Category: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan opens up on the passing of peer, mentor Jerry West

“I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate,” said MJ.

Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame wing and executive Jerry West has passed away. In response, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan voiced his thoughts about the passing of his peer and mentor in a statement shared on social media by Jump Foundation senior vice president Estee Portnoy.

“I am so deeply saddened at the news of Jerry’s passing,” said Jordan of a man who shares a truly iconic level of recognition in the sport of basketball as the face of the sport. “He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me. I valued his friendship and knowledge.”

“I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate,” he added.

“I admired his basketball insights, and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game,” wrote Jordan.

“He will be forever missed. My condolences to his wife Karen and his sons. Rest in peace, Logo.”

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Pair of Michael Jordan game-worn kicks from 1996 NBA Finals Game 5 sells for nearly half-million

It seems that MJ’s old kicks are seen as an increasingly sound investment.

It probably should not surprise that sneakers won in games by the man behind Nike’s Jordan Brand go for a lot of money at auction. But once again, a pair of game-worn kicks that Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Michael Jordan just returned a boatload of cash, per recent reporting from Cllct Media’s Darren Rovell.

A pair of sneakers worn in Game 5 of the Bulls’ 1996 NBA Finals series vs. the Seattle SuperSonics has been reportedly auctioned off by Sotheby’s for a mere $482,600. The phenomena of His Airness’ game-worn kicks getting sold for huge sums is almost so regular as to stop being newsworthy at this point.

Culminating in the sale of a package of game-worn Jordan sneakers that sold for a whopping $8 million, it seems that MJ’s old kicks are seen as an increasingly sound investment.

But then, when it was your transcendent skill on the court and business acumen off it that built the Jordan Brand into what it is today, that his shoes are so valued by collectors and fans alike makes sense.

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Kenyon Martin on why Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was so hard to guard

Jordan was a cover that required Herculean strength and laser focus to stay with, never mind contain. 

When it comes to the toughest of defenders in NBA history, Kenyon Martin is a name that will likely come up in most circles. And the man knows a thing or two about guarding some of the toughest covers in league history. The man made a name for himself on the defensive end of the court, having guarded the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and even Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.

Regarding the latter, K-Mart had a ton to share in a recent interview with the folks behind the “Buckets” podcast, with Martin breaking down in detail why His Airness was so hard to guard during his wide-ranging chat.

K-Mart encountered MJ on the court during his comeback days with the Washington Wizards. But even in that sunset period of the perennial G.O.A.T. candidate, Jordan was a cover that required Herculean strength and laser focus to stay with, never mind contain.

To hear the details of guarding MJ for yourself, check out the clip above.

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Barack Obama places Michael Jordan among 3 elite sports legends

President Barack Obama had some high praise for Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

For years, the Chicago Bulls were on top of the world. All throughout the 1990s, nobody could touch the Bulls. Obviously, their six championships in eight years are the first thing people think of, but past that, the sheer superstardom of Michael Jordan made the Bulls a worldwide brand. To this day, they are one of the most recognized brands on the planet.

On Thursday night, Jordan was entered as one of 13 players in the Bulls’ inaugural Ring of Honor class. Every person inducted had an essay written about them by someone with ties to the franchise or a relationship with the team.

For Jordan, that person was President Barack Obama, who has deep ties to Chicago. In his essay, Obama placed Jordan in an elite class of athletes, praising his impact on the sporting world. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“There are only a handful of athletes in history — Ruth, Robinson, Ali — that can claim a comparable impact,” Obama wrote. “Michael Jordan shares that rare air. Not bad for a kid from Wilmington, North Carolina, who had once been cut by his high school varsity team.”

Unfortunately, Jordan wasn’t able to be there for the initial event, which took place at the gala on Thursday night. Neither Scottie Pippen nor Dennis Rodman was there either.

In his time with the Bulls, Jordan won six rings, made 14 All-Star teams, and won five MVPs, on top of a bunch of other accomplishments. His impact on the Bulls organization is monumental, and his impact on sports is just as great.

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Michael Jordan’s old BMW up for auction, current bid at $60,000

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s old car is being put up for auction.

When the Chicago Bulls were on top of the world in the 1990s, it was Michael Jordan who led the way. The superstar guard earned worldwide fame, turning millions of people around the world into Bulls fans and creating a global brand for himself that still holds up to this day.

Now, one of his former assets is up for sale. On BringaTrailer.com, Jordan’s old 1991 BMW 850i is up for sale, with the current bid being just over $60,000 (though the number is constantly rising). Perhaps the most intriguing part of the car is the license plate, which reads “M AIR J.”

According to the description of the vehicle, the documents still include Jordan’s signature.

“This 1991 BMW 850i was purchased new by basketball superstar Michael Jordan from Motor Werks of Barrington in Illinois, and it now shows 30k miles following the current owner’s acquisition in 1995,” the site states. “The car is powered by a 5.0-liter V12 linked to a six-speed manual transmission and is finished in Mauritius Blue Metallic over Light Parchment leather upholstery. Equipment includes 17″ multi-piece AC Schnitzer wheels, a power-operated sunroof, fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and cruise control. This E31 is offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with documentation bearing Michael Jordan’s signature, manufacturer’s literature, a stamped service booklet, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Illinois title in the owner’s name.”

The auction for Jordan’s old car ends five days from now (January 3, at the time of writing). Someone is going to own a part of Bulls history.

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Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. tattoo includes interesting Michael Jordan mistake

Real Madrid football star Vinicius Jr. recently got a tattoo that includes Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, but there’s a small mistake.

