Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, but his leadership style was often controversial. He was known for his ruthless competitiveness, which sometimes extended beyond the court. One of the most infamous examples of this was his rocky relationship with Horace Grant, a key member of the Chicago Bulls’ first three-peat. Their feud allegedly reached a point where Jordan even denied Grant food after a bad game—a story that highlights the darker side of MJ’s leadership.
The Root of the Conflict
The tension between Jordan and Grant reportedly began in 1993 when Sam Smith published The Jordan Rules, a book that revealed behind-the-scenes details about the Bulls. Jordan believed Grant was the primary source of Smith’s inside information, despite Grant denying the allegations. Whether true or not, this accusation permanently damaged their relationship, as Jordan never forgave him.
From that moment on, Grant became one of Jordan’s least trusted teammates. While they continued to play together and win championships, the personal animosity remained. And as with many of Jordan’s perceived enemies, he found ways to make Grant’s life miserable.
The Time Jordan Denied Grant Food
According to Sam Smith, Jordan’s treatment of Grant sometimes went beyond verbal abuse. In an interview with the Tolbert, Krueger, and Brooks show, Smith claimed that Jordan would go so far as to deprive Grant of meals after poor performances.
“Players would come to me over the years and say, ‘You know what he did? He took Horace [Grant’s] food away on the plane because Horace had a bad game. [Michael] told the stewardesses, Don’t feed him, he doesn’t deserve to eat,” Smith revealed.
While this story remains unconfirmed by Jordan or Grant, it aligns with other accounts of Jordan’s harsh leadership style. Throughout his career, he was known for verbally attacking teammates, pushing them to their limits, and even getting into physical altercations during practice. This approach, while effective in driving players to perform at a high level, also created resentment among some of his teammates.
The Fallout and Lasting Impact
Despite their conflicts, Jordan and Grant were able to win three championships together. However, their relationship never recovered, and Grant has been one of Jordan’s most vocal critics, particularly regarding The Last Dance documentary. Grant publicly called out Jordan for distorting the truth, saying parts of the documentary were filled with “lies.”
Other former Bulls teammates, like Stacy King, also expressed frustration with the way the documentary portrayed figures like former Bulls GM Jerry Krause. While Jordan’s greatness on the court is undisputed, his leadership style has been criticized as overly harsh and even abusive.
Would This Be Acceptable Today?
The NBA has changed significantly since the 1990s. Players today have more control over their careers and are less likely to tolerate toxic leadership. If a modern superstar, such as LeBron James, treated a teammate the way Jordan allegedly treated Grant, he would likely face severe backlash.
While Jordan’s leadership style led to championships, it also came at a cost. His relentless pursuit of excellence often meant pushing teammates to their breaking point. The story of Horace Grant serves as a reminder that even the greatest athletes are not without flaws. Jordan may be the GOAT on the court, but his treatment of teammates remains a topic of debate.
