“The Last Dance” documentary series is fast becoming one of the greatest in sports history. Not a surprise when Michael Jordan and the iconic Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990s are the subject. So many emotional and thrilling moments have been covered. However, the series is also not without its fair share of hilarity. Take the story of LaBradford Smith for example.
Most young basketball fans probably have no idea who he is. Smith was the 19th overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft by the then-Washington Bullets. An athletic guard with a solid jump shot. He had a quiet rookie season but found himself on a collision course with destiny during his second. It happened on a non-description regular season visit to Chicago Stadium in 1993 against the Bulls.
Smith, to the shock of everybody, played the game of his life. Despite losing 104-99, he poured in 37 points. Jordan had 25 that night, but shot an ugly 9-of-27 from the field. Despite winning the game, a lot of the attention was on Smith after the game.
This is where the story gets great.
A rumor soon leaked out that the second-year guard went to Jordan after the final buzzer and said, “Nice game, Mike.” Anybody who knows the history of M.J. understands he’s the most competitive human being that has ever existed. Teammate B.J. Armstrong said during the documentary that Jordan went to him before the rematch in Washington the next night that he was going to have as many points in the first half as Smith had the entire game the night before.
Jordan had 36 points by halftime. Chicago crushed the Bullets 126-101.
LaBradford Smith was a victim of Jordan’s insane drive
Not long after that game, it was revealed that the story of Smith’s comments weren’t true. Jordan had fabricated the entire story. He’d constructed that entire narrative inside his own head to get himself up and motivated for the next game. This is how insane Jordan was. He would look for anything possible to get his competitive juices flowing. Once he found it, doom wasn’t far behind.
That game by Smith proved to be his career highlight. He lasted just one more season in the NBA before going on to play semi-pro in other leagues and over in Europe as well. Most people remember him today for being one of the many unfortunate victims of Jordan’s relentless drive to be the best ever.
