A breakfast in ’95 played a role in Jordan’s return to the Bulls

Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan hangs on the rim after a dunk on the New Jersey Nets Chris Childs in the first half of the action on April 5, 1995. The Nets lead 56-54 in the half. (Photo by Mark PHILLIPS / AFP)

BJ Armstrong could have played a role in the Chicago Bulls earning his 1996, 1997, and 1998 titles, even though he wasn’t on those teams.

Armstrong was the person who, in a pancake breakfast talk in Chicago, pushed Michael Jordan through the Bulls’ practice facility late one morning in the 1994-95 season to go see his old teammates. In a short time, Jordan completed his retirement; The Bulls won three more titles in Jordan’s second term with the franchise.

Jordan’s first retirement in 1993, the murder of his father James, his stint in the minor leagues of baseball, and, after a gentle push from Armstrong, not credited with Jordan’s return, his return was among the topics in the Latest installments on ESPN and The Netflix documentary “The Last Dance,” a 10-part series that showed episodes seven and eight on Sunday night.

“I’ve never thought about that, to be honest,” Armstrong, the former NBA guard and a three-time NBA champion with the Bulls, who is now a California-based sports agent, told The Associated Press. “I just wanted to be a good friend and I saw something in him. When you see someone who really loves something … they love it. I dont like him. He loved it. So was he. And out of respect for the game of basketball, I wanted to be a good friend. “

Feeling the time was right, Armstrong suggested Jordan go to practice with him that day under the auspices of just seeing the boys. Then Jordan returned for another practice. Then another. In no time, Jordan’s baseball days were over. He was back.

“I just got it, he caught us, and we did each other and you did what was necessary,” said Armstrong, who helped the Bulls win titles in 1991, 1992 and 1993. “I didn’t need to tell anyone or speak to the respect or anything. That’s just what happened. I was happy for him because I know what the game of basketball meant to him and to his life. He kept basketball in a sacred space and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. “

Jordan retired in October 1993, shortly after his father’s murder and with the Bulls who had just won their third consecutive title.

The first season of Jordan’s break became Armstrong’s best season, in terms of numbers. He set his career highs in points (14.8) and minutes (33.8) per game, started the 82 regular-season games for the first time, and started in what became his only All-Star appearance. He was a fan favorite, finishing third in the All-Star vote that year behind only Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.

Armstrong did not replace Jordan in the Bulls lineup: he played as a point guard, while Pete Myers became the answer to the trivia question “Who took Jordan’s starting shot guard position?”, But he took on a role. much more important, and he did it with Jordan cheering him on with occasional phone calls.

And when Armstrong was named the All-Star starter, Jordan was the first person to congratulate him.

“He was very happy for me,” said Armstrong. “I wasn’t playing to be an All-Star, but when he called, it meant the world to me at the time and it means the world to me now. I know what having a friend means and I always tried to be a good friend.”

Without realizing it, Armstrong may have been a friend again in the 1998 playoffs, when he was with Charlotte, playing against Jordan and the Bulls in what would become his last title race. Armstrong hit what became a game-winning shot in Game 2 of that series for Charlotte in Chicago, and Jordan did not like to see his former teammate celebrating. He took it as a snub, and always turned slights into fuel.

“I felt like BJ should know better,” Jordan says at the beginning of Episode 8. “If you’re going to crash all five and talk trash, now I have a bone to pick up with you. I’m supposed to kill this guy. I’m supposed to dominate. this guy. And from that point, I did it. “

The Bulls did not lose again in that series. Armstrong, who received a lot of defensive attention from Jordan in the next three games, has no regrets.

“Every time you start a series, you have to let the other person know that you are there to fight,” Armstrong said. “Michael knew exactly what was happening. He knew exactly what was going on. I don’t know if anyone else did … He didn’t protect the bases. He went there.”

The last two episodes of the documentary series will debut on May 17.

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