It won’t be shocking to declare Michael Jordan as “the most competitive person on the planet”. Apart from being an athlete who had one of the most complete careers in basketball, the 6x NBA champion has continued to excel in his life even after his retirement as he is one of the richest basketball athletes ever, all thanks to his business endeavour. Well, it might be surprising but the player-turned-business tycoon had a moment where he became a “cheerleader” for the billionaire who owns one of the world’s leading sports technology companies, Sportradar.

Recently, Swiss billionaire Carsten Koerl was featured in a podcast where he shared a story from three years back. “That was one of the moments in your life and I’ve been standing there short after Covid with Michael Jordan. He said to me in the morning. He said ‘Carsten, today I’m your cheerleader’ and I only smiled,” Koerl said, via Bloomberg Podcasts. Amidst the many business investments that Jordan engaged in, he was also one of the early investors in Carsten Koerl’s sports betting venture, which made headlines when it went public through an IPO in 2021.

The company’s owner also had some high praises for the legend. “He’s so competitive, and that’s what I get from Michael. He is, I think, the most competitive person on the planet I know, and learning from him, that spirit I want to win was and is, for me, a great exercise,” said Koerl, who launched Sportradar in 2001 after he realized he can’t have a future in athletics.

Sportradar is currently valued at $3.43 billion and has been a global leader in sports betting and entertainment products as the company operates at the crossroads of sports, media, and betting, offering tailored solutions to sports federations, media outlets, consumer platforms, and betting operators, all aimed at driving business growth. In fact, Jordan took on a more prominent role in Koerl’s venture when he became the company’s special advisor.

Michael Jordan as the special advisor in Carsten Koerl’s billion-dollar company

It was back in September 2021 when Jordan took his involvement with Koerl’s project to the next level by joining Sportradar’s directors, executive team, lead investors, and honored guests at the Nasdaq opening bell ringing ceremony. That event marked a significant milestone for Carsten Koerl as his company celebrated its first day as a publicly traded company.

Just a week after its IPO, the company made the big announcement which stated that Michael Jordan would join the Sportradar’s Board of Directors as a special advisor. The new role saw NBA legend provide the board and management with guidance and strategic counsel with a focus on the U.S. market, product development, and other marketing activities.

“I invested in Sportradar years ago because I believed in the vision and passion that Carsten (Koerl) and the rest of the team had for transforming the sports technology industry,” said Michael Jordan, which highlights his unyielding drive and belief in Carsten Koerl’s idea. From a legendary basketball career to a major role in sports tech, Jordan’s commitment continues to drive industry innovation.

Stay tuned for more such updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show.” Our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.