Original subtitles

The in-bounce pass comes into Jordan.

Here's Michael in the foul line.

A shot on Edel.

Go!

The ball's winning!

The win-win-win!

That was, uh, get the ball, Michael.

Everybody get the f*** out of the way.

Go to the basket.

Michael.

Oh, oh, oh!

Oh, baby, what a sensational plan.

Next of life, I was planning a 17.

Jordan trying to shake off shots.

Oh, one of them.

Oh, my God!

The catch.

Look at the foul.

That is one of the most of the seasons.

17.

17 seconds.

From game seven.

Or from championship number six.

Or six.

NBA championship.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

We're gonna come back here on TNT.

We're gonna get it started.

Michael Jordan's conversation with John Thompson.

MJ, a winner, a champion, but the bottom line, a competitor.

Have you ever met anyone that you felt was as competitive as you were?

No.

No.

No.

I just feel that my mind can take the driver

to far greater than anyone else that I've met.

We're gonna be featured there.

Ernie Johnson back at you from the jam session.

We're gonna bring Kenny the Jet Smith on here first.

Today is where you get started in this salute to

Michael Jordan because you were there in North Carolina.

And it all got started.

His last year was your first year.

What was that like?

It was very interesting because right now,

obviously he wasn't a player that he became.

But you saw all of the qualities that you would

want in a player that he had and he possessed.

But he coupled them and put them all together when he got to the actual NBA.

Because I didn't think he was gonna be as good as he is now, to be honest.

I really didn't think that.

Well, was he a typical college kid or was there something special?

Was he treated with reference around there in Chapel Hill?

No, no, no.

Sam Perkins actually was the player.

Everyone idolized at the school.

Michael was kind of like a little bit of a second

fiddle because Sam was a four-year-old American as well.

But I do remember playing a lot of times in the summer league and in the summertime.

And we would play game after game after game.

And Michael would always after the game, stand in the

middle of the court while everyone would go get water.

So we'll come back.

He's still there.

If you're doing that after every game.

So one day I was just like, Mike, why are you standing there half court?

He's like, because when everybody's off the court, I

want to say that I'm still on the court more than anyone.

So I was like, okay, love you standing half court with Mike.

Like Mike, you want it to be like Mike.

What do you say we get this thing started?

The conversation between Michael Jordan and John Thompson, the former North

Carolina legend and the longtime Georgetown head coach.

You've had a lot of fantastic moments in sports.

What's the greatest moment?

I mean, what started everything you should have done.

Don't say the shot.

That was the greatest moment.

Because I think that took me from a... If I had any doubts

about playing on college level or playing with the big guys.

You know, that shot gave me the confidence that I belong where I was.

You know, and that it was, you know, if you put your mind to doing whatever you

want to do, you know, good things can happen.

You know, so before anything else happened, we're Michael

Jordan outside of that game and, you know, against you guys.

That shot gave me the idea that I could be better than what people think and I can,

you know, surpass any expectations that I may have for myself.

Let me turn it.

What's your greatest disappointment in sports?

I haven't had any disappointments.

I mean, you know, sports is a tool that teaches,

you know, and it teaches you bad things.

It can also teach you good things.

It's how you perceive those things.

I've looked at every experience that I've had

negative and positive and taking that as a positive.

You know, if I wouldn't change anything because I think

it would alter some of the other things that happen.

You know, so when I look back, I can't say that I've had any bad things happen.

Sure, I mean, you don't want bad things happen, but you deal with bad things.

You can't have good or without bad.

When you look back at your career, particularly in the NBA, when you started

off in the NBA, you did a lot of exceptional things yourself individually.

And then later on, 96, 98, you got to start really winning championships.

Evaluate the difference in me too.

Well, I even go back further.

I mean, you come out of college, you get a lot of

gifted talent and some knowledge from your coach.

You know, and when you get to the pros, you have to

blend that knowledge as well as the individual talent.

And you don't know where you stand.

You know, you go into, I came into the league

thinking I was the last on the totem pole.

That was my thinking.

I didn't come in thinking I was on top.

So I had to work my way past all my teammates and they're all guys within the

league to prove and establish myself as a basketball player.

