"I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA
"I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Michael Jordan isn't watching the game with rose-tinted glasses or holding a torch for any single player. The icon who helped shape modern basketball into the global spectacle it is today continues to keep an eye on the league, but not in the way most fans might imagine.
Advertisement
His relationship with the NBA has shifted, not cooled off, but transformed.
From the moment he stepped away from playing for the final time in 2003, Jordan's connection with the game has remained rooted in admiration and respect but not in allegiance to personalities.
Jordan's side of the game
The Hall of Famer is a fan of many superstars like LeBron James and the likes of Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson when they were still active. But he doesn't get too attached.
'I'm a big fan. I like to watch the basketball,' Jordan said. 'So I'm still a fan and I can't get so far away from it and I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature.'
Advertisement
His presence has evolved from being the fire on the court to becoming a measured observer with an ownership stake, front-office experience and the mindset of a titan who once dominated it all. While others look for a new 'favorite' player to follow, Jordan watches with a different lens, one sharpened by a history that demands no replacements.
Over the past two decades, a parade of superstars has stepped into the spotlight, each one attempting, in some way, to carry the torch Jordan left behind. James entered the league with the weight of 'The Chosen One' stitched into his legacy before he played a single professional game.
Already ascending in the late '90s, Bryant mirrored Jordan's intensity, footwork, and tireless mindset. Anthony was captivated by scoring bursts and pure offensive skill, while Iverson electrified crowds with raw energy, unapologetic swagger, and a crossover that became cultural currency. Jordan recognized them all.
That competitive nature is the core of how Jordan approaches life after playing. During his prime, every possession mattered, every matchup was personal, and every championship was a war of attrition.
Advertisement
Getting 'too close' to the game now means seeing players through the eyes of a rival, not a spectator. It's why fandom, in the traditional sense, doesn't fit. He doesn't throw his support behind one name or build his evenings around one star's stat line.
An owner's perspective
When Jordan torched teams for 30.1 points per game across his 15 seasons (the highest career scoring average in NBA history), there was never room for neutrality. Competitiveness swallowed sentiment. That same instinct lingers now. It's why his admiration exists with boundaries.
He has always stayed close to the game even after retiring. In 2010, Jordan became the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), marking the first time a former player assumed majority control of an NBA team. That move deepened his relationship with the league and altered it entirely. Ownership became about stewardship, investment, and legacy.
Advertisement
'Right where I am is the right place to be where I own a team,' Jordan said. 'Obviously I'm involved in a team but I allow them to be and let the game play in this era.'
It's a delicate balance — being close enough to influence and far enough not to interfere. That posture comes with maturity and a deep understanding of cycles. Every era has its own rhythm and its own heroes. Jordan's doesn't overlap with this one. The players dominating today grew up idolizing him. But he doesn't try to pull them back into his orbit.
From 2010 to 2023, under his ownership, Charlotte experienced limited on-court success — just three playoff appearances, none advancing past the first round. But Jordan's legacy was never tied to front-office wins. Instead, he focused on presence, visibility and carving a model where former players could transition into business leadership.
