Sam Perkins: Bobby Knight Made Michael Jordan Cry at 1984 Olympics

Good thing there were no memes 32 years ago.

According to retired NBA big man Sam Perkins, head coach Bobby Knight made Michael Jordan cry after a 78-67 quarterfinal win over Germany in the 1984 Olympics.

Here's what Big Smooth told Tina Cervasio and Tim Legler on SiriusXM's Above the Rim on Tuesday:

"

Bobby Knight, he got after us. He told Michael that's the worst he ever played. Now Michael's going to deny this, but he cried. He cried after the game, because of the fact that Bobby Knight told him, "You should apologize to everybody in here." I waited for my apology because I thought he was going to actually do it. But he actually cried.

"

His Airness, then just 21, finished with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and six turnovers.

According to Perkins, Leon Wood consoled Jordan afterward.

"We didn't play that bad. It's the fact that [Knight] just wanted us to wake up for the next game because anything could happen," Perkins said. "That's the way Bobby Knight coached."

Keep in mind this was less than two months after Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. Perhaps the tough love helped set him on the path to becoming an all-time great.

Listen to the clip here:

[SoundCloud]