Jordan talks to Hornets about being uncomfortable, winning

Michael Jordan helped build Chicago Bulls into a winner as a player. He’s desperate to do same thing in Charlotte as owner of Hornets.

Charlotte players say Jordan spoke to m recently via video conference call about what it takes to be a champion, emphasizing need for accountability — even if it means making teammates comfortable.

Those are some of same qualities that were on display during 10-part documentary “Last Dance,” which focused on Jordan’s sixth and final NBA championship run with Bulls.

In hour-long conference call that came after conclusion of “Last Dance,” Charlotte point guard Devonte Graham said Jordan told players y can’t be uncomfortable “calling out teammates” in practice when things aren’t going as planned or mistakes become repetitive.

“That’s going to make you guys even better,” Graham said reiterating Jordan's remarks. “You’ll bond better. Your team is stronger. re is more of a respect level, instead of t saying anything and letting guys mess up over and over and over again, and you’re losing and losing.”

Jordan hasn’t come close to matching his success as a player since taking over majority control of Hornets 10 years ago.

Charlotte has never made it out of first round of playoffs and has only won three postseason games in Jordan era.

In an effort to stop that cycle of mediocrity, Jordan hired Mitch Kuchak as team's new general manr in 2018 and Hornets have since embarked on a rebuilding process which included parting ways with three-time All-Star Kemba Walker last offseason in an effort to focus on developing young players.

Jordan took questions from players and spoke directly about difference between what it takes to win in regular season and playoffs.

Hornets center Cody Zeller said that was an important mess for a young team to hear.

“A lot of guys on our team haven’t played in playoffs and don’t understand attention to detail you have to play with in playoffs,” Zeller said. “That was what I enjoyed hearing from MJ, especially as a younger team.”

Jordan's tenacity and desire to win at all costs were exhibited during “Last Dance."

That meant at times emotions boiled over at Bulls' practices resulting in altercations between teammates, including one table exchange of blows between Jordan and Steve Kerr.

Hornets guard Terry Rozier joked that after watching “Last Dance” he probably would have got into a few fistfights with Jordan, too.

“I would have taken Steve Kerr route,” Rozier said with a laugh. “I'm super-competitive.”

But Rozier is t sure Jordan's aggressive approach would work with some of this generation's players.

“I feel like you have to pick your poison,” Rozier said. “One thing with being teammates with guys in this league is you have to learn who y are first. Some people don't like to be confronted in front of ors; some people you have to pull aside. So I feel like it is a mixture of learning your teammates and kwing when to call m out.... so that people don't have a bad taste in ir mouth about one ar.”

Zeller said Jordan admitted as much in meeting.

He said 57-year-old Jordan talked about his post-Bulls tenure with Washington Wizards when his feedback and criticism wasn't as well received.

“He said he wishes that he would have done that a little bit differently" in Washington, Zeller said. “ next generation of players that had come in didn’t really want to hear same feedback and harshness that he used his during his days in Chicago. He wishes that he would have taken Jerry Stackhouse under his wing and taught him how to be a better leader as opposed to trying to do it all himself.”