Throughout his illustrious NBA career, Hall of Famer Michael Jordan wasn’t the easiest person for other players to play alongside. Jordan was often brash and tough on his teammates that drew some ire over the years and some internal conflict from time to time. With that in mind, Jordan recently voiced that he believes the upcoming release of ESPN’s “Last Dance” documentary covering the Chicago Bulls 1997-98 season will cast him in a particular light for fans.

Michael Jordan’s Legacy

One of the strongest qualities that drove Jordan on the court was ultra competitiveness that took his game to the next level.

That created a mindset that became a part of his image of what pushed him forward to tremendous success in his career. Jordan possessed the talent, but it was his mental approach to the game that was the difference toward elevating him further.

It’s a mentality that has seen many to come after him in the league attempt to apply that. However, it’s a characteristic that Jordan believes may not put him in the best of light to fans in the upcoming “Last Dance” documentary.

Michael Jordan believes “Last Dance” doc will make him look “horrible”

With the prestige over Jordan’s legacy, ESPN has put forth a documentary entitled “Last Dance” that will provide behind-the-scenes insight to the Hall of Famer’s final seasons with the Chicago Bulls.

It will give fans a look at behind the veil of who Jordan was away from the spotlight of the hardwood. That is something that the six-time NBA champion believes will give off the perception that he is a “horrible guy” by how hard he pushed some of his teammates in the manner that did it, according to Richard Deitsch of The Athletic.

“When you see the footage of [me riding with Scott Burrell], you’re going to think that I’m a horrible guy. But you have to realize that the reason why I was treating him like that is because I needed him to be tough in the playoffs and we’re facing the Indiana’s and Miami’s and New York’s in the Eastern Conference. He needed to be tough and I needed to know that I could count on him. And those are the kind of things where people see me acting the way I acted in practice, they’re not going to understand it.”  

Jordan had a strong reputation for not always being the most friendly person to teammates. He had extremely high standards that he had held for himself that he wanted those around him to meet. There was always a reason for that type of behavior for Jordan that made him the way he was with how he approached the game for his own expectations.

It’s apart of who he was and there will be various moments in the documentary that will showcase his brashness along with the other more prominent qualities that pushed himself and the Bulls to greater heights be it in a positive or negative light.

Michael Jordan’s image will go unchanged

Although there will be some unnerving moments in the documentary that could bring perspective to who Jordan was as a player, it won’t tarnish or impact his legacy.

What he accomplished throughout his time in the league is something that became the gold standard. Jordan set the bar for the many players after him, such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, to attempt to match or surpass.

There are going to be tough moments to watch from Jordan, given his competitive nature that may not have transpired appropriately, but it’s part of who he was. In the coming weeks, there will be a more precise picture that brings more totality to who he came to be as arguably the greatest player in NBA history.