'I can see the picture, see it being painted' - Michael Jordan on never being bothered by double-teams throughout his career

Being double-teamed in the NBA is a badge of honor not many players experience. After all, only the greatest and most dominant players are usually targeted with such a defensive tactic. From Shaquille O'Neal to Hakeem Olajuwon to LeBron James and Steph Curry, every great player has faced the challenge of being double-teamed at some point in their career.

But for Michael Jordan, it was just another day at the office. The six-time champion, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, was never bothered by getting doubled throughout his career. In fact, he welcomed and anticipated these, seeing it as an opportunity to manipulate the defense to the Chicago Bulls' advantage.

Seeing it all unfold in slow motion

The NBA, past and present, boasts of many stars who could put up points in a hurry, inhale rebounds, or block shots like their lives depended on it. However, only the transcendent superstars had a unique ability to see the game in slow motion, and Jordan was one of them. Whether it was a double team or just multiple defenders in his way, he had the mental capacity to process the situation and make the right decision in a split second.

While he may have struggled with getting past multiple defenders early in his career, opting to try and jump over or right through them to get to the basket, with time and experience, he learned how to slow down the game in his mind, making it seem like he had all the time in the world to make a move or take a shot.

"Over time I've learned how to beat double-teams, to see them coming and exploit them. A double-team is a very familiar situation for me," MJ said in an interview with ESPN The Magazine in 1998.

"His Airness" then referenced a play before halftime of their April 1998 game against the Indiana Pacers when he hit a buzzer-beating triple.

"The other night against the Pacers when I made that 3 before the quarter ended, I saw Reggie Miller coming from behind me and Antonio Davis in front of me, so I moved to the right and hit the shot, and it was all instinctive," Mike shared.

While plays like these may rattle young and inexperienced players, this was not a big deal for "Money" since he's seen every defensive coverage in the book.

"I do it because I've been there before. Now, at certain times, things move in slow motion for me. I can see the picture, see it being painted," the five-time league MVP exclaimed.

Credited Phil Jackson for helping him stay composed

Jordan said much credit goes to his head coach, Phil Jackson, for helping him stay composed despite the pressure. The wingman from Wilmington, North Carolina, relayed that as unorthodox Phil's means might have sometimes gotten, they eventually achieved the desired result: keeping calm when stress levels are at their highest.

"He believes it, the Zen, the poise. It comes from his meditating, gaining the ability to stay in touch with your body and your inner self, calming yourself when tension is all around," Jordan stated. "That is something I've learned from Phil. Calming the body. No matter how much pressure there is in a game, I think to myself: It's still just a game."

This ability often belongs only to the best of the best in any sport, which is what MJ was when he was still ruling the Association. No matter what the defense threw at him, Jordan always kept his cool, relying on his skills, experience, and mental fortitude to overcome any hurdle in his way.