Michael Jordan is not afraid to take and make big shots, which he showed several times in his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. However, all of that resulted from years of playing in the NBA. When he entered the league as a rookie in 1984, there were questions on whether he could deliver in the clutch. Jordan was so hyped then that many wanted to see if he could handle the pressure.
Then, Bulls coach Kevin Loughery knew the North Carolina prodigy would be in for a tough rookie season. Jordan needed to back the hype and deliver immediately.
“He’s got to produce immediately. It can’t be down the road. The question is: Can this player do it?” the former Bulls coach said.
Former Bulls general manager Rod Thorn approached it milder, suggesting it was a wait-and-see scenario. However, he cautioned that even if Michael were to live up to initial expectations, things would only get harder.
“He’s been able to do it so far, but the demands will increase. I’m excited to see how he’s going to evolve,” Thorn said.