Michael Jordan and BJ Armstrong
Credits: USA Today Sports

Michael Jordan has established himself as one of the greatest scorers ever, putting up some all-time numbers both in the regular season and in the postseason. While Jordan’s scoring titles were celebrated by the entire basketball world, his ball-hogging tendencies were not appreciated by his Chicago Bulls teammates. When Phil Jackson was the Bulls’ head coach, the team’s playbook was heavily centered on the “triangle offense”. Despite the strategy involving most of the players on the court, Jordan still displayed selfishness with the ball in hand. Not sharing the ball and shooting a bunch of shots made his teammates furious. Therefore, on one occasion during the 1991 season, Jordan’s teammate BJ Armstrong got so annoyed that he swore he wouldn’t pass the ball to MJ.

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Since getting drafted in 1984 to the 1990-1991 campaign, MJ torched each and every defender in the league. Winning five scoring titles in that seven-year span, the Shooting Guard averaged 32.6 points per game. Jordan saw a slight drop in his offensive stats under Phil Jackson’s tenure. Unlike Doug Collins, Jackson didn’t allow Mike to be the only player with the rock in his hands. Even though this change annoyed His Airness, the much-needed strategy allowed him to win six titles. At the end of his career, MJ still ended up with 10 scoring titles.

BJ Armstrong swore to never pass the ball to Michael Jordan

Back in 1991, during the Chicago Bulls’ matchup against the Orlando Magic, Michael Jordan attempted 26 shots. He ended up scoring 44 points in the narrow 106-102 win. Even though the Bulls superstar connected a remarkable 65.4% of his shots, BJ Armstrong didn’t appreciate the volume of shots taken by their leader.

As reported by Sam Smith in The Jordan Rules, the sixth man then decided to not pass the ball to MJ anymore. When Horace Grant also resonated with his frustrations, the two players swore to blacklist Mike on the offensive end. Smith wrote in his book:

Armstrong knew what he had to do. “When I get it,” he told Grant, “I’m shooting it. Jordan doesn’t get it from me.” “Me, too,” said Grant. “Watch me against New York. I’ll shoot it every time I get it.”

The Illinois side subsequently faced a strong New York Knicks roster that was led by Patrick Ewing. Despite what they had vowed, Grant and Armstrong swallowed their pride, resulting in MJ tossing up 30 shots. While Air Jordan finished the night with 34 points, the duo combined for 19 points on 16 attempts.

The Bulls went on to win the 1991 Championship

Eventually, Jordan led the team to clinch the #1 spot in the East lodging an incredible stat line – 31.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. In the postseason, the former UNC Tar Heel took things up a notch, averaging 31.1/6.4/8.4. Having defeated the likes of the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the ‘Bad Boy’ Detroit Pistons, the Bulls won their first Championship in franchise history edging out the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.

For the next seven years, the Chicago Bulls, mainly led by the Jordan-Pippen All-Star duo, completely dominated the league. Finishing with the best record in the Conference four times, Phil Jackson’s boys won the title five more times.