Michael Jordan waited at New York nightclub for 1 hour during failed recruitment of Jayson Williams to Bulls in 1995: ‘He was all over me’

NBA icon Michael Jordan waited at a New York nightclub for one hour during his failed recruitment of Jayson Williams to the Chicago Bulls in 1995.

Williams was a free agent during the summer of 1995 and Jordan wanted the big man to join the Bulls. 

“He told me all he needs is for me to rebound and he’ll get me two or three rings,” Williams said in 1995. “He was all over me. He said I was at the top of his list. He said, ‘I had to come all the way to your neighborhood to find you.'”

Williams wound up re-signing with the New Jersey Nets, while Jordan’s Bulls acquired Dennis Rodman from the San Antonio Spurs. 

A one-time All-Star, Williams never won a championship during his NBA career. That wouldn’t have been the case had he joined Jordan and the Bulls in 1995. 

Chicago won three straight championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Jordan and Co. beat the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals and the Utah Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals. 

One of the greatest dynasties in sports history, the Bulls won six titles during the Jordan era. Chicago went undefeated (6-0) in the NBA Finals and three-peated twice. 

Jordan had two stints with the Bulls. He finished his Chicago career with stellar averages of 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.9 blocks while winning six rings, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, three steals titles and 10 scoring titles. 

Jordan played two seasons with the Washington Wizards in 2001-02 and 2002-03 before retiring from the NBA for good. The UNC product finished his legendary career with averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in 1,072 games with the Bulls and Wizards. 

A 14-time All-Star, Jordan is first in NBA history in points per game in the regular season and postseason. He also holds the record for most points scored (63) in a playoff game.