Michael Jordan refused to call a Bulls teammate by his real name — and the reason was ruthless.

Michael Jordan once refused to call his Chicago Bulls teammate Will Perdue by his real name — and the reason was downright brutal.

During his dominant run with the Bulls, where he won six NBA championships, Jordan played alongside legends like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. But not every teammate earned his respect in the same way.

Will Perdue, who was with the Bulls from 1988 to 1995, recalled how Jordan dismissed him, saying he “wasn’t good enough” to deserve his real name. Instead, Jordan mockingly called him “Will Vanderbilt,” referencing a less competitive college program.

Perdue admitted it stung. He said: “Since I didn’t play a lot, it hurt… I also had to impress Michael Jordan. I just kept plugging away and spent a lot of time in the weight room. Came early, left late.”

But that wasn’t the only intense moment between the two. In a heated practice, Jordan punched Perdue — something the former center says wasn’t unusual.

“He did [punch me], and I wasn’t the only one,” Perdue told CBS Sports. “That’s how competitive our practices were… we separated, regrouped, and kept practicing.”

For Jordan, competition was everything — even if it meant throwing punches or refusing to use someone’s name.