"It's remarkable how scared Michael seemed" - Michael Jordan's best friend describes his early days in the NBA
We all know Michael Jordan wasn't the most intimidating player in the NBA, but undeniably, he instilled fear in his rivals by dismantling them with his game. However, some may not know, but the fierce competitor and fearless MJ we adored with the Chicago Bulls was also once a fish out of the water. That's according to his best friend and personal assistant, George Koehler.
Mike was scared
In an exclusive interview with Chicago Tribune in 1992, Koehler said Jordan wasn't the face of the NBA yet when they first met. At the time, Koehler was driving for Prestige Limo services in Chicago and was one day tasked to take a young man from North Carolina University to his "first training camp" with the Bulls. Little did Koehler know that man was Michael Jordan, the then-NBA rookie destined to become the greatest player of all time.
As per Koehler, Jordan did not strike him as a flamboyant NBA star; instead, he saw a young man seemingly unaware of what lies ahead of him in The Windy City.
"I'm three weeks into this venture, trying to make ends meet, so I offered to take him anywhere for $25," Koehler said of Jordan. "He had to go to the Bulls` hotel on the North Shore for his first training camp. He said, 'Let's go.' As I look back, it's remarkable how scared Michael seemed. Just a kid out of college, in a big city where he knew nobody, and the Bulls didn't even send a car for him. I was scared, too, though. Prestige Limo wasn't exactly sure how to find that hotel."
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A lasting friendship
After that ride, Jordan and Koehler became friends. Over time, Koehler said that "pretty soon, I was taking Michael here and there for whatever he had to do. Personal appearances, golf, O'Hare."
Jordan's relationship with Koehler deepens as he becomes a household name in the sport. After several years of being one of the few people in MJ's inner circle, Koehler also forged a beautiful relationship with the Jordan family.
"Michael, his wife Juanita, his mom and dad, Dolores and James, make me feel like part of the family. They trust me. I think I know enough to give Michael the space he needs but doesn't get enough of, and we have a lot of laughs."
Jordan and Koehler's story only proves that "His Airness" really picks the people he trusts. Fortunately for Koehler, he became one of them, returning the favor to MJ with his genuine loyalty.
