Luc Longley, the first Australian to be drafted into an American NBA team, recently shared insights into his relationship with basketball legend Michael Jordan, reflecting on their time together with the Chicago Bulls and the surprising absence of his story from the hit Netflix documentary “The Last Dance.” Longley, a towering 2.18-meter center from Perth, Western Australia, played a significant role in the Bulls’ dominance during the mid-1990s, contributing to their championship victories in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
In a candid interview with the ABC, Longley discussed the disappointment he felt upon realizing he was barely mentioned in “The Last Dance,” a docuseries that chronicled Jordan’s illustrious career and the Chicago Bulls’ historic run. Despite his crucial contributions to the team, Longley was largely absent from the documentary, a fact that left him “bummed” as he watched episode after episode, waiting for his story to be told.
The omission puzzled many, including fans and former teammates, leading to speculation about why Longley was not featured more prominently. Jordan himself acknowledged the oversight, expressing regret that Longley was not included, particularly for the Australian audience who would have appreciated seeing one of their own celebrated in such a high-profile production. “We probably should have [included him],” Jordan admitted, adding that if he could go back, he would have made sure Longley’s story was part of the narrative.
Longley, however, has taken the exclusion in stride, offering a self-deprecating theory that his quiet, unassuming nature might have made him less exciting to include in a story filled with larger-than-life personalities. He also speculated that the producers’ decision not to send a crew to his remote home in Western Australia may have played a role in his absence from the documentary.
Despite the initial disappointment, Longley revealed that his relationship with Jordan has improved over the years. The two have reconnected, and their exchanges have become “warm and friendly,” a stark contrast to the tense dynamics they once shared during their playing days. Longley admitted that he struggled with Jordan’s aggressive, win-at-all-costs mentality, which often involved tough love and relentless pressure on his teammates. However, with time and distance from the court, the former teammates have come to appreciate each other’s contributions to the Bulls’ legacy.
Longley now reflects on his time with the Bulls with a sense of pride, acknowledging that while he may not have been the star of the show, he played an essential role in one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Today, at 52, Longley continues to contribute to basketball, serving as a special assistant to the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) and supporting the Australian national team, the Boomers.
Living a quieter life away from the limelight, Longley resides with his wife on a property in Denmark, a small town 400 kilometers south of Perth. The couple, both with children from previous marriages, enjoys a peaceful existence far removed from the intense world of professional basketball. Longley’s journey from a “soft Fremantle kid” to an NBA champion is a testament to his resilience and adaptability, qualities that have allowed him to navigate the highs and lows of his career with grace.
