The New York Knicks drafted Mark Jackson with the 18th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft and he entered the league right when Michael Jordan was entering his prime. Jackson recently made an appearance on Gil's Arena, where he asked about going up against Jordan and he shared an interesting story from his rookie season.
“He was (at) an absolutely different level," Jackson said. "... I never told this story. I was benched, so we’re playing the Bulls, so I get a call the night before and we’ll play some cards and hang out whatever, just chill. I go into the city, go to Mike’s room, play cards. I’m not playing, I know I’m benched. So, I’m playing cards, I’m doing my job, I’m gonna keep him up all night. We playing cards all night.
“So, shootaround is at 10 in the morning, we finished playing at 8," Jackson continued. "… So, I get no sleep, I drive to SUNY Purchase practice facility, we practice, game that night, I take a quick nap, gotta hit the road, game in the Garden. I’m sitting on the bench, I am tired. I’m sitting there like, 'This dude got 50. How is this dude still surviving?' But he did it to everybody and every single night."
Jackson didn't realize that this was more like the norm for the Chicago Bulls icon. B.J. Armstrong revealed that Jordan rarely slept during his NBA career. Armstrong thought that the basketball world never saw the best of his former teammate in the NBA, because of how little he slept.
Jordan would play cards and do whatever else at night and then go out and dominate on the court the next day. Armstrong also shared that he had never seen anyone practice as hard as Jordan and he couldn't quite understand how someone with that kind of a lifestyle had a motor that just wouldn't stop.
Magic Johnson Called Michael Jordan The Strongest Athlete Ever
Playing cards wasn't the only off-the-court activity that Jordan was involved in during his playing career, as he would play golf and gamble as well. The fact that he did all of that and still dominated, led to Magic Johnson calling Jordan the strongest athlete ever.
"He was the strongest, not basketball player, athlete I've ever seen. Because he can do just what you said. If I tried to do that, I'd e 0-14, no assists, I'd be dragging, and he tried to get me to do it on the Dream Team. He was like, 'MJ, MJ.' I said, 'What's up?' He said, 'Come on, hang with me.' I said, 'Mike, I can't hang 'till 4 o'clock. You have your drinks, get up, play 18 rounds of golf, sleep an hour and then go and get 30 by halftime. I can't do that. I know who I am.'"
Magic then revealed what his routine looked like.
"So my routine was, I got to have my music, I got to have quiet, so I had my house quiet, my car, nobody ride with me. I had to get there 3 to 4 hours before. I had to get there way earlier so I could get ready because I had so much to remember. Our plays, their plays, make sure the guys were in position, and then I would go out and do my thing. And then, I would always get my rest."
Talk about a stark contrast! Johnson knew he couldn't operate well on the court if he did those things and I think that applies to just about every other player in league history. Jordan was just built differently.
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