Michael Jordan joins the Charlotte Bobcats in a practice session – NBA Update
On Thursday night, the Charlotte Bobcats finally got an idea what it feels like playing in the company of the iconic Michael Jordan.
Running short of players for the practice due to an injury stricken roster, the Bobcats got the surprise of their life when the greatest of all times, himself, decided to suit up for the practice.
The Hall of Famer who became a full fledge Bobcats owner last year, has been spending more time at practices and shootouts off late.
While has been giving it a game ago recently, this was the first time he ran in a full-court scrimmage against the Bobcats. The living legend of the game, who turns 48 next week wasn’t shy to showcase some of his high-reel moves,
that propelled him into becoming a six-time NBA champion.
"He's Mike. He's been kicking our (butts). He still has it," forward Gerald Wallace said. "He doesn't have this quickness, but he can score, he's a shooter. The last thing to ever go is your jump shot and he has that."
Jordan, who didn't speak to reporters after the practice ended, grasped the floor sporting an orange jersey. But, despite the fact, that Jordan is their boss, the Bobcats were not intimidated and didn’t back down from any challenge
he issued them.
Gerald Wallace for one was especially animated throughout the course of the practice. He made sure that Jordan gets a feel of a real game, as he took upon himself to point out to everyone “he’s on third string – he’s on the third
team”. He and his team mates ensured that Johnson had to fight for everything he could get on the court.
"We don't treat him like no quarterback out here," Wallace laughed. "We hit him."
After making it to the playoff for the first time in the nascent history of the franchise last season, the Bobcats got off a horror 9-19 start to the season, leading Jordan to fire the veteran coach Larry Brown.
Since then the new interim coach Paul Silas has breathed life in the Bobcats campaign as they have climbed back into playoff contention.
Jordan’s intervention certainly lightened up the atmosphere after the Bobcats lost a one point thriller against the Indiana Pacers last night – a defeat that left them a game behind the Pacers for the final postseason spot in the
Eastern Conference.
Silas admitted that he loved the fact that Jordan appeared on the court as it raised the spirits of his team.
"He's holding these guys accountable and it's great. I love him out here," coach Paul Silas said. "He's teaching them how to protect the basketball, how to play hard on defence, how to talk. It's a good thing. The guys work a little
bit harder when he's out here and rightly so because he's working hard. You're not going to let him do a job on you if you've got any pride."
However the coach was quick to add that age might be catching up with Jordan, who sat in a chair with ice bags strapped to both knees at the end of the workout.
"He can still shoot the basketball unbelievable and he can move well. But at his age, he couldn't do it for a long period of time," Silas said, smiling. "But short period of time, he can get it done, yeah."
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