So, you know, I was gifted.

I was talented.

I knew how to play the game.

I didn't know how to play the game on the professional level.

I had to learn that.

And it took some years of learning, watching Magic Johnson, watching Larry

Bird, to see how they can play, you know, impact games when they're not scoring.

You know, they score four points.

They still make the big plays down the stretch.

These are the things that you learn in the process of maturing in this league.

And as I watched, I began to adapt.

And I became more complete.

You know, I wasn't one-dimensional.

The one thing I never wanted to be was one-dimensional.

You know, everyone saw me as just a score.

One-on-one player.

But I knew I was better than that.

I mean, North Carolina teach you how to do more than just one thing.

You know, so I spent the rest of my career trying to evolve as a player.

And when our team got to a point where we can

contend, I had to assume the leadership role.

I had to, you know, other guys had to step forward.

And then we got to that point where we were winning.

All the bases and all the foundations have been built.

You know, now it's just about it.

Can you mentally get yourself back each time to challenge yourself more so than

opponent, but yourself, to be that hungry

each and every time you stepped on the court.

That took some evolving over course of my career.

And when I got to that point, I had no doubts that I couldn't win any time I

stepped on the court or that I couldn't inspire people

to win no matter how many times I stepped on the court.

I tell people that from my observation of you, you were one

of the most competitive individuals that I've ever seen.

I would imagine if you were playing jacks with somebody, you'd want to kill them.

Have you ever met anyone that you felt was as competitive as you are?

No.

I just feel that, you know, my competitive job

is far greater than anyone else that I've met.

And I think that I thrive on that.

I think that's my biggest motivation in life.

You know, is to compete, you know, find different competitions

and certain things in life and try to overcome that.

You know, be a positive or negative.

But I have yet to meet someone who is as competitive as me, you know, and I just

feel that much confident about my competitive job.

I want to ask you some true and false questions.

Just three.

Just three.

Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever.

False.

Why?

Because I didn't play against, you know, all the great players prior to

me and I had those other players to influence my game.

I mean, it's a great honor, don't get me wrong.

But I love that play against Jerry West to determine if I was a better guard than

him, or Oscar Robinson, but we will never know.

Michael Jordan had he stayed with baseball,

would be playing in the big leagues there.

I believe that.

A lot of people may not, but I believe that.

And I gave, for that short amount of time, I

gave the dedication to the game of baseball.

A true effort.

You know, I wasn't, you know, down.

I wasn't making money.

I wasn't trying to endorse any product.

You know, I was truly there for the love of the game.

You know, I was up at six o'clock with bloody blisters all over my hand,

just trying to, trying to show that I could play this game.

I grew up playing this game.

I was, you know, I loved baseball.

And at the time that I stepped away was a time where, you know, I was being asked or

being thrown into a, you know, situation that involved, you know,

baseball strikes and things of that nature.

And that was never my intent.

You know, so I kind of walked away before, you

know, before I was thrust into that whole event.

Michael Jordan will absolutely never play in another NBA game after this season.

That's a fact.

I will not play in another NBA game.

You know, I would play basketball.

I'm glad you said NBA game.

But I mean, I got kids who love the game of basketball.

I got friends who love to talk trash about me.

I got a lot of young kids who love to compete against me in my camp.

I'm still going to play the game of basketball.

But from an NBA standpoint, it's it.

This is the last year.

I say to do things that you can't even dream about, though.

I say to go up on one side and lay, get bumped, still up in the air,

twist the ball, do all this in the air, lay it up on the other side.

You can't do that.

One play really sticks out of my mind.

I will never forget.

Have it on tape at home.

We play a New Jersey Nets.

Michael, get the ball.

And he maneuvers inside, outside, around, back.

I mean, it was unbelievable.

It makes the shot.

I mean, he's the greatest.

I remember him getting a steel tip tone, throwing it in, coming out of bounds,

coming back in bounds.

And he turns his back, hits it off the glass, and gets a foul.

Just watching him in motion was really exciting.

You know, just seeing him share those tears after winning their first championship.

You know, he had done a lot of weight off his shoulders to be winning a

championship, and be compared to some of the

greatest players that would play the game.

