Michael Jordan said that playing point guard could extend his career: "I'm not getting as banged up as I used to"
Michael Jordan averaged 30-9-7 in 24 games as the Bulls' starting point guard during the 1989 season.
SHANE GARRY ACEDERAOCT 8, 2023 6:45 AM EDT
1980S
CHICAGO BULLS
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Michael Jordan nearly ended up becoming a point guard for the Chicago Bulls. During the 1988-89 season, Jordan had gotten so frustrated with the lack of production from his supporting cast that he took it upon himself to become the team's point guard to create better scoring opportunities for his teammates while also being in control of his offensive performance.
After a meeting with head coach Doug Collins, Jordan officially took over the point guard duties, and surprisingly, it yielded good results for both Mike and the Bulls.
"How many easy baskets do you see Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen get every day now?" said Bulls head coach Doug Collins. "That's all created by the greatness of Michael Jordan with the ball. Opponents don't know where the ball is coming from now."
Jordan then added that playing point guard could extend his playing career because it didn't feel as bruising.
"I'm not getting banged up as I used to be," he added
Because of this, the Bulls and Jordan talked about permanently moving to point guard. But fate had it differently.
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Jordan's success as the Bulls' point guard
During that late-season stretch in 1989, Jordan played 24 games as the Chicago starting point guard. He averaged 30.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game while shooting .498 from the floor. He had an 11-game stretch where he recorded 10 triples doubles. The result was so good that MJ talked about the possibility of permanently playing point guard for the Bulls.
"I'm waiting until the end of the season actually to see how much we prosper from it," MJ said. It's still kind of early, and if we win 50 games and do better than we did last year will consider it. I think it does a lot to take some of the burden of me playing the point guard position. If Chicago wants me to be the leader on the floor, I can do it better from the point guard position. But also it depends on what we can do in the draft too," he added.
The Bulls finished that season with a 47-35 record, and they ended up as the 6th seed in the East. Chicago lost to Detroit in the Conference Finals; it was the second straight year they were eliminated in the playoffs by the Bad Boys.
Michael returned to his natural spot the following season
The following season, however, Mr. Air returned to his natural two-guard position, with veteran John Paxson taking over the point guard duties. The Bulls also drafted BJ Armstrong 18th overall in the 1989 draft, giving them a second point guard on the team. At that point, Bulls GM Jerry Krause said that while MJ's move to point guard was over, it helped Jordan and the team get better.
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"The move has definitely helped us in many, many ways. It's gotten Michael into more of a leadership position, which we talked about with him for a long time. It's hard to lead when you're a (shooting) guard. When you're the (point) guard, leadership is easier." said Krause.
With Jordan blossoming as a leader, the Bulls would go on to win their first-ever NBA championship in 1991, and he would lead them to five more titles during the 90's decade. Meanwhile, MJ also won four out of his five NBA awards during that decade. So, while MJ missed out on possibly extending his career by playing point guard, he ended up becoming basketball's GOAT