Michael Jordan describes how his college coach Dean Smith was the only man in basketball he ever truly feared

 

Michael Jordan feared only one guy in his basketball career

Michael Jordan

© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Clarkson with 22 Points vs. Denver Nuggets

Next
Stay

volume_off


-1:09
sd
share
closed_caption
fullscreen

Auto (360p)
225p
360p

Subtitles Off
Subtitles EN


Jordan Clarkson with 22 Points vs. Denver Nuggets

1:29


Assist by Jordan Nwora

0:12


Dunk by Jordan Clarkson

0:10


2-pointer by Jordan Clarkson

0:11


3-pointer by Jordan Poole

0:12


2-pointer by Jordan Poole

0:08


Dunk by Jabari Smith Jr.

0:12

arrow_back_ios_new
arrow_forward_ios

Michael Jordan was the ultimate alpha dog in the game of basketball, with a mindset that is almost nonexistent in today’s NBA. Apart from having tremendous talent, Jordan was a hard worker that accepted challenges and understood that practicing hard was the only way he could get better and be ready for any opponent and team that stood in his way.

That type of behavior and mentality was instilled into Jordan early on in his basketball career when he was still a freshman at UNC. The late great coach Dean Smith was known for running a tight ship during practices and demanded that his players are hard-working and focused.

Jordan loved the challenge Smith imposed on him

When Jordan joined the basketball program at UNC, he immediately saw that coach Smith meant business and was the right mentor for him at that stage of his young basketball career. In the book Driven From Within, he explains what type of challenges Smith would impose on the team and Jordan personally.

 

He admitted he was initially shocked by Smith’s intensity in practice, but he appreciated it because it humbled him and that type of challenge was what he was looking for in order to further elevate his game.