I tell you a story that I think is something the whole thing up.

When we was playing in Chicago, they switched and put John Stockton on it.

He turned around and dunked on Stockton.

So some guy got up and said, hey, John, pick up some of your own size.

Next time down the floor, he dunked on me on purpose.

And we're over looked at the guy, so was he big enough?

Just some of the marvelous stories about the career of Michael Jordan.

I've joined by a guy who's got a few of those himself, Charles Barkley.

You guys are pretty tight.

Kind of favorite Michael's story, Chuck.

Well, in 1984, when I tried out for the Olympic team, I didn't really want to go.

Because I didn't think I was good as those guys who went to the big schools.

So my coach, Simon Smith, talked me into going.

And when I got there, I should play real well.

And when I got back, he said, what do you think?

As a coach, if I get in shape and I work hard, I can be a good player.

But I play the kids as one guy.

I've never seen anybody that good.

His name is Michael Jordan.

And this is when he was back in college.

I never expected him to do what he did.

He got to the NBA.

But the first time I played against him for like

a week, I knew he was the best I'd ever seen.

And you make a good point there, because there was nobody, and we're been

talking to you in our round table, too, with more on this Charles.

But there was nobody with the combination of will and skill.

And nobody as he told John Thompson was that kind of creativity.

MUSIC Let me ask you something, Mike.

A lot of kids copy you and a lot of things that you

did were things that people had never seen before.

Did you ever practice those things, that creativity, that

self-expression that you did, some of those shots you made?

No, I never did.

I mean, obviously, as a kid, you want to count

down 5-4-3-2-1 to make the game win and shot.

Yes, but I mean, in terms of the creativeness, I think you've seen it.

It has happened in situations where the defense dictates what your reaction may be.

But then you once you do it once, you know you have a gift of talent to create.

You know, in any other situation, you try to alter, you try to change.

But all it was was the expansion of Elgin Baylor, Dr. J, all the guys who was

creative before you, and I grew up watching them.

So, the vision was there.

It's just creativity expanded with my talent.

What motivates you?

Fear or the feeling of wanting to conquer, be successful?

What motivates me is the unknown.

No one knows.

They can all speculate, but no one really knows.

And when you look at my career from high school all the way up through the pros,

no one knew what my career was capable of.

And myself, I didn't know.

But I didn't let that stop me.

I let that motivate me more so than anything.

As long as it's unknown, that means I have a chance.

And that's the way I pursued my whole career.

Have you ever gone on a court and been afraid?

No, I've never been afraid.

I mean, obviously you're nervous.

But afraid means you're not confident in your skills.

I have total confidence in my skills, so I'm not afraid.

Of all the robberies that you've had, which is the toughest one you've ever had,

as an individual.

As an individual was probably the Detroit Pistons,

you know, when we were trying to get over that hump.

And then we had the battle.

I wouldn't say fear but intimidation.

Because to some extent it got away from clean basketball,

you know, the basketball that you grew up playing.

It got to more where, you know, yes, one hard file could end your career, basically.

You've got to overcome that intimidation factor to keep going to the basket,

keep taking that shot, keep aggressively attacking them.

You know, and I think as much as it was a battle, and then it was once we

accomplished that, it was unbelievable success.

And no one else could challenge this that way.

I didn't think as a team or even as individuals to a point where, you know,

it bothered us.

You know, that was good for us.

That was good for me to go through that.

And it only made me a tougher player.

How about from a personal standpoint, all players have one player you play

against that you say, Hey, I enjoy playing

against this guy, and I'm looking forward to it.

And I just want to show him.

It changed from player to player.

Magic Johnson, obviously, because of his notoriety and

Larry Bird, his notoriety that we had to get past him.

I had to get past him individually before I gained any credibility.

I can never get into their ballpark.

I had to win championships.

I had to win MVPs.

I had to make impacts on my team.

So that became a challenge for me, Clyde Drexler, who, in essence,

we were compared, you know, we were, you know, viewed as being similar.

I wanted to show the difference.

I felt like I was, it was no comparison.

It was no closeness.

It was totally a separation between he and I.

Every time we battled, we battled with that notion

in mind that I wanted to separate myself from him.

