Jordan Walks Out of Bulls’ Scrimmage, Saying the Score Was Wrong

DEERFIELD, Ill. —  Basketball star Michael Jordan says nothing is trivial when winning is at stake.

That’s how Jordan explains his storming out of practice after accusing Chicago Bulls Coach Doug Collins of failing to keep the correct score during an intrasquad scrimmage.

“People may think this to be so trivial. But when you’re a competitor and want to win, nothing is trivial,” Jordan said after picking up his bag and stomping out Tuesday.

“I always keep score in everything, scrimmages, games, whatever, and I know the score was 4-4. Doug said it was 4-3, my team losing. I know after a long, tough practice, the losing team has to run.

“I felt like he was stacking the odds against me on purpose.”

When asked about the incident at the Bulls’ suburban training site, Collins replied: “I don’t want to talk about it. You’ll have to ask Michael.”

Jordan said he left early because “I was afraid I would say something I would regret later.”

“If he wants me to run, fine. Stop practice and I’ll run all he wants. But why make me kill myself in the scrimmage and then make me run?”

Jordan, in his fourth year, is coming off a season most NBA players only dream about. He scored 3,041 points, averaging a league-leading 37.1 points a game.

He said he deserves to be fined.

“They have to make an example of me for the team. I know that,” Jordan said. “But I also think I was being treated unfairly. This was the maddest I’ve ever been.”