Having done law at LSE, Vijievan transitioned into the world of sports journalism through a fast-track diploma course with the Press Association. After completing that, he did an internship at 90min, before joining the Snack Media team on a full-time basis.
Initially starting off as a writer for FootballFanCast, Vijievan became assistant editor of the site and weekend editor of This is Futbol. After a few years working across both sites, he took up the role of assistant editor to the exclusives project at GiveMeSport, speaking to a number of top journalists like Fabrizio Romano and Christian Falk on the latest transfer news across European football.
Now taking on the role of evergreen editor, Vijievan is responsible for longer-form content based on everything from the Premier League to international football. Outside of that, he’s also passionate about cricket and the NBA.
So, when it comes to assessing the mentality of NBA players, there is no-one better placed than Jordan to pass his verdict.
Well, Jordan opened up on the NBA star who he felt his Bulls teammate Dennis Rodman got into his head in particular, stating that he needed to learn some more about the intricacies and psychological side of things.
Michael Jordan Revealed Dennis Rodman Got Under NBA Rival’s Skin
Given the kind of winning culture that Jordan helped build with the Chicago Bulls, it’s no surprise that players had to take responsibility and be mentally strong to deal with the pressures and expectations that came with playing with one of basketball’s greats and for a yearly championship contender too.
Aside from Jordan, the likes of Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen ensured there was never a shortage of leadership or big personality in the Bulls’ locker room, and while there may have been clashes in terms of their characters meshing with each other, they all found a way to deal with it in order for the betterment of the team.
Of course, our guy Dennis Rodman can be irritating. But he used to guard me when he was with Detroit, and I didn’t let him get to me. I didn’t get irritated by any of the Pistons, because that was their tactic, to get into your head.
But while Jordan admitted that Rodman was “irritating” he did confirm that he didn’t let anyone affect him mentally – something he couldn’t say the same of for one of his big rivals and NBA star during the 1990s.
Dennis gets into Alonzo Mourning’s head now. Alonzo’s weak in the mind. He has to know how to be tough and overlook those types of things. Alonzo’s an intimidator, but sometimes the intimidator can be intimidated. The bully can be bullied.
Jordan’s words on Alonzo Mourning being “weak in the mind” certainly seem strong and somewhat personal, but it comes from a point of trying to analyse the finer points of the game and the details that sometimes get overlooked when it comes to conversations of being the best player you can possibly be.
For all of Mourning’s talents, Jordan clearly felt he didn’t handle it well when someone tried to ruffle his feathers, with the Miami Heat star often being provoked into a reaction or getting distracted from playing his own dominating game at center.
Michael Jordan Rated Alonzo Mourning Even Higher Than Shaquille O’Neal
Despite the criticism Jordan directed Mourning’s way, he also paid him a huge compliment too and regarded him as one of the best centers at the time.
Alonzo Mourning is one of the underrated young players. I think Shaquille O’Neal; I’m not saying he’s not going to be a great player. I’m just saying the focus was taken away from Alonzo Mourning.
Certainly, I think he can just be as good (as O’Neal), because of his fundamental skills and I think he is a little bit ahead of Shaquille O’Neal. From a physical specimen ability, Shaquille is better than he is,
A legend with the Miami Heat, Mourning would win his one and only NBA championship while in his second spell with the franchise, lifting the title at the end of the 2006 season alongside the likes of Dwyane Wade. Mourning’s best year in the league, however, – from an individual perspective at least – came when he was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1999, after a season that saw him named to the All-Star team, lead the league in blocks, be a part of the All-Defensive First Team as well as win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Indeed, Mourning would achieve those trio of defensive achievements just a year later, and when you consider just how much of an interior force he became in those last two years of the 1990s, you can tell that he arguably grew from the person and character that he was when Jordan faced off against him and said he didn’t have the strength of mind to deal with certain opposition players.
Mourning developed into one of the NBA’s best centers of his generation, and it is a testament to his ability that he can claim that accolade given the sheer strength of his peers at the time. From Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks to David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA was loaded with some of the game’s all-time greats at the position, and Mourning can absolutely count himself as one of them too.
