362: 147: This is not just about winning or losing; this is a do-or-die competition (Vote for me monthly!) 362: 147: This is not just about winning or losing; this is a do-or-die competition (Vote for me monthly!) Michael Jordan had not expected things to end .
He had overestimated his influence.
It was also hard for him to accept this outcome.
Just two years ago, in the summer of 1994, fresh from playing baseball, Michael Jordan could walk tall into Reinsdorf’s office and lay down one irresistible condition after another.
And Reinsdorf could do nothing but nod in agreement, even if the condition was to trade Roger.
Those damned bastards were actually wishing him well, with an attitude of “take it or leave it” regarding the contract!
Michael Jordan realized he had completely lost control of the situation.
The privileges of the basketball god were gone for good.
In the past, his unmatched commercial value and one championship after another gave him the right to do as he pleased.
Among those rights was the ability to severely disrespect the general manager and owner.
He could call the two Jerrys sons of bitches and still take a large sum of money from their hands.
But now it was different, a series of playoff failures had shown the world that Michael Jordan was only human, not some Black Jesus.
He was much like most past stars, very strong in his prime, but still subject to decline.
Despite the three-peat, Jordan still didn’t have as many championships as Magic—how could that be called godlike?
Of course, Jordan was still one of the players with the highest commercial value.
With Nike’s marketing prowess, even a player with an irregular championship tally and insufficient total could still be promoted to godlike status, so Jordan’s three-peat achievements were still quite impactful.
In reality, the Bulls were willing to offer Jordan a two-year, fifty million dollar deal, which was still a contract surpassing Roger’s historically highest annual salary.
Next season, after a salary increase, Roger’s annual salary would be no more than twenty-two million.
And if Jordan signed this contract, he would earn an annual salary of twenty-five million, immediately beating Roger to become the man with the highest annual salary in the league.
Jordan wasn’t worth it, and the Bulls now had the confidence to teach Jordan what mutual respect meant.
There was only a five million difference between twenty-five million and thirty million, amounting to just ten million over two years.
For Michael Jordan’s net worth, he certainly didn’t lack that ten million.
It wasn’t even enough for him to play a few nights in a casino.
What he was lacking was respect.
What he needed was the Bulls’ management to be at his beck and call.
What he wanted was absolute control.
So, even though the Bulls’ offer was not bad, the proud and haughty Michael Jordan would never accept it!
He would not allow anyone to offend him.
Initially, in the summer of ’96, Reinsdorf obediently handed over thirty million dollars to Jordan, but still managed to offend him, all because Reinsdorf murmured his regret after paying, “One day in the future, I know I’m going to regret this.”
Because of that remark, Jordan felt offended, even with thirty million dollars in his hand, and his relationship with Reinsdorf was irretrievably broken.
And now, Reinsdorf wasn’t even willing to give the thirty million anymore, which was an even greater offense.
Jordan’s pride meant he would never work with Reinsdorf again, never!
He even didn’t want to appear in the United Center anymore!
That was the end of their relationship; the once king was ready to relocate.
Michael Jordan turned down the offer and told the Bulls they wouldn’t get a second chance to make an offer.
“We have nothing more to talk about,” David Falk told Reinsdorf.
Now the whole world knew that Michael Jordan was about to make a major, league-shaking decision, and everyone was waiting for it.
There weren’t many places suitable for Jordan.
Apart from Chicago, probably only New York was left.
Because no other team could afford an annual salary over twenty million, only a big market like New York could afford to give Jordan such large sponsorships.
Well, the Lakers had that capability too.
Jerry West actually pursued Jordan and even deployed Magic to communicate with him.
“In Los Angeles, you can also get a lot of commercial contracts.
Most importantly, that 18-year-old kid from Philadelphia is the next Scottie Pippen, or even better!” Magic confidently said over the phone.
But Jordan refused the goodwill of Magic and the Logo.
The Lakers could indeed barely meet Jordan’s financial needs, and finding commercial endorsements in Los Angeles was incredibly easy.
Furthermore, Lakers owner Jerry Buss’s Rainbow Party was every man’s dream of paradise.
But what about the team’s competitiveness?
The Logo had just traded away the team’s only All-Star player, Ceballos, and the biggest name on the team now was Nick Van Exel, who averaged 14 points last season.
Once Jordan joined, the team would have no salary cap space to sign anyone else.
So was Jordan supposed to join the Lakers and continue to be defeated by Roger?
No, that could not happen; Jordan was already on the edge of a cliff.
He had already lost to Roger twice in a row and could not afford a third time.
His influence and commercial value had already taken a huge hit, but at least he could still maintain a top position.
But if he lost to someone like Roger a third time, it would be a devastating blow!
Jordan was not one to take shortcuts—if he were only 25, then OK, he could grow with the team and build his own team.
That’s exactly what he did when he got past the Detroit Pistons.