnson, while quickly continuing to explain, "I finally got the chance to play with Michael and Larry." Magic crossed off the final thing on his basketball bucket list By the time the 1992 Olympics rolled around, Magic had already announced his retirement from the NBA due to his HIV diagnosis. But when the call came to be part of Team USA's first-ever roster made up of professional players, he didn't hesitate. Advertisement That team wasn't just great — it was mythical, stacked with legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, and John Stockton, all anchored by Magic Man at point guard, orchestrating the game as the floor general of a squad that is still considered the best assembly of hoopers ever to walk on the hardwood. "On my bucket list, I've always wanted to just throw a pass to both of those guys. Like a no-look pass, lick coming down the middle. I'm coming down and there is Larry in the corner, just no-look him really fast and let him shoot that beautiful jump shot. And then Larry talks trash, I love that, he talks trash…. And then Michael coming down the middle with the tongue out, Nothing like it," the Hall of Famer added. It was pure basketball joy. Truth be told, the games weren't even competitive — the Dream Team beat opponents by an average of 44 points. But it didn't matter because the magic wasn't in the score. It was in the connection between legends who once went to war against each other, now sharing the same uniform and writing history that is still talked about to this day. Related: "I don't think I should defend myself anymore, I'm done with that in my life" - Allen Iverson on why he's had enough trying to defend his public image Brothers before rivals In a sport built on competition, Magic and Larry were the fiercest of rivals. Their battles began in the 1979 NCAA championship game and spilled over into nearly a decade of NBA Finals drama. And yet, underneath the competition was something deeper: mutual respect that defined their relationship. Advertisement It's the kind of thing that only happens once every four years — if that. Three all-time legends wearing the same jersey, fully bought in, sharing the ball, and soaking in the moment. But in Barcelona, that's exactly what unfolded. They were rivals, yes — but in that summer, they became brothers in basketball. And for Magic, no ring, no MVP, and no banner could match that feeling. Related: "Yeah, they'll probably have to do something" - Bird says the NBA will be forced to move the 3-point line back if high volume continues This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
All Eyes Are on Nike Ahead of Q4 Earnings
Nike Inc.'s turnaround might take a bit longer than originally thought. Needham & Co. analyst Tom Nikic is a long-term bull of nike following changes in the company's leadership and strategy. He remains confident the moves will reverse Nike's 'flagging' bottom line. But he also said in a note that challenges remain over the near-term. More from WWD Nike and A Ma Maniére Unveil 'Every Summer Tells a Story' Campaign Featuring Air Force 1 and Air Max 95 Sneakers for 'Act I: The Block' How the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 Compares to Today's Landscape, According to AAFA CEO Michael Jordan's Air Jordan 4 Retro 'Black Cat' Gets a Purported First Look 'Nike still faces headwinds from rationalizing over-supplied product franchises (Jordan, Dunk), brand heat still appears to be lukewarm, and they now have tariffs to contend with as well,' he wrote. He also noted that many product launches of 'scarce' sneaker models, such as retro Jordans and Dunks, are selling slowly, resulting in discounts on secondary-market websites that include StockX and GOAT. Nikic pointed out that when Nike is on top its game, these styles trade at resale premiums. 'As further evidence of Nike's lack of 'brand heat' at the moment, we've also seen consistent year-over-year declines in online search trends for the brand, as well as persistent double-digit declines in credit card transactions in the U.S. DTC (direct-to-consumer) channel,' he said. The analyst also sees gross margin headwinds in the year ahead, notably due to tariff rates, and possibly even channel mix, with wholesale possibly outgrowing DTC and the brand perhaps giving more favorable terms to wholesale partners. The good news is that Nikic believes that the 'worst may nearly be over.' The biggest catalyst change is Nike veteran Elliott Hill becoming CEO. 'We also believe that management is clear-headed about the mistakes they've made, and are working aggressively to correct them,' he concluded. Telsey Advisory Group's (TAG) Cristina Fernández said the athletic brand 'seems several quarters away from reaching stabilization in the business, but is making the right moves by cleaning up inventory, rebalancing the product portfolio by increasing newness and reducing the focus on classic franchises, and strengthening relationships with wholesale partners.' The company is set to report fourth quarter earnings next Thursday after the markets close. Key areas of focus for the earnings conference call will be what progress Nike has made on product innovation, such as what's in the pipeline and reception to new launches. Also to be discussed is the timing of the NikeSKIMS launch that was originally slated for Spring 2025, which is expected to drive sales growth, Fernández said. Another area of interest is inventory reduction in connection with old inventory and status of rightsizing key lifestyle franchises. The TAG analyst said expectations are low for the just completed fourth quarter, mostly due to ongoing inventory clearance activity, and in part to unfavorable shipment timing in North America. In addition, gross margins were expected to get impacted from tariffs, currently an additional 10 percent for the reciprocal tariffs for global countries, particularly in Vietnam and Indonesia, with the exception of China, where tariffs are temporarily higher at 30 percent. At Bank of America Securities, analyst Lorraine Hutchinson is expecting fourth quarter earnings per share of 12 cents, in-line with Wall Street's consensus expectations, versus EPS of 99 cents a year ago. 