Sit the fu*k down; I got this” – When Michael Jordan told Phil Jackson not to call a timeout after getting hit on a three-point play
In his appearance on the “No nonsense” podcast hosted by Scoop B and Tim Thomas, Xavier McDaniel talked about going up against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls when he played for the New York Knicks. McDaniel said that one of the most iconic MJ moments he saw firsthand was when “His Airness” told his coach Phil Jackson to sit down and stopped him from calling a timeout.
“I remember that game he told Phil Jackson, ‘Sit your ass down!’ And he hit a three pointer on us. I think it was either Starks who poked him on his stomach a little bit but I don’t think it was a serious foul that stopped him from shooting but they called it and he got a three point play. Phil was trying to call a timeout and Mike said ‘No shut the f*ck up, I got this.’ How many players in the league can do that outside of him and Magic? Not many can do that,” McDaniel said.
MJ always had the green light
Jordan didn’t want Jackson to call a timeout at that moment because the six-time champion had it going and didn’t want to break his rhythm. McDaniel didn’t specify exactly what game this happened in, but it occurred in the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals. That series went as far as seven games, and X-Man recalls how confident Mike was when he knew it was time to take over the game.
“Mike is going to get going, trust me. He gets going, and you know that. He knows, like you and me, you gotta look over your shoulder sometimes right if you take a [bad] shot. Mike ain’t never looking at his shoulder,” McDaniels added.
