An NBA legend and current analyst for TNT’s Inside the NBA “Sir” Charles Barkley opened up about the guidance he received on how to perform under pressure from Michael Jordan. No matter who you are or how cool you are under pressure, on the biggest stages of sports you are bound to feel the heat.
Every athlete goes through several nerve-racking moments in their career, NBA stars are no exception. Even NBA legend Michael Jordan had his fair share of anxious moments in his long illustrious career. Game 1 of the NBA 1991 finals was one of those moments for MJ.
Even though Jordan had dreamt of this moment for a long time he was nervous and was not 100 percent ready when the dream finally materialized.“He said, ‘I wasn’t ready to play in Game 1,’ when the Bulls played the Lakers for his first championship. He said, ‘We were hyper; we were nervous, and I was not ready,’” Barkley shared.
In game 1 of the 1991 NBA finals Bulls lost 93-91 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan’s efforts were not enough to snatch a win in the first game but they went on to win the remaining games against The Lakers.
“I did not have us ready to play in Game 1” :Barkley shares a memory he would like to forget
While watching Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance” Barkley found MJ’s words relatable. chuck too found himself in a similar position in his sole NBA finals appearance in 1993, where he was up against ‘His Airness’, Like Jordan did in his first NBA finals, Barkley too felt he and his team were not completely ready.
“I did not have us ready to play in Game 1 [vs the Bulls]. We came out nervous. That’s the only bad game we played. I didn’t have us ready to play. The lights were too big for them. That was my fault. I should’ve been more aggressive,” Chuck added. The Chicago Bulls went on to lose the game 100-92 and even lost the finals 4-2.
Was Barkley better than Michael Jordan in 1993?
Charles Barkley was named the NBA “MVP” in 1993 instead of Jordan. Barkley’s stellar performance throughout the season earned him this award. Even though Jordan displayed his displeasure towards the decision. But Barkley still believes he was a better player than Jordan that season and Jordan won the championship that year because he had better players to help him.
Read More – https://www.thesportsroom.org/taylor-jenkins-lebron-james-jaren-jackson-jr/
