'That is the last time I'mma give you a compliment in the middle of the game' - Michael Jordan on changing his leadership style with Luc Longley

The jury is still out on whether Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was a good leader. You can make a case that his leadership style was centered around pushing his teammates to their limits for the betterment of themselves and the team. On the other hand, it's hard to defend a player who blatantly punches his teammates.

Either way you slice it, Jordan's leadership style was unconventional, and no one on the Bulls roster felt it more than Luc Longley.

Luc and Michael didn't need to be the best of friends, but even their working relationship was strained as the Bulls superstar would go out of his way to call out the Australian. When speaking on the subject following the release of "The Last Dance," MJ pinpointed a moment that spoke to his tough love approach with the big man.

"He may not like this story. In '98, we're playing the Utah Jazz. The first quarter ends, Luc has 12 points, four blocks, and four rebounds. And I go to Luc, and I say, 'That's how you f-ing play, man. You do that, we dominate.' We're up by 16. At the end of the game, Luc had 12 points, four rebounds, and four blocks. We were winning by 16, we lose by 15. And I just looked at Luc, and I said, 'You know what, Luc, that is the last time I'mma give you a compliment in the middle of the game,'" he said.

Learning the nuances

There isn't one perfect leadership style. While Longley had to learn how to operate under Jordan's methods, it was also a learning curve for MJ on how different personalities demanded different things from him as the team's main man.

The nuances were intricate and delicate, and when it came to the likes of Longley, Jordan discovered that Luc responded best to a soft and encouraging approach.

"It was like, 'OK, I got to keep encouraging him. Even when he's doing well, I got to keep encouraging him. Because he needs that reinforcement.' Once I learned that, I understood how our relationship was going to be established. A hug is probably more than a yell. A pat on the back is probably more than a punch," he said.

Still question marks

While Jordan's story can be seen as evidence of his ability to adapt as a leader, it still doesn't cover up the fact that there are far too many stories of him crossing the line with his teammates.

From punching Steve Kerr in practice to publicly calling out Dennis Rodman for his off-the-court antics, MJ walked a fine line between balancing the demands of championship aspirations and maintaining some level of personal connection. The basketball world gives him a pass because of what he achieved in his career, but perhaps they shouldn't, all things considered.

That said, most of the guys who spent time as Mike's teammates, Longley included, are happy they got the opportunity to share a locker room with the greatest ever. Even though the Australian himself said, "MJ was difficult and unnecessarily harsh on his teammates," he credits the Bulls legend for making him a better player and helping him win three NBA championships. After all, that's what it's all about.

Putting up with Michael was challenging, but being a part of (arguably) the greatest dynasty in NBA history made it worthwhile. It's just good to know that's not the approach he used for all of his teammates.