Even though this year’s online betting NBA season is living up to all of our sportsbook expectations, it is still rather difficult to forget the unbelievable accomplishment that the Golden State Warriors were able to achieve last season.
Those who bet on basketball will still remember the Warriors’ historic 73-win campaign during the 2015-16 season. No team had ever racked up that many victories in a regular season, and while the history books will always remember what Golden State accomplished, there are those who believe that the achievement is far from memorable.
In particular, Michael Jordan, ubiquitously considered to be the greatest basketball player to ever set foot on the court, didn’t mince words when talking to the owner of the Golden State Warriors, Joe Lacob.
“Anyway, Michael Jordan – people are drinking and having a good time and all that – but there was a moment where he said, ‘You know, 73 don’t mean [expletive],’” Lacob stated in an interview with a Bay Area radio station this past Tuesday.
Granted, it’s a well-known fact that part of Jordan’s illustrious online betting NBA repute is due to his unwavering competitive spirit. And since the Warriors knocked the previous single-season wins record set by Jordan’s Bulls, it should come as no surprise to see the GOAT have some choice words for Golden State, especially in the face of their failure.
“He did it, Michael Jordan did that. And I looked at him, and I just decided not to make a big deal of it. I said, ‘You know, you’re right, we didn’t win it, we had to get better.’”
Apart from having an insatiable competitiveness, longtime sportsbook fans will remember Jordan was also infamous for his trash talk. A brief Google search regarding Jordan’s antics will reveal that the legend was the most feverish of instigators; consistently informing anyone who crossed his path on the court that he was in fact the best.
But even amidst Jordan’s myriad of trash-talking stories, the tale regarding Jordan’s impact on Muggsy Bogues’ career is the crown jewel. Facing Jordan’s Bulls in the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Charlotte Hornets were down by one in the closing seconds of the game. Bogues took the ball and had an opportunity to drain the game-winning shot, but with Jordan in his face the Hornets’ star was feeling the pressure.
But instead of forcing the shot, Jordan stepped back and gave Bogues enough room to shoot the ball. All the while egging Bogues “Shoot it you [expletive] midget,”
The 5’3” Bogues did just that and failed to come close. Chicago went on to win the contest 85-84, moving on the semifinals where they would face the Orlando Magic, and afterwards make sportsbook history.
But what makes this story unparalleled is not the fact Jordan’s bellows were able to force Bogues to miss the shot, rather it’s the fact that this moment shook Bogues to his core.
According to Johnny Bach, head coach of that ’95 Hornets squad, Bogues confessed that that moment ruined his career, admitting to his former head coach that he was never the same basketball player. The interesting thing is that the online betting NBA stats back up that claim; from that moment on Bogues would go on to average 5.9 points less per game. A stark drop from the double-digit average Bogues was putting up the three years before that fateful day.
“[Jordan] was fantastic, and I’m not going to cross him, but that kind of hurt.” Lacob acknowledged on air.
“I know people all say, ‘Oh, well you didn’t win the championship’ – all the talking heads. You know what, we didn’t. But it was still an incredible year and I will never forget it.”
Lacob may be proud of his team’s noteworthy achievement, but he should be thankful Jordan didn’t have more to say. After all, his words have been shown to be quite impactful.