'We think 4Q was peak sales and margin pressure as Nike bought back and cleared excess inventory, without sufficient innovation to offset,' Hutchinson wrote in her note. She noted that Fall 2025 order books are modestly down due to declines in classic footwear franchises, but that meetings with CEO Hill 'reaffirmed the point the wholesale partners are excited about Spring 2026 innovation.' The analyst said that while the wholesale environment continues to evolve, 'Nike is well-positioned to offset some of the channel headwinds as the brand leans into newer relationships and looks to recapture lost shelf space as other brands retrench from the channel.' Academy Sports + Outdoors is one of the retailers where Nike is expanding its partnership. Nike's Jordan brand was rolled out to 145 stores and online in April, showcasing both apparel and footwear across men's, women's and kids. The retailer's chief merchandising officer Matt McCabe said this month that the chain for the first time cross-merchandised the apparel, footwear and accessories together by gender into a 'brands shop concept.' He also said that the initial reaction from customers 'has been strong and the brand is tracking ahead of initial sales plans.' The current plan is to launch Jordan in all Academy stores this summer. Nike has raised prices on select products by $5 to $10 on average, but also noted that the Jordan brand and Nike kids apparel and footwear won't see any increases. 'We think it was smart to leave kids and footwear priced less than $100 unchanged and think Nike will benefit from its scale and wide pricing architecture if the consumer becomes stretched,' Hutchinson said. As for its product lines, Nike will be releasing this fall a new lifestyle sneaker called the Astra Ultra exclusively for women. The brand is also bringing back its first Foamposite sneaker. The Nike Air Flightposite in a 'Sail' style is slated to hit the sales floor later this month. Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Michael Jordan lives rent free in his head' - Craig Carton criticizes LeBron James' 'ring culture' comment
'Michael Jordan lives rent free in his head' - Craig Carton criticizes LeBron James' 'ring culture' comment (Image Source: Getty) If you're an NBA fan, then two legends — LeBron James and Michael Jordan are who you should be well versed with. They have been pretty excellent at creating history. But, what could possibly be admiration, may soon turn into a rivalry — only to answer one question — who is the bigger GOAT in the NBA — Is it LeBron James or Michael Jordan? What is the controversial 'ring culture' comment by LeBron James? Having debates over 'ring culture' could be seen as an uplifting move for fans, and other NBA players, but for one of the best NBA stars, LeBron James, it is pretty frustrating, as he feels, he doesn't understand why. LeBron James said, he doesn't understand why 'ring culture' is always brought up when it comes to him. He feels such conversations always end up being taken in a different context rather that how much effort an individual player is putting in their game. LeBron insists that "winning a title is a collective effort. — mindthegamepod (@mindthegamepod) 'Are you seriously telling me that these guys weren't incredible just because they didn't win?" That they're left out of conversations about other greats? It's bizarre," he said. Craig Carton, who hosts Breakfast Ball, feels LeBron James has been talking about NBA legend Michael Jordan, indirectly, as he brings up 'championship rings' in debates. During the podcast, Carton said, "He makes it so easy for me, He's an insufferable narcissist. Great player. For my money, a top-10 player of all-time, for sure. You can debate where you want to put him. He's not No. 1. But it's so clear to me — I can't prove this, it's just my take on it — of how Michael Jordan lives rent-free in his head. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Total AV 2025 – Save Up to 80% Off Antivirus Today Total AV - Tier 2 Install Now Undo " Michael Jordan has been able to secure at least six championships in his entire career. Meanwhile, LeBron James secured four championships. Carton believes, when LeBron brings up 'championship rings' stating they don't matter, is due to the particular context. In an interview with the Today Show's Willie Geist, LeBron was confident enough to pick himself out of the two. LeBron said "Oh, I take myself. I will take myself for sure. I'm going to take myself versus anybody, They're going to have to have a few wheelchairs and a couple of ambulances there to get us off the floor." During a promotional event in Hong Kong, NBA legend, Shaquille O'Neal was asked regarding the same LeBron and Jordan debate, he said via ESPN, "It would be an interesting game, Young LeBron was more like Magic Johnson. He was sort of like Magic with Jordan's abilities. He liked to pass, and he liked to get it up. But Mike was Mike. He was just special—like no one else. He always did things no one else could do and things you couldn't compare to anyone else. So, he was special, and he'd win." Also Read: 'A ring is a team accomplishment'- LeBron James goes down memory lane with the ring culture in NBA on Mind the Game Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