I mean, with good friends, don't get me wrong, but it

was just that how people perceived us in our games.

You know, I wanted to excel my game and isolate my game from everybody else.

I was more than just, you know, a few dimensional.

Even when it came to Magic Johnson, I mean, Magic Johnson was a crowd pleaser.

He was a good offensive player.

He was a great motivator.

You know, average defensive player.

You know, I wanted to change that.

I wanted to take another step.

I wanted to do all those things, you know, that could separate me from Magic Johnson.

You know, I'm not saying he wasn't great.

He still is great.

But we're great in our own different way, you know, and that

was motivational for me, you know, and to this day still is.

You did an awful lot of scoring big game situations.

Who did the best job defending Michael Jordan?

During my day, I mean, we didn't have one man.

You know, they had, you know... There's not one guy that you needed to see coming.

No, I mean, I knew Dumas.

Dumas had positioned himself defensively great, you know, with help.

He knew he had Rodney, had Lamby, and everybody helping.

You know, but he could position himself great with me.

And that was a great challenge to try to outthink

him, because he was a great thinker on defense.

He tried to take away some of my advantages.

I tried to expand on my advantages.

And I tried to attack him when he had weaknesses.

You know, utilizing my size.

You know, trying to get him in a one on one

situation before the defense could come and help him.

You know, that, you know, I would say he was the guy that

made me or forced me to expand from an offensive standpoint.

How would you have gotten Michael Jordan?

I made him shoot the jump shot.

You know, even though, you know, when he drives, he penetrates,

he can involve a lot of other people.

If he stands out and shoot the jump shot, you only got one person you got to run by.

And I don't think he can score 100 points.

I don't think.

I do.

Back here at the Jamf session where there is a very little room to breathe today.

I think everybody in Atlanta is in this place.

Showing off varying degrees of skill.

And we welcome you back to All Star Weekend here on TNT.

Ernie Johnson joined now by Irvin Magic Johnson.

And in that last segment, as we salute Michael Jordan, he's talking about using

you as kind of a barometer and a measuring stick and kind

of, I need to improve this way or I want to improve that way.

I'll never be getting the notoriety unless I get those rings and that kind of thing.

What's your reaction to that?

Well, first of all, it's an honor to be used as

a barometer when you talk about Michael Jordan.

I think what happened was Larry Bird and I started it off and we thought we had

something special until this guy named Michael Jordan came into the league.

And he took the league and to another level, he took basketball to another

level, and he took the skill of a basketball player to another level.

There's never been anybody quite like Michael.

There probably never will be.

And I tell you, we all used to go out Larry and I and

try to keep up with this guy in terms of skill level.

We knew he was practicing 10 hours a day.

That made us have to practice 12 hours a day.

And he told us something interesting at the Olympics

and I never forget this talking to Larry and I.

He said, look, you guys are the whole sheriff.

But there's a new sheriff in town.

His name is Michael Jordan.

So I'm going to take it from where you guys started

and I'm going to take it to a whole number level.

And Michael, you did just that.

Exactly, exactly right.

If you look at the stats for a guy like Michael Jordan, certainly they stack up

against all kind of players of all time in this league.

But how important were they?

Let's return to John and M.K.

What impact is your statistical place in the NBA?

Have on you?

Well, that never drove me.

I mean, the stats only add up when you put forth the F and you don't worry about it.

You know, good things happen to the people that work hard.

If I sit here and play for the stats, I would have never retired in 93.

Oh, I still probably be chasing real chainless all time.

You know, covering my dude with your bar all the time, scoring lead.

I mean, that doesn't drive me.

I mean, sure, I mean, it defines to some extent

for people who don't know me on 20 years from now.

We never know who Michael Jordan really is, but

based on the stats he must have been pretty decent.

You know, those are the only ways that I look at stats.

Other than that, it's all about winning championships and winning.

You know, stats that matter to me is games that we win and the rings that you collect.

Mike, did you achieve what you intended to achieve with the Wizards?

I think I have achieved it only if the players take what I've done over the last

couple of years and move it in the right direction.

I mean, what we have done is we've brought hope to the city of Washington.

