A new controversy is brewing in the NBA world. And this time it’s Marcus Jordan, the 34-year-old son of NBA legend Michael Jordan. In Marcus’s case, the scrutiny has been relentless. On February 4th, Marcus was arrested with charged with possession of dr**s. Despite the arrest being relatively low-profile in nature, the fact is that when you’re part of the great Jordan family, every move you make will be under the magnifying glass. And for Marcus Jordan, it seems like the world isn’t quite ready to let this one go.

In a recent Club Shay Shay episode, Shannon Sharpe and rapper Gillie Da Kid (aka KING GILLIE) shared a candid conversation about the legacies of Michael Jordan and LeBron James. As the discussion unfolded, the inevitable topic of their sons came up. And Shannon didn’t forget to upload the clip of this conversation on his Instagram profile. 

In the video, the American football tight end reflected on the impossible expectations placed on the next generation. “Who thought, God gonna make you LeBron James, then gonna make Michael Jordan, and you know what by the way, I think I’m gonna make your sons just as good as you all too,” he said. But Gillie wasn’t so sure. He turned the conversation to Marcus Jordan, Michael’s son, noting the stark contrast between the two legacies.

“That’s no happen… let’s think of Mike’s situation,” Gillie said. “He out here selling more sneakers than ni***s playing now and his son running around here..” and made a sign of taking Yayo. Gille didn’t hesitate to point out that Junior Jordan at least should try to take the yayo out of the picture. As the conversation turned more somber, Shannon shifted the focus to LeBron’s fight to protect his son, Bronny. “That’s what Bronny’s up against,” Shannon said. In that clip, on one side, there was a picture of LeBron and Bronny playing for the Leakers. And on the other side pictured Marcus Jordan at a party in France, taking white powder. The contrast was painfully clear between these two scenarios. 

The video clearly shows one thing. That is the weight of expectation on LeBron’s shoulders to ensure his son stays clear of the same pitfalls. The conversation revealed more than just a comparison of legacies. It was a reminder of the struggles that come with the shadows of greatness. Speaking of greatness, though, have you ever wondered how a kid from Brooklyn became the legendary Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan shaping his legacy with the Chicago Bulls

In 1984, a 6-foot-6 guard by the name of Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, and the team’s ascent to dominance began. Well, from the very beginning, Jordan was no ordinary player. He was a talented shooter, a brilliant passer, and a tenacious defender. In his rookie season (1984-85), he led the league in scoring and earned the title of Rookie of the Year. By 1986-87, Jordan had become a beast on the court. He was only the second player in NBA history after Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a single season.

Jordan was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), and he was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. However, in October 1993, after leading the Bulls to their third consecutive championship, Jordan retired and turned his attention to professional baseball. But it didn’t take long for his love of basketball to pull him back. In March 1995, Jordan returned to the NBA, to the Bulls.

In the 1995-96 season, Jordan led the Bulls to a 72-10 regular-season record, the best in NBA history at the time. That same year, the Bulls won another championship, and Jordan was the MVP in the Finals once again. From 1996 to 1998, Jordan and his Bulls captured three more consecutive championships. And each time, Jordan was named Finals MVP. In 2003, he took his final retirement from basketball. But he had already earned the nickname “GOAT” by then.