Michael Jordan was fiercely competitive, on and off the court.
The Chicago Bulls legend had a win-at-all costs mentality that enabled him to become a six-time NBA champion and the consensus greatest basketball player of all time.
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'His Airness' has a well-documented love of gambling that he often indulged in with longtime rival and fellow Dream Team member Charles Barkley.
MJ never took it easy on his friends and colleagues, though, as seen in hit documentary 'The Last Dance' when he competed against -- and lost to -- Bulls security guard John Michael Wozniack in a coin toss game.
Journeyman Jack Haley, who won an NBA title alongside MJ as a member of the 1996 Bulls, found out the hard way that the five-scoring champion doesn't play when it comes to winning.
Haley become one of Mike's favorite foils in the team's legendary card games, especially after Jordan learned that Jack came from a wealthy family.
After a poker game during a lengthy flight from Chicago to Los Angeles, 6ft 10in power forward/center Haley found himself $17,000 in debt to Jordan.
The story was recalled by former Bulls assistant Johnny Bach in There Is No Next, an oral history of Jordan’s career by journalist Sam Smith.
Unfortunately for Haley, he didn't have the money, and Jordan demanded he got what he was owed.
When the game finished, Jordan reportedly said: “Debts are paid. Card game’s over. You owe me.”
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Jordan suggested his teammate go to his father Jack Haley Sr, who was the 1959 U.S. Surfing champion and went on to found the popular Captain Jack’s restaurant in Sunset Beach, California.
Former Bulls assistant Bach recalled: "Michael said, 'Well, then you get it. You call Daddy Warbucks now.’
"Daddy owns a restaurant. Daddy had to meet him next morning and give him cash. Michael said, ‘Don’t f****** play with me, Jack, if you can’t pay off. I don’t want your money, but you lost and Daddy has to come with that money in cash.’ You better take Michael seriously.”
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Haley was more into surfing than basketball growing up but he was recruited by UCLA, where he secured a starting role.
Jack averaged about four points in three seasons at UCLA and the Bulls drafted him in the fourth round (79th pick) of the 1987 NBA Draft.
Haley averaged about two points in the 51 games he played in Chicago. He was later traded to the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs, where he first met Dennis Rodman.
He befriended Rodman and became somewhat of a babysitter -- a term Haley hated -- for the enigmatic rebounding phenom.
The Bulls brought in Rodman in 1995 and brought along Jack too so someone could look out for him.
Haley was a member of the 1995–96 Bulls team that won a league record 72 games and the NBA Championship, although he spent almost the entire season on the injured list with tendinitis in his left knee.
He only played in one game during the regular season and did not participate in the playoffs, although he did play a vital role.
After two losses to the Seattle SuperSonics in Games 4 and 5 of that year's Finals, Rodman decided he didn't want to play anymore.
Haley was the one who persuaded 'The Worm' to return for a crucial Game 6.
The Bulls won 87-75, capturing the championship 4-2 as Rodman finished with 19 rebounds, five assists and nine points.
Haley spent nine years as an NBA pro and retired after the 1998 season.
After his career, he worked in broadcasting for the Lakers and even appeared in the Aerosmith music video Love in an Elevator.
Sadly, he died at 51 from heart disease in 2015.