You know, and I think that winning and finishing out this year with a good

playoff run, I think shows if you believe in something, you put forth it.

It's not about age, it's not about ability.

It's about believing that you can come together as 12 to 15 men to the team.

You can put forth effort, fulfill the role and go out there and play hard.

Good things happen.

You have sons that play.

Right.

Were they critical or positive about your performance when

you came back because they were old enough to see you play?

Uh, yeah.

Was that fun?

It is fun.

I mean, because I think it's, you know, that they critique with not really norm

but gathering information for what I tell them.

You know, and they have their favorite players.

You know, which in essence I have to compete against those players.

You know, and I find myself, if I have a good game against one of those players,

believe me, I'm going to let him know it.

You know, as much as he's going to probably make excuses why the other player

or the player that I'm playing against didn't have a great game against me.

But that's fun.

I mean, from a father, I mean, that's great to

have a conversation about your game with your son.

When you see young kids talk about Michael and how Michael did things and I want to

get up early in the morning and play, I want to leave the gym late and play,

I want to work.

What impact does that have on you?

It's a true inspiration that, you know, my

love has been seen, my love has been passed on.

My obligation to the game of basketball has

been fulfilled because someone did that to me.

In turn, I'm doing that for other players and for the game of basketball.

I look at yourself and Jerry Rice.

Have you guys extended the life expectancy of an athlete?

Yeah, I think we have.

I think it's some truth to that.

I think two things have to come in place.

You have true love for what you're doing.

You have to be very lucky in terms of help.

You know, if you have both of them, then you can extend.

You can play as long as you want.

Because you got to put forth everything.

I mean, you look at Jerry Jerry.

He's a great friend.

I think I career is parallel a lot.

He's a couple years old.

I let everybody know that.

But his desire to be the best at what he does keeps him pushing not just during the

season, but you know, during the off season or physically preparing himself for

a season and mentally finding ways to challenge himself or listen to the

naysayers as motivation, things of that nature and keep him standing healthy.

If you can do that, then, you know, yeah, you can extend him.

You know, long as you have someone's career, you

know, but if you take it for granted, you can't.

You know, I don't think either one of us take

what we have done and what we love for granted.

And we really have to play a complete basketball game.

Like, I don't think one man can beat the boss himself.

Michael Jordan, the best and the goodest.

What a great shot at Jordan's 40 points.

You talk about here determination.

Michael Jordan has those qualities.

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy.

63 points and you're looking at all five records.

Oh, boy.

Michael Jordan.

What's my name?

Michael Jordan against McGee.

Right of the lane, leans in, pops the shot, no, taps it in.

23 straight points for Jordan.

A standing arrow in Chicago Stadium.

34 for Jordan.

Michael on the drive inside, scoops it in.

50.

Drive in the lane, shoots and a pressure.

Go to the foul.

Oh, that's 61 for Jordan.

What's my name?

What's my name?

Michael Jordan.

What's your name?

Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan.

Three again.

Here.

Hot.

Jordan Jordan.

Jordan Jordan.

Oh, no.

This is the greatest performance, maybe ever.

Michael comes back to New York City and loves playing in this game.

Michael Jordan gone for the past start this time for the fall.

And he is on fire.

Jordan wants the fall.

What's going on?

The heart of the sports.

Yes.

Michael Jordan.

Not my opinion.

Michael Jordan.

Now that is a high for the NBA this season.

Now the big story here tonight concerning Michael Jordan's physical conditions.

He is suffering from flu-like symptoms.

He wondered just how much, how long, and how hard you'll be able to go.

Michael Jordan continues to blaze away.

The illness are not.

Commanded the ball.

Back Michael.

Open three.

Yeah.

They lead it.

38 points for the care.

Took a dagger at him with a three.

Aim for the radius.

The last year, performance by the flu.

Michael Jordan.

What a player is wondering what they needed to do to

get the flu after that performance by Michael Jordan.

Joined up by Danny Angel when we came on the air tonight.

We talked about the fact that these images of Michael

never get old unless you were on the receiving end.

And saw you a couple of times in those clips.

Take me through first that Boston massacre.

Watch that on sports classic a couple of times

and that does bring back some bad memories.

