© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Jordan explains why his confidence is off the charts when it comes to hitting game-winning shots
Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was the epitome of cool under pressure. When the game was on the line, His Airness exuded an aura of invincibility and had the confidence to make the play that would decide the game. Jordan once peeled back the curtain on his mentality and explained why he could stay so calm in those clutch moments.
Unwavering confidence
Jordan said that other players are afraid of the moment because, deep down, they already had doubts that they could come through.
"Those guys, when it gets stripped down, don't believe in themselves. They aren't sure they can hit the big shot, so they can't. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy," Jordan shared.
The six-time NBA champion wanted to make it clear that he was anything but fearful. It was a confidence born out of endless hours mastering the fundamentals and working on his game.
"If you have doubt or concern about a shot or feel the 'pressure' of that shot, it's because you haven't practiced it enough. The only way to relieve that pressure is to build your fundamentals, practice them over and over, so when the game breaks down, you can handle anything that transpires," Jordan added.
No conscience
Another aspect of Jordan's mental approach was a lack of conscience during a game. His longtime teammate, B.J. Armstrong, shared that the five-time MVP had such a short memory that he was ready to take the next shot right away.
"Michael just didn't have a memory. He had the shortest memory of anyone I've ever seen. Whether he made the shot or missed the shot, he had already moved on to the next play. He had an amazing capacity to just be in the moment," said Armstrong.
