Michael Jordan, often hailed as the greatest basketball player of all time, once displayed his extraordinary talent by casually sinking a free throw with his eyes closed. Known for his no-nonsense style of play, Jordan was virtually unstoppable throughout his illustrious career. He clinched six NBA championships in two stints with the Chicago Bulls, earning the NBA Finals MVP title on all six occasions, including three consecutive triumphs twice.
Amid his relentless pursuit of success, Jordan also exhibited a playful side, as demonstrated by his memorable no-look free throw during a game against the Denver Nuggets in 1991, where he tallied an impressive 37 points. Despite his stellar performance, Jordan failed to dunk over then-rookie Dikembe Mutombo.
In a revealing interview with Pete Holmes in 2014, Mutombo disclosed that Jordan’s no-look free throw was an attempt to mock him. Their rivalry persisted into Jordan’s second tenure post his brief retirement.
Footage captured Jordan engaging in banter with Mutombo in the Eastern Conference team’s locker room before the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. During their exchange, Mutombo questioned if Jordan had ever dunked on him, to which Jordan coyly replied, “Don’t even try it,” acknowledging that he hadn’t dunked on Mutombo “recently,” much to the Hawks player’s chagrin.
Subsequently, Jordan made it a point to dunk on Mutombo during their next encounter, ensuring that the center was acutely aware of the feat. Following his sixth NBA championship win with the Bulls in 1998, Jordan retired for the second time, only to return to the court in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards, leaving behind an indelible legacy in the annals of basketball history.