But Ernie, it's amazing because I played golf with Michael the day before.

Saturday in Framingham, Massachusetts with a good friend of ours, Mike Carey.

And we were out playing and I destroyed Michael that day.

He was not happy.

I made a bad, bad mistake.

In the locker room after the game, I remember Walton and Bird and McHale.

And those guys Michael had come to life.

They were all in awe of his performance.

You know, in that game we have been able to

track down video with you in that 63 point game.

And here we go.

You're blowing past Michael to the hall.

You know, it was funny about that game was the 63 points.

And then I had to score.

DJ picked up his fifth foul halfway through the third quarter.

I had not scored a point in that game.

I ended up with 24 through the double over times, but Michael's 63 was unreal.

We appreciate you bringing that tape with you, by the way.

And now on that Portland thing, the game, everybody remembers by the image of...

He couldn't figure it out either.

What do you remember the reason that did?

Well, I remember the Clyde's Rexler and him arrivals

to some extent, like he mentioned earlier in the show.

And Clyde was the runner up MVP that year.

And Michael, you could tell that opening tip Clyde couldn't catch up all.

Michael wanted to separate himself.

Not only the three pointers, which was so unusual for

his game, but defensively he took Clyde out of that game.

And that was game one.

And he proved to the world right there.

Don't compare me and Clyde.

Then the age will be sticking around for a round

table, along with Charles and Kenny and Magic Johnson.

One more segment here of this interview with John Thompson.

What will be the impact, the lasting legacy of MJ?

Sometimes I dream that he is me.

Sometimes I dream that he is me.

You got to see that's how I dream to be.

I dream I move, I dream I groove.

Like me, like me, like me.

Don't find the world to cover my main man, Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan!

What did you expect?

Am I fine?

I'm not going to sing.

When did you first realize that no matter where

you went, what you would do, you would know.

And what impact did that have on your lifestyle?

I started taking trips with Nike.

Nike took me over to Europe to try to push the shoes and push the brand.

And as I was over there, more and more people became aware of who I was.

Not because of the shoes, but because of the way that I was planning.

At the same time, the league started to expand and try

to get the game of basketball, NBA basketball worldwide.

And the dream team blew it wide open.

But I think that was when I couldn't go anywhere in the world and walk the streets.

I used to go to Paris or Milan and someone like that and just walk the streets.

And the women know I can sit outside with my

family and friends and whatever and just enjoy it.

But ever since the dream team, things have just totally gone.

I mean, no matter where I go in Europe, it's no different than the States.

How difficult has it been being Michael Jordan?

It's been difficult, but it's got its advantages and disadvantages.

I mean, the advantages, I waited disadvantages no matter how you look at it.

And the inspiration that I try to pass on, the elaboration that I gained back,

I wouldn't give that away for nothing.

As you leave the game, what message do you want

to leave to young athletes that are coming on?

Be true to the game.

Because the game would be true to you.

If you try to shortcut the game, then the game is going to shortcut you.

If you put forth effort, good things would be bestowed upon you.

That's truly about the game.

And in some ways that's about life too.

What is love?

Love is being a rookie.

Love is wearing a new pair every game.

Love is the buzzer beater.

Love is dropping 69.

Love is your first.

Love is a three-peat.

When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of to prove something as a

basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game of basketball.

Love is realizing when not to quit your day job.

Love is silencing your critics.

Love is playing on nothing but heart.

When

you're ready to send the wall, take it and walk away with your head.

Held high and move on.

Thank you, Scott.

What is love?

Love is playing every game as if it's your last.

Now we asked you a short time ago.

What do you think Michael Jordan's greatest play was?

You could log on NBA.com or AOL keyword NBA.com.

And so far, we're going to have the results next time.

But so far, it's the switch of hands against the Lakers.

The Marv Albert Spectacular move by Michael Jordan.

That leads the way right now.

And does that sit well with everybody at this point?

No, I'm going to go with the last Utah shot.

That showed everything.

That showed fundamentals.

That showed escape dribble.

That showed him followed through.

That showed everything about a game-winning situation.

To me, that capsizes whole career in one play.

Welcome to our roundtable discussion now as we wrap up the salute to Michael Jordan.

