Halloween isn’t usually a central theme in the NBA, but it does add a lively spark to the basketball season. Imagine a Halloween night in the 1990s, when children’s excitement wasn’t just about costumes and candy but about the possibility of trick-or-treating at the home of a global sports icon. Michael Jordan, who is known for his philanthropic measures and love towards kids, made the 90s Halloweens memorable in a unique way.

During the recent episode of the Cumulus Podcast, a story resurfaced that brought Halloween nostalgia to life. A fan recounted their childhood Halloween visits to Michael Jordan’s Chicago residence, where the atmosphere was more high-end than a haunted house. “Sam texted in, AKA Kosher Glass, is what he wrote, so um anyways, he used to go to MJ’s house in the 90s for Halloween and his Butler handed out full sized candy bars… That’s awesome,” said Kenzie, the host of the podcast.

However, right after the fact was revealed, the whole cast got into a debate about who used to pay for the candies, Jordan or the Butler? It’s quite understandable that Jordan did pay for them, and Kenzie spared no time in adding this statement: “If you think, if you think for a second that an employee would cover the cost, the amount of people that would show up, why would he spend his entire paycheck for Michael Jordan’s trick-or-treaters?”

Moreover, to fill the glass with more information, Kenzie also uttered the salary of a common Butler in Chicago. “In Chicago, average salary for a butler is $94000 a year, with a range of $51,000 all the way up to $113000,” added Kenzie. Although the salary range is so high for a butler, if he were to give candies out of his pocket, the poor soul would have gone broke in no time. So it’s clear that Jordan bought the candies.

However, the stories of Michael Jordan’s unique Halloween adventures don’t end here. Just a few hours before the fact of Butler giving out full-sized candies was revealed, Hollywood actor Brett Gelman shared another unique anecdote in a different podcast. The Stranger Things star revealed that His Airness once gave out a more exciting gift rather than candy during a trick or treat.

“So, we go to his house, we ring his doorbell, and he answers the door. Which we couldn’t believe. I thought it was going to be a butler or something. He answers the door, and we’re just standing there shaking … and we’re like ‘[trick or treat].’ And he just nods to us, walks to the bowl that he’s got on his table in the foyer, and gave us Big Mac coupons, free Big Mac coupons,” said Gellman

In an era before social media, stories of Jordan’s Halloween generosity spread by word of mouth, and the legend of his generosity only grew. Now, with fans reminiscing on podcasts, these unique Halloween moments have found new life, giving people a glimpse into the spirit of a basketball legend who gave back creatively. However, there was a reason why the Bulls legend gave out McDonald’s coupons.

Michael Jordan and his partnership with McDonald’s

Imagine the number of kids that went to Jordan’s house for trick or treat. If we compare all the coupons, the ultimate cost might be $100 to $500. While Jordan could bear such a value, we don’t think the NBA legend would have done that, given his business mindset. Now when we go deeper into the past,, all the dots join.

In 1993, Jordan and Larry Bird appeared in a McDonald’s commercial, where they played each other in HORSE. The winner of the contest received a Big Mac and fries. This was part of Jordan’s new partnership with the fast food brand. A new meal by the name of McJordan was also launched because of the partnership. It consisted of a Quarter-Pound with bacon and barbecue sauce, a side of fries, and a drink.

Now, according to Gelman, his story only takes place during that timeframe, so it can be speculated that the coupons that the Hollywood actor got at that time resulted from a partnership. This move showcased his ability to blend his brand partnerships with genuine fan engagement, cementing his legacy as a marketing mastermind. For young fans, receiving a Big Mac coupon from “His Airness” was more than a treat—it was a chance to share in a slice of the Jordan brand experience.