Michael Jordan reportedly felt displeased over the Chicago Bulls trading for another player, despite being a renowned NBA legend and previously playing alongside him.
George Gervin, the Cool Iceman, Scorched alongside Michael Jordan
Picture a fiery competitor and calm, collected House of Cards character rolled into one: that's George Gervin, the legendary NBA player who graced the court with the Chicago Bulls alongside basketball's G.O.A.T., Michael Jordan.
Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen might be the first names that come to mind when talking about MJ's teammates, but the 'Iceman' was the OG standout who helped him win two three-peats in the '90s.
The sprightly 73-year-old Gervin was a master of the underhand finger roll, earning his moniker by executing it with confidence and precision. He was a three-time ABA All-Star, named to the ABA All-Time Team, before getting traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1974.
His unparalleled shooting skills and cool demeanor on the court earned him the nickname "The Iceman."
A Frosty Relationship
But while playing with the Bulls, Gervin's arrival didn't exactly set the friendliest of tones. Allegedly, he had conspired to embarrass Jordan in front of a massive TV audience at the 1985 Eastern Conference All-Star Game.
Jordan was less than amused, and his teammates reportedly plotted to abandon him when guarding Gervin, refusing to help on defense. However, Bulls' vice president Jerry Krause was confident that once the two started playing together, they'd squash their differences.
Gervin, now in the twilight of his career, still managed to make an impact for the Bulls. Though he averaged only 16.2 points per game during the 1985-86 season, he put up a season-high 45 points against the Dallas Mavericks and played in all 82 games that year.
Sadly for the Bulls, Jordan broke his foot in the third game and missed 64 games. This not only slowed the team's progress but made Gervin the rare player to outscore Jordan in a single season.
Bulls Unyielding Spirit
Defying the odds, the Bulls made the playoffs with a 30-52 record, thanks in part to Gervin's contributions. Jordan returned for the series against the Boston Celtics, famously scoring a playoff record 63 points in the second game, with Larry Bird commenting, "That was God disguised as Michael Jordan."
It was the final game of Gervin's NBA career. After a brief stint overseas, Gervin returned to coach the Spurs between 1992-1994. By then, the frosty relationship with Jordan had thawed, as the two caught up in 1988 and faced off in a friendly 1-on-1 game, with Gervin showing he still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird might be regarded as the greatest stars Jordan played with, but in Chicago, at least, he never had a teammate as talented as the legendary George Gervin.
- The on-court camaraderie between George Gervin and Michael Jordan seemed to crumble when Gervin allegedly attempted to embarrass Jordan during the 1985 Eastern Conference All-Star Game.
- Despite their frosty relationship, Gervin's contributions were instrumental in the Bulls' success, even managing to outscore Jordan in one season.
- The legendary George Gervin, who coached the Spurs after his professional playing career, later reconciled with Jordan and even faced him in a friendly 1-on-1 game.
