Horace Grant would have still left Chicago Bulls even if he knew Michael Jordan would unretire: "I would have had second thoughts"

Horace Grant would have still left the Chicago Bulls in 1994 even if he knew Michael Jordan would come out of retirement a year later. Grant was a free agent and signed with the Orlando Magic to join forces with Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway.

In an exclusive interview with Mirror Sport, Grant was asked if he would have left Chicago if he had known Jordan would return in 1995. The four-time NBA champ said that he would have had second thoughts about joining the Magic. However, he didn't want to pass up the opportunity to play with two exciting young players.

"That's such a great question," Grant said. "I don't think I could have given up the chance to play with great talents like Penny and Shaq. I would have still gone to Orlando, but I would have had second thoughts."

Horace Grant was drafted tenth overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1987. He helped Michael Jordan and the Bulls win three straight championships from 1991 to 1993. He was an All-Star in 1994 and would join the Orlando Magic that summer. He was a vital part of the Magic's run to the 1995 NBA Finals, where they got swept by the Houston Rockets.

Before leaving the Bulls, Grant said that he consulted Scottie Pippen with his decision. He was best friends with Pippen during his time in Chicago and discussed with him the pros and cons of joining a different team.

"It was the toughest decision I ever made," Grant said. "I discussed the pros and cons of the move with Scottie, and I had to make a business decision. I could have gone to almost any NBA team. I visited a whole bunch of teams, but there was something about the upcoming Orlando Magic, with a young Shaq, Penny Hardaway, and Nick Anderson."

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Horace Grant called Michael Jordan a liar for his remarks on 'The Last Dance'

Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls

Scottie Pippen was not the only former Chicago Bulls player who was upset with Michael Jordan because of "The Last Dance" documentary. Horace Grant criticized Jordan's remarks and called "His Airness" a liar in an ESPN interview.

"That is a downright, outright, completely lie," Grant said. "Lie, lie, lie. And as I stated, if MJ had a grudge with me, let's settle it like men. Let's talk about it, or we can settle it another way. Yet and still, he puts out this lie out that I was the source behind it."

Grant alluded to Jordan blaming him for giving information to Sam Smith, who wrote the book "The Jordan Rules" in 1992. He fired back at Jordan for "snitching" on his teammates by showing "The Last Dance" to the public.