Why there’s anger toward Jordan and ‘Last Dance’ documentary, and is it justified?
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Why there’s anger toward Jordan and ‘Last Dance’ documentary, and is it justified?
ABS-CBN News
Published May 21, 2020 11:20 AM PHT

If whoever in Michael Jordan’s camp thought producing a 10-part series would reintroduce His Airness’ greatness to a new generation of basketball fans, that could be backfiring now.
If whoever in Michael Jordan’s camp thought producing a 10-part series would reintroduce His Airness’ greatness to a new generation of basketball fans, that could be backfiring now.
There’s divided opinion over Jordan, to say the least, and even some of those who actually worked with the 6-time NBA MVP are flat out resentful of him now.
There’s divided opinion over Jordan, to say the least, and even some of those who actually worked with the 6-time NBA MVP are flat out resentful of him now.
Here are some of those people who have given the docuseries, shown in full on Netflix, a thumbs down:
Here are some of those people who have given the docuseries, shown in full on Netflix, a thumbs down:
Horace Grant, former Chicago Bulls teammate
Horace Grant, former Chicago Bulls teammate
A key piece in the Bulls’ first 3-peat, the 6-foot-10 power forward said Jordan “90% of (the documentary) was BS,” stopping short of saying it was simply Jordan propaganda.
A key piece in the Bulls’ first 3-peat, the 6-foot-10 power forward said Jordan “90% of (the documentary) was BS,” stopping short of saying it was simply Jordan propaganda.
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He also hit out on Jordan’s allegations that Grant leaked locker room dynamics to a journalist and Jordan’s way of treating some of his teammates.
He also hit out on Jordan’s allegations that Grant leaked locker room dynamics to a journalist and Jordan’s way of treating some of his teammates.
Scottie Pippen, former Bulls teammate
Scottie Pippen, former Bulls teammate
Media reports said the 6-time NBA champion was “wounded and disappointed” over the way he was portrayed by director Jason Hehir in the documentary.
Media reports said the 6-time NBA champion was “wounded and disappointed” over the way he was portrayed by director Jason Hehir in the documentary.
Those close to Pippen say the hurt stems from the series paying too much attention to his trade demands and the way he froze out his teammates in a critical play in the 1995 playoffs against the Knicks.
Those close to Pippen say the hurt stems from the series paying too much attention to his trade demands and the way he froze out his teammates in a critical play in the 1995 playoffs against the Knicks.
Jerry Reinsdorf, Bulls team owner
Jerry Reinsdorf, Bulls team owner
The man who famously said he’d rather trade all 6 Bulls titles just to win one World Series championship for his Chicago White Sox, a club he also owns, said he “was not pleased” when Jordan said at the end of “The Last Dance” that he thought Reinsdorf’s decision to blow up the team wasn’t justified.
The man who famously said he’d rather trade all 6 Bulls titles just to win one World Series championship for his Chicago White Sox, a club he also owns, said he “was not pleased” when Jordan said at the end of “The Last Dance” that he thought Reinsdorf’s decision to blow up the team wasn’t justified.
“He knew better. Michael and I had some private conversations at that time that I won’t go into detail on ever,” Reinsdorf told NBC Sports Chicago.
“He knew better. Michael and I had some private conversations at that time that I won’t go into detail on ever,” Reinsdorf told NBC Sports Chicago.
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“But there’s no question in my mind that Michael’s feeling at the time was we could not put together a championship team the next year.”
“But there’s no question in my mind that Michael’s feeling at the time was we could not put together a championship team the next year.”
Critics of tough-love leadership
Critics of tough-love leadership
Jordan got away with his intimidating style of management because his teams won 6 championships, but the way he bullied some of his teammates and how he took pride in demeaning them hasn’t sat well with everyone.
Jordan got away with his intimidating style of management because his teams won 6 championships, but the way he bullied some of his teammates and how he took pride in demeaning them hasn’t sat well with everyone.
Fans of Toni Kukoc, former Bulls player
Fans of Toni Kukoc, former Bulls player
Arguably the third best player during the Bulls’ second 3-peat, his underratedness was never more fleshed out than in the documentary.
Arguably the third best player during the Bulls’ second 3-peat, his underratedness was never more fleshed out than in the documentary.
While Kukoc himself doesn’t seem to mind taking a backseat, his followers think the Croatian Sensation didn’t get a fair shake.
While Kukoc himself doesn’t seem to mind taking a backseat, his followers think the Croatian Sensation didn’t get a fair shake.
One Reddit user pointed how the documentary did Kukoc “dirty” by highlighting Steve Kerr’s performance in Game 7 of the 1998 NBA Eastern Conference finals and ignoring Kukoc’s efficient 21-point game, including 14 points in a third quarter that kept Chicago in it.
One Reddit user pointed how the documentary did Kukoc “dirty” by highlighting Steve Kerr’s performance in Game 7 of the 1998 NBA Eastern Conference finals and ignoring Kukoc’s efficient 21-point game, including 14 points in a third quarter that kept Chicago in it.
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In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Kukoc was spectacular, scoring a team-high 30 points on 11 of 13 shooting. With a chance to win the game, the last play with 3-tenths of a second left was designed for Kukoc, but Jordan snatched the ball off the inbounds play and the series went to Game 6.
In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Kukoc was spectacular, scoring a team-high 30 points on 11 of 13 shooting. With a chance to win the game, the last play with 3-tenths of a second left was designed for Kukoc, but Jordan snatched the ball off the inbounds play and the series went to Game 6.
Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Bad Boys fans
Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Bad Boys fans
This is a no-brainer, given the no-handshake incident in the 1991 NBA Eastern Conference finals and Thomas’ exclusion from the 1992 Dream Team.
This is a no-brainer, given the no-handshake incident in the 1991 NBA Eastern Conference finals and Thomas’ exclusion from the 1992 Dream Team.
Anybody on the side of Jerry Krause, former Bulls general manager
Anybody on the side of Jerry Krause, former Bulls general manager
Jordan said in the documentary that he’s a glass half-full kind of guy. Well, except in the way he views Krause.
Jordan said in the documentary that he’s a glass half-full kind of guy. Well, except in the way he views Krause.
The dude who built Jordan two 3-peat caliber squads has been remembered less for his genius and more for his role as the disintegrator of that dynasty, which will happen when the one controlling the narrative is one of the most powerful figures in all of sports.
The dude who built Jordan two 3-peat caliber squads has been remembered less for his genius and more for his role as the disintegrator of that dynasty, which will happen when the one controlling the narrative is one of the most powerful figures in all of sports.
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).
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