 Jordan was a shooting guard who was also capable of playing as a small forward ( the position he would primarily play during his second return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards ) , and as a point guard . Jordan was known throughout his career for being a strong clutch performer . With the Bulls , he decided 25 games with field goals or free throws in the last 30 seconds , including two NBA Finals games and five other playoff contests . His competitiveness was visible in his prolific trash @-@ talk and well @-@ known work ethic . As the Bulls organization built the franchise around Jordan , management had to trade away players who were not " tough enough " to compete with him in practice . To help improve his defense , he spent extra hours studying film of opponents . On offense , he relied more upon instinct and improvisation at game time . Noted as a durable player , Jordan did not miss four or more games while active for a full season from 1986 – 87 to 2001 – 02 , when he injured his right knee . He played all 82 games nine times . Jordan has frequently cited David Thompson , Walter Davis , and Jerry West as influences . From the start of his career , Jordan was unique among NBA players in that he had a special " Love of the Game Clause " written into his contract , which allowed him to play basketball against anyone at any time , anywhere . 
 Jordan was a shooting guard <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> was also capable of playing as a small forward ( the position he would primarily play during his second return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards ) , and as a point guard . Jordan was known throughout his career for being a strong clutch performer . With the Bulls , he decided 25 games with field goals or free throws in the last 30 seconds , including two NBA Finals games and five other playoff contests . His competitiveness was visible in his prolific trash @-@ talk and well @-@ known work ethic . As the Bulls organization built the franchise around Jordan , management had to trade away players <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>not</mark></a>" tough enough " to compete with him in practice . To help improve his defense , he spent extra hours studying film of opponents . On offense , he relied more upon instinct and improvisation at game time . Noted as a durable player , Jordan did not miss four or more <a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>games</mark></a> while active for a full season from 1986 – 87 to 2001 – 02 , when he injured his right knee . He played all 82 games nine times . Jordan <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>has</mark></a> frequently cited David Thompson , Walter Davis , and Jerry West as influences . From the start of his career , Jordan was unique among NBA players in that he had a special " Love of the Game Clause " written into his contract , which allowed him to play basketball against anyone at any time , anywhere . 
Jordan was a shootin guard  been was also capable of playing as a small forward ( da position he would primarily play durin his second return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards ) , and as a point guard . Jordan was known throughout his career fir being a strong clutch performer . With the Bulls , he decided 25 games wid field goals or free throws in the last 30 seconds , including two NBA Finals games and five other playoff contests . His competitiveness was visible in his prolific trash @-@ talk and well @-@ known wrk ethic . As tdaBulls organization built the franchise around Jordan , management had to trade away players ain't " tough enough " to compete with em in practice . To help improve his defense , he spent extra hrs studying film of opponents . On offense , he relied more upon instinct and improvisation at game time . Noted as a durable player , Jordan did not miss four or more no games while active fir a full season from 1986 – 87 to 2001 – 02 , when he injured his rite knee . He played alll 82 games nine times . Jordan done frequently cited David Thompson , Walter Davis , and Jerry West as influences . From thdatart of his career , Jordan was unique among NBA players in that he had a special " luvv of thedame Clause " written into his contract , which allowed him to play basketball against any1 at any time , anywhere .