Sibling Rivalry: Good or Bad? “Younger siblings often compare themselves to their older siblings, who seem more skilled and accomplished, and feel discouraged by the seemingly insurmountable gap between them,” states David Halberstam in “Laney High.” This reflects a common experience among children in a family: sibling rivalry. While sibling rivalry may not always have positive effects, it has been beneficial for Michael. Without Larry, Michael would not have achieved the level of success he has today. Larry inspired Michael with his dedication and competitiveness.
As a child, Larry possessed the exceptional talent and determination akin to that of a blue whale, but felt limited by his physical appearance. Meanwhile, Michael initially displayed laziness and showed interest in activities other than playing basketball on the small court their father, James Jordan, had built in their backyard. Nevertheless, Larry was insistent that Michael should not waste his talent. Thanks to Larry’s newfound dedication and encouragement, Michael was able to confront a challenging situation in his life with resilience instead of succumbing to defeat.
When Michael Jordan was not selected for the varsity basketball team at Laney High during his sophomore year, he instead became a standout player on the jayvee team. His younger brother Larry pushed him to work hard, a lesson that Michael applied to improve and secure a spot on the varsity team the following year. Thanks to Larry’s encouragement, Michael thrived on the varsity team and became a star player. His intense drive and dedication made him the hardest-working player during practices. Without Larry’s motivation in his early years, Michael would not have achieved his full potential or accomplished all that he did in his remarkable career. According to Michael’s friends from junior high, high school, and college, his competitiveness can be attributed to his rivalry with his older brother Larry. During their childhood, Larry was the superior athlete despite being smaller in size. It was through continuous losses against Larry in one-on-one pickup games that Michael’s passion for basketball ignited.
According to rumors, if Larry had been taller than five foot seven inches, people would have referred to Michael as Larry’s brother instead of the way it is now. Eventually, in late high school years, Michael started growing and becoming stronger, intensifying the rivalry between the two. Despite being taller at this point, Larry was still older, had a superior work ethic, and remained extremely strong. Michael attributes his aggressive style of play to Larry, proclaiming, “When you see me play, you see Larry play.” Every successful athlete possesses some form of motivation driving their ambition. Although not always acknowledged, Michael’s motivation undoubtedly stemmed from his older brother Larry. James Jordan mentioned that until Larry influenced Michael, he would warn him that he should hope to become a professional athlete because he lacked motivation for anything else. In the case of Larry and Michael Jordan, their sibling rivalry ultimately proved highly advantageous for Michael Jordan and his triumph as a professional athlete.
