During the ‘90s, NBA fans who opposed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls ’ reign frequently questioned why referees appeared to turn a blind eye to fouls committed by His Airness.
John Paxson , a three-time NBA Champ alongside Jordan, made an interesting revelation on this matter, which only highlighted that the NBA was primarily a business-driven league. According to him, the league ensured that fans, who paid hefty prices to watch superstars in action, received special treatment for their investment.
Paxson on how the supervisor of officials treated MJ
In his interview with The Athletic from 2017, Pax disclosed an interesting insight into a conversation the Bulls players had with the former NBA supervisor of officials - Darrell Garretson.
He recounted how Garretson used him as a case study to illustrate why refs would call fouls on opposing players but not the six-time Finals MVP to ensure the fans’ satisfaction and uphold the excitement of watching MJ play.
"He told us, 'Look, we all know the fans are here to see the great players like Michael Jordan, so if there's a play where Jordan and Paxson are together, and there's a foul and Jordan smacked the guy on the arm, I'm giving the foul to Paxson because the fans don't want to see Jordan foul out of the game,'" Paxson said as quoted by Sportscasting . "So, I knew where I stood. But that didn't make me feel any better."
The NBA has always given a helping hand to its stars
Such disclosures definitely raise concerns, particularly in light of significant moments like Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Bulls and the Utah Jazz. With just 5 seconds on the clock, speculations swirled about whether Jordan tripped John Stockton to create an opportunity for his teammate - Steve Kerr’s uncontested jumper.
That being said, while revelations like these raise concerns about the NBA’s commitment to fairness and equality among its players, it’s important to recognize that such bias wasn’t only exclusive to Jordan.
Even in the modern-day game, plenty of superstars who consistently deliver high-scoring performances are sensed to be receiving preferential calls consistently. While it’s unfortunate that not all players are officiated equally, this issue extends beyond MJ’s era and only underscores broader challenges within the NBA that stretch even into today's day and age.
Related: "Coach Smith used to get mad at me because I would be working out on off days" - Rookie Michael Jordan shut down burnout chatter
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