Danny Ainge, Magic Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley.

You've heard from all of them individually so far, and now is the group.

Let me just throw this out.

Is he the greatest player ever, Danny?

Yes.

Because he played both ends of the court.

He offensively, there could be some debate.

Although I think he was one of the best offensive players, but because of

everything he did and his competitive edge.

Magic.

Oh, he's the greatest player and Bill Russell is the greatest winner.

Michael, no question.

Michael is heads and shoulder of Bill of everybody else.

He not only dominated on offense and defense, but he also dominated.

There will never be a basketball player, and I don't know if there will ever be

another athlete that makes as much money on

the court and off the court as Michael Jordan.

He will go down like Muhammad Ali and maybe even bigger.

Well, I think the point they touched on.

Michael was always trying to say who's the next

Michael Jordan, and they only look at offense.

Michael Jordan was the best defensive player who

played during our era, and that's what separated him.

And I have to agree again.

The domination everywhere.

There's no players today, like Charles just said,

that can dominate a game without scoring 30.

There's been games where Michael didn't score

30, but dominate the game from defense assist.

Because in one year he played the point guard position.

People forget that as well.

So the assist as well and the defensive end total package.

By the way, Charles, you're going to be all right here with the voice?

No, no, no.

You have to yell and scream the whole time.

It must have been the rookie game.

He was yelling and screaming at that.

Have Charles, Whisper, and Kenny's ear.

And you can really tell everybody.

We hear so much about the great will to win that Michael had.

In the ratio of will and skill, how did that work out for him?

Well, it's a combination of both guys.

You have to have both.

The will to win, what drove him.

And then the skill level is what made him.

See, he would have been only Michael Jordan with just a will to win.

But he was Michael Air Jordan with the skill to win.

I don't think the add to that as I agree with magic, but not only that,

but his will drove other players will.

You know, Scotty became, had a stronger will.

Horace Grant, B.J.

Armstrong, all these guys, his will was contagious.

And that's what I think makes him even more special what

he did on the court, what he made other players become.

And people forget, he was the best fundamental player in basketball.

And that's what everyone sees the dunks and they see the highlights.

But he was the first, to me, the first athlete to come

into the game with fundamental skills as his basis.

And then his athleticism just took him to where he is today.

There's no such fundamental.

North Carolina.

North Carolina.

College.

Hey, I got fundamentals.

Why do you have that criticism?

Oh, Will.

Is that something that Charles whispered to you

or do you have something to add on that front?

Well, no matter how much weird you got, if you don't have talent, it doesn't matter.

He was one of a kind, remains one of a kind, and tomorrow

he plays in his final NBA All-Star game here in Atlanta.

Michael Jordan, our salute here on TNT.

We'll be back.

Hi, my name is Michael Jordan.

I want you to take a trip with me and discover

the secrets that I've known for many years.

The man was truly destined to fly.

I get the ball.

You have mercy.

It's nothing that you can say or do about it.

You own the ball.

You own the game.

You own the guy who's guarding you.

You can actually play him like a puppet.

As long as we own this Earth, I think everybody wants to be known as a winner.

Shut up, Will.

Have fun.

There's first ever.

Shut up.

One, two, three, and straight.

NBA Championship.

And the only way you can be remembered on this Earth is to win.

Chicago Bulls have regained the NBA drones.

Chicago Bulls have won their sixth NBA championship.

How would you like to be remembered?

It's a winner that sacrificed every aspect of this game for that sake of winning.

And it would do anything to cover holes of a team or a player so that we can win.

And I'm truly loved the game of basketball.

I'm truly loved the game.

I wouldn't be playing if I didn't love the game.

It's truly for the love of the game of basketball.

In a class all his own.

Michael Jordan.

Hope you've enjoyed our hour-long salute to MJ

on the eve of his final All-Star appearance.

We're just getting warm here tonight, ladies and gentlemen.

We've got another hour to go of a special All-Star preview.

Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley will stick around for that.

And we invite you to stick around here at the Jam Session

in Atlanta, where it's All-Star Weekend at All Roads.

Lead to the Jam Session and Lutz Arena.

We'll be back.