(Ep002) 3-Time NBA Champion Jud Buechler on What it Was Like When Michael Jordan Returned to the Chicago Bulls and Why Scottie Pippen & Steve Kerr Were Such Great Teammates
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Phil Jackson got all the media attention during the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat, but role players were crucial to their success. While Jordan was still on his baseball hiatus, the Bulls signed small forward Jud Buechler, who’d previously shown what we now call “3 and D” skills with the Warriors, Spurs and Nets.
The following March, Jordan sent the basketball universe into a frenzy with just two words: “I’m back.” In this episode of Basketball Strong, Jud shares the inside story of the three championships that followed, what it was like in those intense Bulls practices after Jordan’s return, and why he appreciated the tough love and leadership of His Airness. We also rewind to discuss Jud’s college days with Lute Olsen’s expert tutelage, what he learned as a multi-sport athlete, and the unsurpassed work ethic that earned him a 12-year NBA career.
In this episode, you’ll hear Jud share:
Which core values he learned from Arizona Hall of Fame coach Lute Olsen
How fellow Wildcat Steve Kerr mentored him through his NBA journey
What happened in Michael Jordan’s first practice with the Bulls after he came out of retirement
When he decided to choose between volleyball and basketball
Who his favorite teammates were and what he gleaned from Tex Winter, who invented the Triangle Offense
