Michael Jordan used his competitiveness to drive him to being arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time. It also led to instances of Jordan holding grudges as displayed in the Last Dance documentary series. Also, see his rivalry with Detroit Pistons’ legend Isiah Thomas.
Well, according to another Pistons’ legend, Jordan’s competitive nature may have influenced his personnel decisions when he was an executive for the Washington Wizards.
Richard “Rip” Hamilton recalled how Wizards teammate and Maryland star LaRon Profit once told Jordan “You can’t guard me with them old-ass knees” during an appearance on Showtime’s All the Smoke.
“We used to talk trash to MJ all the time, but it was only certain things that I would say. And Prof would sometimes say a little bit of extra stuff that – I wouldn’t go there. I remember one time, we were playing in practice, right? And Prof might’ve hit a shot on MJ, and he was running down (the) court: ‘Yeah, you can’t guard me with them old-ass knees.'”
Rip Hamilton
Jordan was the Wizards’ president of basketball operations and a minority owner from 2000-2001. Profit was traded to the Orlando Magic the summer of 2001. During his exit meeting for the season, Hamilton says Jordan confirmed his grudge with Profit.
“I went into my exit meeting, (Jordan) was like, ‘OK, Rip, you know, your man, your buddy … he outta here,. He said, ‘But you gonna be there by yourself, and you ain’t gonna have your buddy to co-sign. You’re gonna be on an island by yourself.'”
Rip Hamilton
The Wizards received the draft rights to Brendan Haywood in exchange for Profit. The Magic waived Profit immediately afterwards. Meanwhile, Jordan came out of retirement to play for the Wizards for the 2001-2002.
Profit played overseas but returned to the Wizards in 2004 for a second stint. That was two years after Jordan retired as a player for good. He was dismissed from his executive role by Wizards’ late owner Abe Pollin shortly afterwards.
Coincidentally, Hamilton was traded to the Pistons the following summer, despite averaging 20 points per game during the 2001-2002 season and finishing second in the NBA in free throwing shooting percentage. Guess, grudges never grow old, right?
