Michael Jordan says he is committed to making Charlotte Bobcats playoff contenders – NBA News
Michael Jordan is known not only for his six NBA championships and as perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, but also as a person with an almost unshakable competitive spirit. So when he saw the Charlotte Bobcats, which he owns, finish with the worst win percentage in NBA history last season, no doubt that it was a very frustrating moment for him.
Jordan recently talked about his NBA team, and what he hopes and expects from it in the future, while also giving the assurance that he was in the business for the long haul and would not be leaving any time soon, but rather wants to convert this team into a playoff regular.
"Are we a playoff team? C'mon, we can't expect that. But we need to get the ball rolling in the right direction. I'm not real happy about the record book scenario last year. It's very, very frustrating,” said Jordan on Thursday.
Jordan fired the Bobcats head coach Paul Silas at the end of last season, which started a long and time consuming hunt for a new coach. After interviewing many possible candidates, Jordan decided to hire Mike Dunlap, and says that he is confident the new coach will be able to bring about the change that is required in the organization.
Dunlap has gone back to the basics with the team, relying on a no-nonsense attitude and focusing on the basketball basics as he trains this team back up from the ground. Knowing that he does not have any franchise players on the roster, Dunlap is trying to create a system where everyone contributes and the team plays as a single solid unit.
"For years those steps have been skipped. We don't have a star that can carry the team, so you've got to learn to play together. That is what I love about (Dunlap). He's going to get back to the basics,” said Jordan about Dunlap.
Jordan wants to establish a strong culture within the organization and team which rises above any individual player and makes the Bobcats a potential team for many of the biggest stars in the league of today. The Bobcats added some good talent to the team this past summer, including Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions and Brendan Haywood. Along with the number two draft pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Jordan has a young group to build a team from. And as of now, he is not making any promises or claims about when his team will make the playoffs.
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