John Calipari recalls Michael Jordan calling shot on Kerry Kittles in playoffs

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The story of George Karl riling up Michael Jordan by ignoring him at a restaurant told  in “The Last Dance” reminded John Calipari of his own days sparring with Jordan at the NBA level.

Calipari coached the New Jersey Nets for three seasons, including the Bulls’ last dance campaign of 1997-98. The Bulls and Nets squared off in the first round of the playoffs that year, and though the Nets played the Bulls closer than many expected, Jordan averaged 36.3 points per game across a three-game sweep.

In that series, Calipari did all he could to avoid being the victim of a tale like Karl’s. But, as he recalled on an episode of ESPN’s “Coffee With Cal,” it was already too late.

“For me, when he came up to me and we’re in a timeout, I ain’t saying s**t to this guy, there’s not a word I’m saying,” Calipari said on the show. “And when I walked (away) and he followed me, I’m not saying anything. So I turn around and I look at (Nets assistant coach) Kenny Gattison, and I said, ‘Is he still there?’ Because, again, if you made this dude mad. I mean…”

Jordan was indeed still standing behind Calipari, staring daggers into his back. And he had a message.

“He looked at me… And went like that (makes ‘0’ sign with hand),” Calipari continued. “And I look away from him, and I look at Kenny Gatt and I say, ‘Is he looking at me?’ So I look back up at him, and he went like that (makes ‘0’ sign). And I go, ‘Kenny, what’s he talking about?’ (Kenny said) ‘I don’t think he’s gonna let Kerry Kittles score.”

Gattison’s instincts were correct. 

“He went from not guarding you to saying, ‘I’m shutting it,’” Calipari said. “The dude had something special inside of him on both sides of the ball.”

Kittles had a fine enough series overall, but in Game 1 he scored 10 points on 3-for-17 shooting. Of his 14 missed shots, eight came in the second half without a make. The Bulls won 96-93 in overtime.

Calipari then set the table Kittles — who was on the panel for the show along with former Nets Sam Cassell, Keith Van Horn and Sherman Douglas — to offer his perspective on the matchup.

“He was Michael. He had the ability to flip the switch whenever he wanted on either side of the court,” Kittles said. “I caught the brunt of it as a young player in the league, where I had it going one night in the first half, and then he switched on me in the second half and I don’t think I scored a bucket in the second half. That was Michael in a nutshell.”

Kittles and Cal were not Jordan’s first victims, nor were they his last (see: B.J. Armstrong in the next round). All in a day’s work. 

RELATED: Why George Karl snubbed Michael Jordan at restaurant during 1996 NBA Finals

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