© VJ Lovero-USA TODAY NETWORK
Scott Williams described the vibe around the Chicago Bulls when Michael Jordan retired
Scott Williams has been around enough championship celebrations to also know what the opposite of it feels like. As a rotation player for the early 90s Bulls squad that completed the first "three-peat," Williams remembered the atmosphere around the team after Michael Jordan retired from basketball in 1993.
Like somebody died
The date was October 6, 1993, and the venue was the Bulls' practice facility in Deerfield, Illinois. A press conference was organized, and there, a 30-year-old Jordan announced that he was retiring from the game of basketball, citing the loss of motivation to prove anything more. His Airness had a point. After all, the Bulls were coming off a third straight NBA title, and Jordan had racked up every individual award imaginable.
For Williams, he shared that Jerry Reinsdorf had briefed the team about the situation and said it was time for a celebration. Williams and the rest of the Bulls felt otherwise.
"You look at the players' faces - it was like a funeral. Ain't nobody celebrating his retirement," said Williams.
Opportunity to prove themselves
Jordan's presence cast a huge shadow over the team, and his departure presented an opportunity for other players to prove their worth. In his absence, several players stepped up and showed the rest of the league what they were truly capable of. Leading the charge was, of course, the Robin to Jordan's Batman—Scottie Pippen.
Already a formidable star, Pippen took his game to a whole new level and emerged as one of the NBA's most dominant players. He won the All-Star Game MVP and was a contender for both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Horace Grant and BJ Armstrong also took on bigger roles and shined in the spotlight.
The Bulls went on to make it to the Eastern Conference semifinals, ultimately falling short against the New York Knicks.