Related: Michael Jordan once shared what separated him from other great players in the NBA: "I don't take the game so serious that it becomes the business"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA Legend Makes Strong Caitlin Clark Statement During Fever Season
NBA Legend Makes Strong Caitlin Clark Statement During Fever Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kevin Garnett knows what it takes to compete every night. The NBA legend played from 1995 to 2016 with the Timberwolves, Celtics and Nets. Before his pro career, Garnett was a dominant force at Admiral Farragut Academy in Chicago. Advertisement Known as one of the league's toughest players, Garnett constantly dealt with opponents who tried to challenge him, both physically and verbally. Now, 'The Big Ticket' has weighed in on WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who's in her second season with the Indiana Fever. Speaking on KG Certified, Garnett shared his thoughts: "It's a privilege to be a in a position where others are hating on you. When others are hating on you it means you're doing something right." Garnett finished his career with 26,071 points and 14,662 rebounds. He won an NBA title in 2008, earned league MVP honors in 2004 and made 15 all-star appearances. He was the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in rebounding four times. Advertisement While Clark plays a very different game than Garnett, the former Iowa star is already carving out a legacy. She's faced intense physical play as teams try to disrupt her rhythm, but she continues to rise. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images In 47 WNBA games, Clark is averaging 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. She's coming off one of her tougher outings, shooting just 21.4% from the field with six turnovers in a loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The Fever remain on the road, heading to Las Vegas and Seattle before returning home. Despite some growing pains, Clark is proving she belongs among the league's best. Related: Insane Caitlin Clark, WNBA Trend Surfaces After Indiana Fever's Sixth Loss Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message to Lexie Hull in New Post on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warriors React to Draymond Green's Behavior in New Video
Warriors React to Draymond Green's Behavior in New Video originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As fans across the Bay Area settled in for the start of the NBA offseason, the Golden State Warriors dropped a video clip on Saturday that highlighted just how far Draymond Green has come since entering the league. Advertisement In the short video, Green reads aloud a pre-draft scouting report from his college days at Michigan State. Evaluators labeled him a "tweener, undersized for a physical four, yet lacks the athleticism of a wing," and concluded he offered "minimal upside" and was "vulnerable defending quicker guards on the perimeter." By the end of the video, Green couldn't contain himself, simply laughing off the doubters. As a senior at Michigan State, Green earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, was named a consensus first-team All-American and led the Spartans to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2012. That season, he also won Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year and NABC National Player of the Year. Advertisement Yet despite all of his collegiate accolades, Green slipped to the second round of the 2012 NBA draft, going 35th overall to Golden State. What followed was a transformation that few franchises enjoy. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23).© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Green quickly cemented himself as the defensive leader of Steve Kerr's Warriors, whose identity shifted in 2014-15 toward a small-ball, high-pace attack. Green's versatility, capable of guarding all five positions, and his playmaking as a "point forward" became hallmarks of Golden State's so-called "Death Lineup." Between 2015 and 2022, Green helped the Warriors capture four NBA championships and set a league record with 73 regular season wins in 2016. Advertisement Individually, Green is a four-time All-Star, 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, nine-time All-Defensive Team member (five First Team) and led the league in steals in 2017. Related: Warriors Turn Heads With Steph Curry Post on Monday Related: Ben Simmons Update Announced After Clippers Issue Big Demand This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Kings GM Monte McNair joining Clippers front office
The post Former Kings GM Monte McNair joining Clippers front office appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Clippers are adding to their front office staff before the NBA Draft in about a week, as they've landed an executive who used to be in their division, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Advertisement 'Former Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair, the 2022-23 NBA executive of the Year, is joining the Los Angeles Clippers in an advisor role, sources tell ESPN,' Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter. McNair and the Kings parted ways after the team failed to make the playoffs and lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Play-In Tournament. Before that, the Kings were near the top of the Western Conference in 2023, which led McNair to win the Executive of the Year award. The Kings were the No. 3 seed in the conference, but lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Since then, the Kings have missed the playoffs two seasons in a row. McNair was with the team for five seasons, and they were 195-205 in that period. There were high expectations for the Kings this season after acquiring DeMar DeRozan, but Mike Brown was fired and De'Aaron Fox was traded during the year. McNair has shown that he has what it takes to find talent and make big deals, and the Clippers may need that type of expertise in their front office. Advertisement The Clippers had a solid season this year, and they made it all the way to the second round before losing to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden proved to be enough for the Clippers to be one of the better teams in the league, and players such as Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac played above their standards this season. Going into the offseason, the key for the Clippers should be continuing to find depth to surround their stars, and McNair can be key in that. Related: NBA rumors: Clippers' stance on trading Ivica Zubac in Kevin Durant deal Related: Lou Williams sets record straight on Magic City strip club rumors during NBA bubble
