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When Michael Jordan publicly called out Ty Lue during a Wizards scrimmage

Jul 29, 2026, 12:00 PM CUT

Michael Jordan's return in 2001 was a big celebration for NBA fans. However, it also proved to be a nightmare for the Washington Wizards scrimmage, which included now-LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.

In September 2001, Jordan announced his return to the NBA as a part of the Wizards' roster. Jordan's intensity overtook Wizards' training camp, and at one point, Lue found himself at the receiving end of the NBA legend's wrath.

“What are you doin’ runnin’ around? Get me the ball, get set, catch my pass and shoot,” Jordan told Lue in anger as Michael Leahy recalled in his book, When Nothing Else Matters. “I don’t give a f*** how far out you are. Shoot out there. If you’re open, don’t be drivin’ down in the lane and gettin’ that s*** swatted away. Shoot!”

NASCAR Teambesitzer MICHAEL JORDAN beobachtet das Training seiner Teams während des NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race auf dem Phönix Raceway in Avondale, AZ, Avondale, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika, Nordamerika NASCAR team owner, MICHAEL JORDAN, watches his teams practice during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, AZ, Avondale, United States of America Copyright: imageBROKER/StephenxArce/Grindst ibxiqx12960019.jpg Bitte beachten Sie die gesetzlichen Bestimmungen des deutschen Urheberrechtes hinsichtlich der Namensnennung des Fotografen im direkten Umfeld der Veröffentlichung

Jordan was upset with Lue not positioning himself to receive his pass. He wanted Lue to shoot long jumpers.

According to Leahy in When Nothing Else Matters, Jordan also chided Lue for not throwing him a pass down low near the basket, which was Jordan’s favorite place on offense.

Whether it was specifically Jordan's intensity that helped is unclear, but Lue thrived that season. He averaged a career-high 7.8 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 44.7% from the 3-point line.

But Jordan snapping at Lue was just a small story from that scrimmage. The Bulls legend's humiliation of Kwame Brown was what made the camp it infamy notorious headline.

The time 38-year-old Michael Jordan humiliated No. 1 pick at the same scrimmage

Even before training camp, Jordan had built rapport with Kwame Brown, the No. 1 pick that season. The Wizards ‌selected him out of high school in the 2001 NBA Draft. MJ thought Brown had talent.

However, Jordan quickly learned that the NBA protégé could be quite cocky and at times, disrespectful. After Brown kept asking him for a one-on-one game, Jordan finally decided to teach him a lesson. He agreed to the game.

According to Leahy, Brown thought he would beat a man twice his age and shorter in height.

“You reach, I’ll teach,” he told ‌Jordan, who snapped and said, “You teach, and I’ll knock you on your d*** a**.”

In the next few minutes, Jordan humiliated Brown. He scored while he mocked him. The NBA legend didn’t even offer Brown a hand when the rookie fell to the floor.

When he was done humiliating Brown, Jordan made sure the rookie recognized who had beaten him.

You better call me 'Daddy,' (Expletive),” he yelled at Brown.

The 2001 camp cemented Jordan's legend for ruthless competition.

Brown never had a stable career. In 12 years in the NBA, he played with 7 teams and averaged 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, according to Basketball Reference. The Wizards traded him to the Lakers after three seasons.

What is your favorite Michael Jordan story? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit