Billionaire Michael Jordan Once Slammed His Compulsive Gambling Habits Rumors With Admission on Questionable Choices

NBA legend Michael Jordan is one of the most successful basketball players ever. He has played in six NBA Finals series and won six championships. He has also won the Finals MVP award on all six occasions. Jordan’s desire to be better than everyone stems from his competitive nature. At a very young age, MJ developed his competitiveness. In his Hall of Fame inductance speech, Jordan spoke a lot about his competitiveness.

He stated his siblings initially lit the competitive fire in him by playing pickup basketball every day in their backyard. Then, Jordan not making the varsity team while his friend made it, fueled this fire to be better every day. There began MJ’s journey to greatness, and he has become arguably the best basketball player ever.

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He became a high school superstar and then went on to play college basketball for the University of North Carolina. He then helped the Tar Heels win the national championship in 1982 by hitting the game-winner. The Chicago Bulls selected him as the third pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Before joining the Bulls, he helped team USA win the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

Michael Jordan opened up about his gambling

However, his competitiveness goes off the court as well. Be it a round of golf, a board game, or a game of cards, Michael Jordan wants to win. He doesn’t mind raising the stakes as well. Like many athletes, MJ had a habit of betting with his teammates and friends. Also, he gambled as well. And there were allegations that Jordan had a compulsive gambling problem. During an interview, he admitted he’s made some reckless choices.

“Yeah, I’ve gotten myself into situations where I would not walk away and I’ve pushed the envelope. Is that compulsive? Yeah, it depends on how you look at it. If you’re willing to jeopardize your livelihood and your family, then yeah,” says Jordan.

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The six-time champion clarified that he is not willing to do that. His father, James Jordan Sr. once said that his son doesn’t have a gambling problem, but a competitive problem.

The five-time MVP winner’s ‘competitive problem’ has brought him all the success. He might have lost some money because of that. But it made him the first-ever athlete to be a billionaire, the first-ever former basketball player to be a majority team owner when he bought the Charlotte Hornets, and much more.