The New Orleans Pelicans have been watching The Last Dance just like the rest of us and forward Darius Miller thinks it can change the team’s mentality.
If the New Orleans Pelicans are smart, they’ll be treating The Last Dance like summer school because there is plenty they can learn.
Episodes seven and eight of the ten-part Michael Jordan documentary were the most poignant, as they dealt with the murder of Jordan’s father and his subsequent decision to retire to play baseball.
Jordan overcame personal catastrophes, the overzealous media and his own depression to return to the game, and when he finally won his fourth title, he collapsed in a weeping heap, completely losing it in ways that we rarely ever saw from MJ.
Young players must have been watching this and thinking “is this what it takes to be the best ever?”
The answer is yes, which wasn’t lost on New Orleans Pelicans’ forward Darius Miller, who thinks the mentality of certain players could shift after watching what Jordan went through to win titles and be considered the best ever.
On a recent episode of the New Orleans Pelicans Podcast, Miller was asked how he thought The Last Dance could impact a player’s mentality.
Miller said:
"“Yeah, for the ones that want to be great. That’s a very different mindset that you have to have to be a guy like (Michael) Jordan. But I think it’s great for the young guys and even the older guys, I mean I remember Jordan but just seeing it again reminds you of how great a player he was. Like the difference between the games and everything like that. I definitely think it’s great for young players to be watching this right now – and older players too.”"
Miller is right. There is plenty to glean by watching the way Jordan goes about his business.
One thing that should stick out, particularly for young players, is Jordan’s competitive spirit, which never slacked.
He didn’t go easy on anyone, including teammates or himself. He worked as hard as possible and expected everyone else to do the same. Jordan expected perfection.
While he was harsh at times, especially to young players like Scott Burrell or Steve Kerr, Jordan’s teammates couldn’t help but respect his work ethic, his drive, his nearly psychotic desire to win and they followed him into war each time.
Jordan never goofed around in practice, took a play off or lost sight of his goals. He had a relentless mentality that few players possess, but will need if they want to be great.
The New Orleans Pelicans and other young teams should be struck by the level of effort required to be great and the mental focus it takes to get there.
Hopefully they will pick up some of this mentality from watching The Last Dance.