“That hate carries even to this day” – Michael Jordan admits he still feels resentment for Isiah Thomas’ Pistons

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What the legacy would show is that Michael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and engineered a dynasty in the 1990s. However, that legacy was nearly derailed in the years leading up to it.

In the late 1980s, MJ dazzled fans with his scoring, athleticism, and relentless drive. But for all his individual brilliance, the ultimate prize eluded him. Year after year, the Bulls found themselves road-blocked by a team built to neutralize their star player — the Detroit Pistons.

Jordan rules

For three consecutive seasons, Chicago crashed out of the playoffs at the hands of its bitter rivals, a team led by star point guard Isiah Thomas and known for its hard-nosed, physical brand of basketball. The Pistons were the architects of “The Jordan Rules, ” one of the most storied defensive strategies in NBA history.

It frustrated “His Ariness” to the point of having a long-standing grudge against Detroit, admitting that the animosity never really faded.

“Oh, I hated them,” he said of the “Bad Boys” in Detroit. “And that hate carries even to this day. They made it personal. They physically beat the [expletive] out of us.”

Detroit’s game plan was simple but brutal — shut down the game’s most explosive player at all costs. Double-teams, hard fouls, and relentless pressure were all part of the blueprint. Chicago’s high-flying superstar was met with elbows, body checks, and every possible measure to wear him down. The Pistons were defending him and punishing him at the same time.

They didn’t receive the “Bad Boys” moniker for nothing, and their strategy worked. The Bulls lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 1988 and fell short in the conference finals in 1989 and 1990.

In 1989, they even had a 2-1 series lead before watching it slip away.

Jordan put up historic performances, but it wasn’t enough. The Pistons were stronger, deeper, and more experienced in closing out tight games.

By the end of that grueling stretch, it was clear that if “Mr. Air” wanted to win a championship, he had to do more than just outscore his opponents. He had to withstand the physicality and impose his own dominance.

In the summer of 1990, instead of sulking over another playoff exit, he turned his frustration into fuel. He dedicated himself to building a stronger, more resilient body, adding muscle to withstand the relentless hits he had been taking.

He worked closely with his trainer, Tim Grover, putting in relentless hours in the weight room. By the time the 1990-91 season tipped off, he was one the most skilled players in the league — as well as one of the strongest.

Related: Dominique Wilkins recalls his first matchup against Michael Jordan in college: “I didn’t know he was going to be that good”

Sweet revenge

The 1991 Eastern Conference finals marked the ultimate turning point. Unlike previous years, this time, the Bulls weren’t backing down. Jordan, now stronger and more battle-tested, led his team to a resounding 4-0 sweep of the Pistons.

Detroit had no answer for this new version of Chicago. With Scottie Pippen emerging as a two-way star and the Bulls’ supporting cast playing at a high level, the Pistons were left scrambling. The series wasn’t even close.

As the final seconds ticked away in Game 4, instead of accepting defeat with grace, the Pistons did something that would further build the rivalry. They walked off the court without shaking hands, refusing to acknowledge their rivals’ triumph. It didn’t matter to the Bulls legend as he didn’t need validation from his longtime tormentors.

“But they didn’t have to shake our hands,” MJ said. “We knew we whipped their [expletive] already, we’d gotten past them, and that, to me, that was better in some ways than winning a championship.”

He would go on to win the championship just weeks later. In the 1991 NBA Finals, Jordan and the Bulls took down the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, capturing the first of six titles and defining their dominance throughout the decade.

That 1991 victory over Detroit carried a special weight for all the trophies and accolades that followed. Jordan overcame the one team that had kept him from greatness. In the Finals, he faced and defeated his longtime hero, Magic Johnson.

Related: “We all got damage in our closets” – MJ once shared why he was never interested in chasing a position in politics