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Michael Jordan And Steve Kerr Share Details About Their Infamous Fight: “I Just Haul Off And Hit Him Right In The F*cking Eye”

Steve Kerr joined the Chicago Bulls in 1993 but he didn’t become teammates with Michael Jordan until Jordan returned in 1995. Both players have enjoyed an illustrious championship runs together, winning three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998.

Kerr was a well-known sharpshooter throughout his career. He left his mark in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals, when he hit a game-winning shot off Jordan’s assist who instructed him to take the last shot. But apart from this on-court connection, Jordan and Kerr are also famous for a fighting incident prior to the 1996 NBA season.

In the teaser of ‘The Last Dance’s’ next episodes, Jordan and Kerr can be seen sharing the details of how their infamous practice brawl went down.

“So one day at practice, Phil [Jackson] puts Steve Kerr guarding me,” Jordan said.

“We’re on opposite sides of the scrimmage, and he’s talking all kinds of trash, and I’m pissed because we’re getting our ass kicked,” Kerr retorted.

“Phil sensed my aggression, but he was trying to tone me down, and he starts calling these ticky-tack fouls,” Jordan said. “Now I’m getting mad, because for you to be protecting this guy, that’s not going to help us when we play New York. That’s not going to help us when we play these teams that are very physical.

“The next time he did it, I just haul off on Kerr. When I foul Steve Kerr, I said, ‘Now, that’s a f—–g foul.’ “

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Although Jordan has a reputation for the harsh treatment of his teammates, Kerr has a high level of patience and tolerance not to engage up to a certain point:

“I have a lot of patience as a human being, but I tend to snap at some point because I’m extremely competitive, too,” Kerr said. “I’m just not really good enough to back it up, usually. But I’m going to fight.”

But it was enough for Kerr, who escalated in a heated exchange between him and Jordan, leading to Jordan eventually getting thrown out of practice.

“He hauls off and hits me in the chest, and I just haul off and hit him right in the f—–g eye,” Jordan said. “And Phil just throws me out of practice.”

These type of incidents between teammates are probably unusual and could be regarded as bad camaraderie. But for Steve Kerr, this incident is what led him and Jordan to respecting each other. Thus, helping their relationship grow.