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Michael Jordan may be back on the NBA sidelines, but his love for the sport is still going strong.
The Chicago Bulls legend, 62, spoke with NBC’s Mike Tirico as coverage of the league changed networks and the Hall of Famer took on a new role as “special contributor.”
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NASCAR Cup Series owner Michael Jordan looks on from atop his team’s booth during Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2025. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
He told Tirico he still loved the game and wished he could somehow get back on the field.
“In all honesty, I wish I could take a magic pill, put on some shorts and go out and play basketball today because that’s who I am,” Jordan said. “That type of competition, that type of competitiveness, that’s what I live for and I miss it.
“I miss that aspect of basketball. Being able to challenge myself against what people consider good basketball. But it’s better for me to be sitting here talking to you than to blow out my Achilles tendon and be in a wheelchair for a while.”
Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan (23) reacts to a call with an official against the Orlando Magic at Orlando Arena. (USA Today Sports)
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Jordan said he always wants to talk about basketball and “paying it forward” for players currently in the NBA.
“I think, more or less, as a basketball player, he is able to convey messages of success and dedication to basketball,” he added.
Jordan has been out of the game for about two years after selling his stake in the Charlotte Hornets in August 2023 for more than $3 billion. He turned his attention to 23XI Racing and the pursuit of a NASCAR championship.
Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan (23), right, confronts Utah Jazz player Bryon Russell (3) during Game 5 of the 1998 NBA Finals, June 12, 1998. (Anne Ryan/USA Today)
Jordan is considered the greatest NBA player of all time. He went undefeated in his NBA Finals, won five NBA MVP awards and was a 14-time All-Star. He played the majority of his career with the Bulls before finishing with the Washington Wizards.
