"Every single time that we eliminated them, Mike found me, shook my hand" - Joe Dumars says it’s a myth Michael Jordan never showed sportsmanship

The news challenges the popular narrative that Michael Jordan lacked sportsmanship towards the Detroit Pistons after playoff defeats, specifically referencing the infamous 1991 walk-off. Joe Dumars, a key player for the Pistons "Bad Boys" era, reveals a different reality.

Dumars recounts that despite the intense rivalry and the Pistons eliminating Jordan's Chicago Bulls in three consecutive playoff series between 1988 and 1990, Jordan consistently demonstrated respect privately. Dumars states that after each of those Bulls eliminations, "every single time... Mike found me, shook my hand and just whispered to me, 'Tough battle, great battle Joe, good luck in the final.'"

This gesture, described as subtle and not for the cameras, occurred consistently – after the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals and the 1989 and 1990 Eastern Conference finals. It happened even though Jordan endured significant physical and mental strain from the Pistons' aggressive "Jordan Rules" defense during those losses.

Dumars' account reframes the relationship, suggesting the Pistons' "villainy" and Jordan's competitiveness were not one-dimensional, and that Jordan's sportsmanship existed beneath the surface rivalry. The media narrative often emphasized immense hatred, but Dumars highlights the underlying respect.

The news notes that the 1991 Eastern Conference finals walk-off, where most Pistons left the bench without shaking hands after being swept by the Bulls (who then won their first championship), solidified the public perception of bad blood and Detroit's "villain legacy," contrasting sharply with the private interactions Dumars describes from previous years.