When it comes to Michael Jordan, even the rumors spark as much attention as his game-changing dunks. And it came as a surprise for many when a report emerged that His Airness has made his political stand public. As per the report, the 6x NBA champ endorsed Donald Trump for the presidential elections. While the claim had already been denied by MJ’s representatives, his daughter has also responded to the rumors.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, MJ’s representatives said, “There is absolutely no truth to the claim that Michael Jordan has made an endorsement in the presidential election.” Ballers Alert mentioned the same statement in one of their IG post, revealing the truth behind the false report. Jasmine Jordan re-shared the post to her IG story and wrote, “Be so for real #GTFOH”.

But why was this rumor such a shock? Unlike public figures like LeBron James or Taylor Swift, who openly support Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, Jordan has always played his cards close to the chest when it comes to politics. Michael Jordan’s preference to remain apolitical is well-documented, sparking conversations about whether celebrities should take sides.

Think back to 1990, when Jordan famously (or infamously) joked, “Republicans buy sneakers too,” during a Senate race in North Carolina. In The Last Dance, Jordan explained it was a joke shared on a bus ride with teammates Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen. “I don’t think that statement needs to be corrected,” he said.

Jordan has previously said he’s not an activist, unlike Muhammad Ali, whom he deeply respects. “I thought of myself as a basketball player. I wasn’t a politician when I was playing my sport,” he admitted. For Michael Jordan, staying laser-focused on his craft was everything. However, not all the entities from the basketball community have been as secretive about their political stand.

Basketball stars being vocal about their political standpoints

As mentioned earlier, LeBron James openly endorsed Kamala Harris ahead of the presidential elections. “What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS,” he wrote in an X post.

Apart from this, multiple stars from the basketball community made their stance clear after the first debate between Harris and Trump hosted by ABC News. “… Kamala Harris did an excellent job of making her case on why she should be President of the United States tonight and I’m so proud of her!” Magic Johnson wrote on X after the debate.

Some other names to voice their support for Harris included George Karl and Natasha Cloud. On the other hand, Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac had opened up about his views on the former president in a post on X in July this year.

“I truly don’t understand the mass fear mongering when it comes to Trump. The man was ALREADY President! I get not liking him or not wanting him to be president again but c’mon bro… The man is the nominee for half of the country…” Issac wrote. But when it comes to rumors about political endorsements, we now know where Michael Jordan and his daughter stand.