NBA icon Michael Jordan returned for another NBA on NBC talking segment discussing the sport of basketball. Mike Tirico asked more questions to Jordan for his first public role since he retired from the game. Jordan revealed an interesting tidbit about his playing career and a unique clause he requested in his contract.
“If I was driving with you down the street and I see a basketball game on the side of the road, I can go play in that basketball game and if I get hurt my contract is still guaranteed,” Jordan said on the latest edition of MJ: Insights to Excellence. “I love the game so much that I would never let someone take the opportunity for me to play the game away from me.”
Jordan made the Chicago Bulls guarantee his money and had no legal rights to avoid playing basketball off the NBA court. Many contracts have the opposite clauses of players losing money if they do anything physical outside of the NBA that results in an injury. Jordan felt passionate about this being a deal breaker for him and used his leverage.
Michael Jordan Calls Out Today’s Problem
The discussion shifted to the life of today’s NBA stars and the differences in their offseason action. Jordan thinks that players should play more games like that during the offseason rather than just training with a single trainer. The competition level from pick-up games and unexpected challenges is what Jordan claims helped him grow.
“Players probably don’t play. Now, they get individual attention with their trainer. You go out and shoot 100 shots or 1,000 shots. I found that it was to my benefit, was go play basketball, man. That’s what you did. That’s what you grew up doing. Larry Bird took a whole summer to work on his left hand. He did it by playing basketball.”
Jordan didn’t shy away from his belief and calling out something he feels holds certain players back. It is hard to imagine the greatest basketball player of all time parking his car to join a random park game on his off time, but Jordan insists it helped his career.
Some Players Take Michael Jordan’s Advice
There are some instances of NBA stars taking part in games during the offseason to improve their skills. Five-on-five scrimmages and other workout related games keep players in shape to remain active without too much off time before the season starts.
However, players competing in those games or events usually only do it a handful of times. Most of the elite top stars refrain from putting too much risk on their play since the NBA season requires full health. Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren suffered an injury to make him miss his rookie season via pickup games.
Most of these decisions for top talent involve the organization and player coming to an agreement. Jordan believes this level of caution may be too much and it can negatively impact the evolution of an NBA superstar. No player is more qualified than MJ to give an opinion on this topic.
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