Latest news with #BJArmstrong
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"One thing led to another" - BJ Armstrong reveals how the breakfast with Michael Jordan led to his return in 1995
Michael Jordan's illustrious career in the NBA is filled with countless iconic moments, but one of the most memorable took place in 1995 when he made a stunning return after his first retirement. This pivotal decision was apparently influenced by one of his Chicago Bulls teammates, BJ Armstrong, who played a crucial role in reigniting Jordan's passion for basketball. Advertisement BJ revealed that everything began with a breakfast invitation, but the seemingly simple gesture turned into a catalyst for change. Following their meal, "The Kid" said Jordan found himself back on the court, joining the Bulls for practice sessions. These scrimmages, though initially friendly and casual, had a profound impact on "His Airness." BJ believed that it was during these games that MJ rediscovered the competitive spirit that had made him the greatest player in the world. "He was in Chicago doing something, and I was like Why don't you come by? ' and one thing led to another, we went to breakfast. And before you know it, it went from 'How are you doing' to trash-talking, to like, 'I can beat you' to 'No you can't,' and as always, he always wins in the end," BJ said on "The Jump" on ESPN in 2020 "I couldn't believe he did it," Armstrong continued. "And I'm so embarrassed to say that I lost to him, but If I did lose to someone, it had to be him. It was great to see him come back. It was great to see him back around the guys; it was great to see him talk trash. And I'm really happy that it turned out that way." BJ just wanted to help a friend Armstrong never intended to convince Jordan to make a comeback in 1995. His primary focus was simply to be a supportive friend to MJ, as he understood the emotional turmoil that he was navigating following the tragic death of his father. Advertisement BJ genuinely recognized the weight of what Jordan was experiencing and wanted to provide a comforting presence rather than pressure him into returning to the court. However, Armstrong later reflected on the situation with a sense of fulfillment. He expressed his happiness about having taken part in bringing back Jordan's passion for the game, something that everybody thought was gone at the time. "I've never thought about it, to be honest with you," the three-time NBA champion with the Bulls told The Associated Press as he reflected on his role in Jordan's epic return in a separate conversation. "I just wanted to be a good friend and I just saw something in him. When you see someone who really loves something, he loved it. He didn't like it. He loved it. That's who he was. And out of respect to the game of basketball, I wanted to be a good friend." "I just got him, he got me, and we got each other and you did what was needed," Armstrong confided. "I didn't need to tell anyone or talk about it or anything. That's just what happened. I was just happy for him because I know what the game of basketball meant to him and meant to his life. He kept basketball in a sacred space and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Advertisement Related: Scottie Pippen admits he is astounded by how Nikola Jokic plays the game of basketball: "That guy is the best player in basketball" MJ faced some challenges in his return In a matter of weeks, Jordan officially announced his NBA comeback, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his already storied career. He returned to the Bulls' lineup after missing one and a half seasons. While it seemed like a fairytale story, Jordan's return was not without challenges. Contrary to what many had expected, MJ struggled to find his rhythm and his longtime personal trainer, Tim Grover, knew that some work needed to be done. Advertisement "The elevation wasn't quite there; the shot arch was a little bit different," Grover said, describing Jordan's performance when he returned in '95. "He didn't have a whole offseason to prepare." With Jordan back, the Bulls were confident about winning another NBA title. However, they were eliminated by the Orlando Magic in an upset fashion in the Eastern semis. However, the Bulls superstar bounced back the following season. Chicago finished the 1995-96 season with a historic 72-10 record and went on to win its fourth NBA championship. Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ
Reuters
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: Kings hiring B.J. Armstrong as assistant GM
May 6 - The Sacramento Kings are hiring B.J. Armstrong, a three-time NBA champion as a player with the Chicago Bulls, as their assistant general manager, ESPN reported on Tuesday. The Kings last month hired longtime NBA executive Scott Perry as general manager and on May 1 announced that the interim tag had been removed from head coach Doug Christie. Amstrong, 57, followed 11 seasons as a point guard in the NBA (1989-2000) with experience in the Bulls' front office and as a scout, an ESPN analyst and two decades as a player agent. He represented former league MVP Derrick Rose. He has been co-hosting "The Hoop Genius Podcast," with Perry as a guest. Armstrong won NBA titles as a point guard on the Bulls in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He averaged 9.8 points, 3.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 23.8 minutes per game in 747 regular-season games (341 starts) for the Bulls (1989-95, 1999-2000), Golden State Warriors (1995-97), Charlotte Hornets (1997-1999) and Orlando Magic (1999). Armstrong played in 105 playoff games (39 starts) for the Bulls, Hornets and Magic and averaged 7.9 points, 2.4 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 22.5 minutes per game.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kings reportedly hiring former Bulls guard, champion BJ Armstrong as assistant GM
B.J. Armstrong's basketball career has transitioned from player to agent and now to an NBA front office role. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire) The Sacramento Kings are hiring former Chicago Bulls guard BJ Armstrong as their assistant general manager, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Armstrong played 11 years in the NBA as a point guard, six of them with the Bulls. He played in the backcourt alongside Michael Jordan during Chicago's run to its first three NBA titles from 1991-93. Since retiring as a player, Armstrong has worked in the Bulls front office and then as a player agent. Now he'll return to the front office to help the Kings build their roster. Armstrong will work alongside Kings general manager Scott Perry. Armstrong, 57, was a prominent role player on the iconic Bulls teams that saw Michael Jordan secure the first three of his six NBA championships. He played primarily as a backup during Chicago's first two championships seasons. He replaced John Paxson as the full-time starter in the backcourt alongside Jordan for Chicago's 1992-93 championship campaign. Armstrong also played for the Warriors, Hornets and Magic before returning to Chicago to play his final NBA season in 1999-00. After retiring, Armstrong worked as a special assistant to Bulls vice president of basketball operations Jerry Krause before transitioning to a career as an agent. Since 2006, he's worked for the Wasserman Media Group, whose client roster has included former Bulls MVP Derrick Rose and USWNT star Alex Morgan. Armstrong joins the Kings of ahead of the 2025 NBA draft and free agency and on the heels of a major roster shakeup. In February, the Kings traded All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs in a deal that returned All-Star wing Zach LaVine. The Kings will look to return to the postseason in 2026 after missing the playoffs for a consecutive season following a play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
