"Not so much MJ, he's harder to track" - Luc Longley on why he keeps in touch with old Bulls teammates except for Jordan

Yahoo

04-07-2025

"Not so much MJ, he's harder to track" - Luc Longley on why he keeps in touch with old Bulls teammates except for Jordan originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Many decades have passed since the Chicago Bulls redefined what dominance looked like in basketball. Their dynasty, spanning six championships between 1991 and 1998, became a blueprint for greatness and a benchmark that remains nearly untouched.
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For former towering Australian center Luc Longley, whose presence in the paint often went unnoticed beside the highlight-making stars, those years were more than just a run of titles.
They were a brotherhood, a shared experience under relentless pressure and a bond formed in the heat of competition.
Keeping in touch
As the years stretch on, Longley, now long retired and based in Western Australia, has remained close with several of his old Bulls teammates, forming what he describes as a quiet but enduring circle.
But not with all of them.
'I keep in touch with all of them, Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr, Scottie Pippen,' Longley said. 'Not so much [Michael Jordan], he's harder to track. I think he changes his phone once a week.'
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It's the kind of remark that carries both a chuckle and a trace of honest distance. Michael Jordan, famously private and nearly mythic in stature since his playing days, has long kept the public and many of his peers at arm's length.
While he's been seen courtside at games and delivering speeches during Hall of Fame ceremonies, Jordan remains a rare presence in group reunions or public meet-ups with former Bulls.
Longley's words reflect a truth that even members of that sacred circle face, staying in touch with Jordan is as elusive as trying to defend him in his prime. During their years together, he developed a working relationship with Jordan rooted in mutual respect. While Jordan's intensity was legendary and often overwhelming, Longley held his own, never attempting to match his fire but never shrinking from it either.
The five-time MVP would bark orders in practices, test teammates and set a tone of unwavering competitiveness. Longley, more laid-back by nature, absorbed it without drama. That quiet resilience made him a valued part of the system that Phil Jackson built.
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Related: Michael Jordan shows off his $115 million luxurious superyacht in Croatia
Playing with Jordan
Longley's stats with the Bulls were never flashy — he averaged around nine points, five rebounds and two assists per game — but his role was never measured solely by box scores. He served as a connective piece, a reliable passer from the post and a smart defensive anchor. He blended with Jordan and Scottie Pippen's tempo without disrupting the offensive triangle, which made him a crucial cog in one of the most complex and effective systems in NBA history.
The narrative surrounding Jordan's relationship with former teammates has always been layered. The 2020 documentary, 'The Last Dance,' while widely praised, reopened old wounds for some. Longley, notably, was one of the key players absent from the original cut, despite starting in all three championship seasons during the second three-peat.
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The oversight became a larger conversation about how stories are told and who gets to tell them.
In Australia, where basketball surged during Longley's years in the NBA, the omission was deeply felt. It was later addressed in a two-part ABC special titled 'Luc Longley: One Giant Leap,' where Jordan himself appeared in newly shot interviews, offering overdue praise that the Aussie giant was important to the Bulls.
Even so, the gap between them today feels less personal and more practical. Longley, content in the quiet rhythm of life after basketball, doesn't seek the spotlight. Jordan, who is a global figure, is often surrounded by business commitments, appearances and the weight of legacy.
Their paths don't cross often and maybe they were never meant to beyond the years they shared the hardwood.
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Related: Kevin Garnett left Michael Jordan off his all-time starting five: "He is the god, and we copied him and s—t, but I got Kob' at my two"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.