Chapter 72 Exposed Nature

"The game on April 20, 1986, was a message that Michael Jordan sent to the Chicago Bulls management," said Bulls owner Reinsdorf. "It wasn't until that game that we realized just how great Michael really was."

For Jordan himself, that game also marked an important turning point.

Years later, looking back, Jordan said, "Up until that time, many media people said that although I was good, I wasn't yet on the same level as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird."

"I earned Larry Bird's respect—that to me was an affirmation that I was on the right path. It wasn't about how many points I scored, but the fact that we lost the game in the end. The highlights of the game are great to watch, but they don't mean much because I lost, and his comment after the game was the best compliment I could get."

"Of course, the same day Sonny had 40 points and 42 rebounds; the guy always likes to show off, always has to be ahead of me," Jordan said with a laugh in reference to Ah Gan at the end.