NBA icon Michael Jordan says he hasn’t touched a basketball ‘in years’

Michael Jordan was nervous.

All he had to do was make the free throw, but a lot depended on that one shot.

It had nothing to do with a championship, a scoring title or the outcome of any meaningful game.

This all had to do with the fact that he was Michael Jordan, a man many considered greatest basketball player of all time.

In his new role as special contributor to NBC's NBA coverage, which returned to the network on Tuesday evening after 23 years of absence – Jordan gave an interview Mike Tirico in a segment called “MJ: The Path to Excellence.”

In it, the six-time NBA champion, who still leads the league in points per game, made a somewhat startling confession.

“I haven’t picked up a ball in years,” Jordan said.

Pressed by a stunned Tirico, Jordan said the last time he was persuaded to score was when he was renting a house during Ryder Cup (He did not specify that this was the last of the biennial event, which took place last month in Farmingdale, New York).

The house had a basketball court, and the homeowner wanted his grandchildren to see the legendary player play. Jordan agreed to take one free throw.

“When I walked up to take your free throw, I was the most nervous I’ve been in years,” Jordan said. “The reason is these kids heard their parents' stories about what I did 30 years ago. So the expectations were 30 years ago, and I hadn't touched basketball yet.”

But we're talking about Air Jordans.

He waved it, didn't he?

Right???

“Absolutely,” Jordan said. “The most rewarding thing of my entire week was that I was able to bring joy to this child, not knowing if I could.”

Jordan retired from playing for the third and final time in 2003. very successful businessman – he was the controlling owner of the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets from 2010-2023 (he still maintains a minority stake in the team) and is the controlling owner 23XI Racing NASCAR Cup Series teams — with a net worth of about $4 billion.

Jordan told Tirico that in addition to his business pursuits, he strives to spend as much time as possible with his family.

“When you're in the prime of your career, you never know how much time you don't actually have for your family,” Jordan said. “That's what I have time for right now. I mean, the most valuable asset I have is time. So that's probably why you don't see me as much because that's the time I try to spend with family members and things that I've been missing for so long.”

However, despite all of the above, Jordan admits that he still loves basketball and would love to be on the court playing at his best.

“Honestly, I wish I could take a magic pill and put on shorts and go play basketball today,” Jordan said. “Because that's who I am. This type of competition, this type of competition is what I live for and I miss it. I miss that aspect of playing basketball, being able to challenge myself against what people think is great basketball.”

“But I'd rather sit here and talk to you instead of popping my Achilles and I'll be in a wheelchair for a while, but it's nice to be able to share what can still make the game great in the future.”

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