Until he got through the Pistons and won a title in his seventh season (?), he was viewed by a lot of people as a glorified ball-hawg that came up short in the big moments.
He was viewed as incapable of beating the Pistons by a LOT of people.
They weren't smart people, but we don't lack stupids now, either.
Don’t disagree with any of this. Very different narrative then what is being said about Giannis. As I stated, nobody ever claimed he wilted/disappeared in those playoffs, the way they are talking about the Giannis. They definitely had many other criticisms of him. Some of which was very valid.
I am sure you have read it, but “The Jordan Rules” was one of my favorite books growing up, and really goes into the medias perception of him as a player at the time.