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When Michael Jordan scored 56 points in the NBA Playoffs after playing golf in the morning
Michael Jordan is as unique as basketball players come. Not many athletes can say they played a full game of golf in the morning and then scraped together 56 points during an NBA Playoff game that night. But Michael Jordan did it, providing one more example of how he was truly gifted on the court.
Hard lessons for a rookie wingman
Steve Smith knew he was in for a rough time defending Jordan. A rookie standout by way of Michigan State, Smith had held his own in his rookie year, averaging 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game en route to claiming All-Rookie Team honors.
He also helped Miami snatch the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. However, the reward for such a feat was a first-round match-up against Jordan and the top-ranked Bulls. Smith relayed that he and the Heat did a good of containing His Airness in the game's early goings.
"My rookie year, we make the playoffs, and we were the eighth seed playing Chicago. It was only a best-of-five then. He didn't score in the first 10 minutes. Glen (Rice), myself, we were talking and going at it with him. We were up one, or they were up one, it was close," said Smith.
As many had learned the hard way, talking trash to Jordan never ends well. Smith recalled how, as the game progressed, Jordan gradually wore away at Miami's defense.
"This man scored 54 points, a lot of it on me, the next three quarters and ended up with 56," Smith added.
Adding insult to injury
As if getting hung for 56 points wasn't enough, Jordan added insult to injury as Smith later learned that the former played a round or two of golf on one of Miami's courses.
"And the rumor was that he played 36 holes of golf earlier in the day, which hurt my feelings. I don't know if he played 36 holes or if he played 18. But still, whatever it was, it hurt my feelings that he played golf and he came out and scored 56 for a win," Smith said.
