Great Opponents | MJ Mondays

Great opponents bring the best out of us. They push us harder and farther than we can push ourselves. They force us to rise to the occasion. It is important to appreciate and respect our opponents because they push us to be the best that we can be.

COMPETITION REVEALS THE GREATNESS THAT IS ALREADY WITHIN YOU.

When Michael Jordan came into the NBA, there was a lot of competition and several great rivalries. Magic Johnson and the Lakers were going at Larry Bird and the Celtics. Dr. J and Philadelphia were competing for championships against the Lakers and Celtics, and Isaiah Thomas and the Pistons were just getting started.

Michael Jordan and the Bulls had to claw and fight their way to the top of the league just like all of the other greats before them and like all of the greats they were competing against. The competition that Jordan faced beat him and beat him up early, but they made him stronger and better. Michael said that the mentality of the leaders of the Chicago Bulls when they finally made it to the top, starting with their head coach Phil Jackson was, "Let's find a way to stay up top. That means we have to go the extra mile. We have to go a little harder, and we have to go a little longer."

The best part of competing is that it pushes us to discover what we are capable of. Great competition shows us that we can do more than we ever believed possible.

Competitors use their setbacks to set up their biggest comebacks.

Michael Jordan once said, "You have to compete every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that. When he was asked, "Who were some of the guys you enjoyed competing with the most?" Jordan responded, "All of the best. Bird, Magic, Patrick, and whoever was considered an elite player I enjoyed playing against them because they pushed me as a basketball player."

Your opponents and competition should be respected. Your opponents are like a big test in school. Your teacher and homework are like practice. Everything comes together when you play against your rival, and you want to be ready for those big moments. To make sure that you are ready, you have to make sure that you are working hard and getting better for those moments in practice, and make sure that you respect your opponents because great opponents help you improve and take your game to a different level by forcing you to work harder, work longer, and stay more focused and engaged.