KEY POINTS

  • Rick Mahorn prefers to recall roughing up Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls than watch  "The Last Dance"
  • Mahorn feels that the Detroit Pistons deserve recognition for being part of NBA history
  • Jordan admits he still feels a bit of tension when he talks about the Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a part of NBA history, having won the NBA title three times in franchise history.

The last was in 2004, but there is perhaps no sweeter accomplishment for the Motor City squad than the back-to-back title reign in 1989 and 1990.

That 1989 and 1990 Pistons team is best known to be the “Bad Boys” era. Among the notorious names of that time were Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn.

The physicality was at a different level, which served as a great ploy to demoralize teams such as the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls.

In Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance” documentary, the former Bulls star did not mince words when he discussed his abhorrence of the Pistons, something that carries on to this day.

“They made it personal,” Jordan said. “They physically beat the s— out of us.”

It did not take long for some old Pistons to fire back. One of the notable enforcers of that time was Rick Mahorn.

The 62-year-old wore the No. 44 jersey for the Pistons, playing there from 1985-1989 and 1996-1998. He was considered one of the toughest defenders in the group, someone who was not gifted athletically but got the job done “physically.”

The feeling is mutual for the 6-foot-10 forward. He admitted that he did not bother to watch “The Last Dance,” and all that matters to him is that he gave Jordan a hard time on the floor.

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls (left) in action against guard Jerry Stackhouse (center) and forward Rick Mahorn of the Detroit Pistons
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls (left) in action against guard Jerry Stackhouse (center) and forward Rick Mahorn of the Detroit Pistons Getty Images | Jonathan Daniel

“I didn’t watch the Jordan [documentary] because I wouldn’t give a damn or hell about what Jordan did. We whooped that a**, that’s all that matters. But it’s a respect. I finally watched the 30 for 30 probably this year for the Bad Boys because it was something that, I said, ‘I already know about all that,’” Mahorn said.

For Mahorn, the Pistons never got the proper recognition for their back-to-back NBA title wins. He added that the Houston Rockets experience the same, feeling that both clubs deserve appreciation from the league since they are part of NBA history.

“You got to give these teams their due because we’re in history. It didn’t skip from the Lakers to Chicago. It was a blip in all this stuff. The thing is, I’m glad that we’re finally getting the respect and the NBA is giving it to us,” Mahorn stated.

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