I was nervous.
All he had to do was sink the free throw, but a lot depended on that one shot.
It had nothing to do with championships or leading scorers or the outcome of meaningful games.
It had everything to do with being the guy that many people think is Michael Jordan.
After a 23-year hiatus, Jordan was interviewed in a segment called “MJ: Insights to Excellence” in his new role as a special contributor to NBC’s NBA coverage.
In it, the six-time NBA champion and still the league’s all-time leader in points per game made a somewhat surprising confession.
“I haven’t picked up a ball in years,” Jordan said.
When pressed about the matter by a stunned Tirico, Jordan said the last time he was persuaded to shoot a ball was when he was renting a house during the event (he declined to specify that it was the most recent edition of the biennial event, held in Farmingdale, New York, last month).
The house had a basketball court, and the homeowner wanted his grandchildren to watch the legendary player play. Jordan agreed to attempt one free throw.
“When I got up to shoot your free throws, I was the most nervous I’ve been in years,” Jordan said. “The reason is because the kids were listening to their parents’ stories about things I did 30 years ago. So the expectations are from 30 years ago and I haven’t touched basketball.”
But this is Air Jordan we’re talking about.
That’s what he wanted, right?
right? ? ?
“Of course,” Jordan said. “The happiest thing that happened all week was that I was able to make that child happy, even though I didn’t know if I could do it.”
Jordan retired as a player for the third and final time in 2003. Since then, he was the controlling owner of the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets from 2010 to 2023 (he still holds a minority stake in the team), making him the controlling owner with a net worth of nearly $4 billion.
In addition to his business pursuits, Jordan told Tirico that he tries to spend as much time as possible with his family.
“You don’t really know how much time you’re going to have with your family at the height of your career,” Jordan said. “That’s what I have time to do now. I mean, the most valuable asset I have is time. So that’s probably why you don’t see enough of me, because I’m trying to spend that time with my family and doing things that I’ve been missing out on for a long time.”
But with that said, Jordan admits he still loves the game of basketball and wishes he could have been on the court playing at his peak.
“Honestly, I wish I could take a magic pill today and just put on my shorts and go outside and play a game of basketball,” Jordan said. “That’s who I am. That type of competition, that type of competitiveness is what I live for and I miss that. I miss that aspect of playing the game of basketball, being able to challenge yourself against what people consider great basketball.”
“But it’s better for me to sit here and talk to you than to tear my Achilles tendon and be in a wheelchair for a while. But it’s nice to be able to share something that could continue to make the game great.”