During his time with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan became a worldwide phenomenon. The shooting guard not only dominated other teams on the basketball court, but his fame extended far beyond the walls of the NBA. Millions of people from all over the world turned into Bulls fans because of Michael Jordan. He’s one of the most well-known names in sports today.

Real Madrid football star Vinicius Jr. recently traveled to Los Angeles to visit famous tattoo artist Ganga. He got a huge back piece depicting a bunch of different famous athletes, including Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Pele, and Muhammad Ali.

However, fans quickly noticed a mistake with the Jordan portion of the tattoo – he is shooting left-handed.

In the tattoo, Jordan is taking a free throw, but he’s taking his left-handed even though he’s a righty.

Some were quick to point out that this could be a nod to the time Jordan shot lefty for a game as a method of showing up the Atlanta Hawks. However, he is more well-known for his eyes-closed free throws than his left shooting.

Regardless, the images of Jordan, Bryant, and others came together beautifully to form an amazing collage of sports greats on Vinicius Jr.’s back, and he should be thrilled with the outcome.

Vinicius Jr. is from Brazil, but he clearly has knowledge of Jordan and the other athletes in his tattoo, proving just how famous the Bulls star became worldwide.

He’s transcended the fame that players get from playing in the NBA, and his global brand will survive forever.

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Shaquille O’Neal dislikes Michael Jordan jersey in Heat rafters

Former Miami Heat big man Shaquille O’Neal is not happy that Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s jersey is in Miami’s rafters.

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest athletes of all time. During his time with the Chicago Bulls, he was nothing short of dominant, and all throughout the 1990s, he did nothing but win. He won six championships in an eight-year period, taking two years off in the middle to pursue a career in baseball.

With the amount of stardom he earned, Jordan was a known figure around the globe, and his greatness is still respected to this day. He’s widely regarded as the best player in NBA history, and obviously, the Bulls retired his number. But they weren’t the only team. Jordan’s jersey is also in the Miami Heat’s rafters as well.

The team respected Jordan so much they felt the need to retire his number, but some players disagree with the move. Former Heat big man and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently voiced his displeasure with the decision.

“I hate the fact that they hang up other people’s jerseys,” O’Neal said via his podcast, ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq.’ “I hope I’m not disrespecting anybody by this term. This thing is ours. This is what we built. Michael Jordan ain’t never play for the Heat. Bill Russell ain’t never play for the Heat. You did your own thing with your little Celtics family and Chicago family. But this Miami thing? I was one of the original championship families… this is our thing. So I don’t like that, personally.”

Heat Culture is a real thing, and based on the opinion of O’Neal, if you didn’t experience it and play in it, your number shouldn’t be in the rafters.

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Tiger Woods pays subtle homage to Bulls legend Michael Jordan ahead of first tournament since spring

Ahead of his first tournament appearance since the Masters, Tiger Woods may have shown some love to Chicago Bulls legend Micahel Jordan.

There are few more influential athletes than Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. When he was in the league, he made a worldwide impact, and he put the Bulls on the map. Not only did he bring six titles in eight years to the city of Chicago, but he transformed millions of people around the globe into Bulls fans.

But fans weren’t the only people influenced by Jordan. Jordan inspired a whole generation of hoopers, and his impact extended beyond the sport of basketball, too. He created the Jordan brand, which is now one of the biggest in the sports world.

Recently, his influence may have found its way to golf by way of Tiger Woods.

Woods is competing in the Hero World Challenge at the Albany Golf Club, his first tournament appearance since the Masters this past spring. Upon arrival at the event, fans noticed a look that may have been an homage to Jordan.

His leg sleeve looks to be the same one that Jordan wore back it the day, as photographed in this image of him facing off against the Utah Jazz.

Woods is signed to Nike, the company that owns the Jordan brand, and the two legends have linked up on occasion in the past. Jordan’s fondness for golf has led to the two hanging out on the links.

Whether or not Woods was intentionally showing some love to Jordan is unknown, but the evidence makes it seem pretty clear.

Maybe the leg sleeve will help him deliver in the same way Jordan did in his prime.

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Isiah Thomas unveils new wrinkle to historic beef with Michael Jordan

According to former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas, he didn’t even know about his beef with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

The Chicago Bulls have a long, incredible history, and Michael Jordan is at the center of it. He dominated the NBA for an entire decade and was one of the best players in the league for even longer than that. Throughout his tenure with the Bulls, Jordan had plenty of rivals, but none quite like the Isiah Thomas-led Detroit Pistons.

Thomas and Jordan have a history of bad blood that stems from their rivalry on the court. During the 2020 documentary “The Last Dance,” which detailed Jordan’s time with the Bulls, he discussed the rivalry and his dislike for Thomas and the Pistons.

However, Thomas wasn’t as aware of the bad blood as Jordan was. During the ForbesBLK Summit in Atlanta, he said that he learned about it during the documentary. (H/t Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic)

Pumpkin named ‘Michael Jordan’ sets world record for heaviest ever

A pumpkin names after Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan just set a world record.

The 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off had a surprising connection to the Chicago Bulls. The winning pumpkin was nicknamed after Bulls great Michael Jordan, and at 2,739 pounds, it set the record for the heaviest pumpkin ever.

Half Moon Bay, California, has hosted the event for decades, and for nearly 30 years, Travis Gienger has been the event’s top competitor. Last year, his pumpkin “Maverick” set a then-record for the event at 2,560 pounds. Gienger came back this year with an even bigger gourd, taking the top prize with his pumpkin “Michael Jordan,” setting a world record in the process.

Gienger usually selects nicknames based on the year of the competition. For 2023, he chose to honor Jordan, whose No. 23 jersey is an icon in the sports world.