A series of Michael Jordan gambling controversies came to light during his first three-peat run with the Bulls. He was often questioned about his gambling and golf associations with some infamous personalities by the media, resulting in troubles with the NBA. During his second championship run in 1991-1992, a number of reports regarding MJ’s gambling debt payments surfaced. After a controversy involving a $57,000 gambling debt check, another massive check fiasco at a gambling weekend emerged. However, this time, ‘not perfect’ Michael Jordan got off easy by the NBA. But that didn’t stop MJ from taking his anger out on the court.

While talking about his gambling habits, Michael Jordan once revealed that he gambled for the sake of competition and winning. However, Jordan reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on gambling, and his infamous associations earned him a great deal of backlash. But in March 1992, the NBA let Jordan go with a warning about his associations.

NBA warned Michael Jordan after frustrated rant

As per Sam Smith’s The Jordan Rules, the newspapers in North Carolina reported in March 1992 about ‘another $108,000 in checks from Jordan’, during his appearance at the October gambling weekend at Hilton Head where the ‘banker’ was bail bondsman Eddie Dow. 

After the chatters about a new check controversy spread, Jordan showed defiance at first. The six-time NBA champ stated, “The only mistake, was that it got to be a public knowledge situation. But I have a right to associate with whoever I chose.”

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MJ was frustrated when the controversy surfaced and wished the public had not come to know about it. However, the NBA intervened by launching an investigation into the matter. As a result, the Bulls legend had to visit the NBA’s fifth avenue offices before his game against the New York Knicks in late March. During the meeting, Jordan received a stern warning from the NBA.

As per the book, the NBA told MJ, “Be careful whom you associate with.”

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The NBA decided against taking any serious actions in response to the gambling controversy involving Jordan. However, the warning led Jordan to a surprising realization in the end.

Jordan took it all out on the court

Jordan helped the Chicago Bulls defeat the Knicks after the meeting. He also shared his realization from the whole fiasco during a two-hour press conference. Michael Jordan stated, “No one’s perfect— Michael Jordan, you, or anyone else. Sometimes you forget as a public person the things you have to take into account.”

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Michael Jordan initially shared his frustrations about the ‘$108,000 in gambling debts’ controversy becoming public. However, after getting off easy by the NBA, MJ took out his frustrations on the court. He went on a ‘late season scoring frenzy’ taking his average to over 30 for six straight games. The Bulls ended up with an impressive 67-15 record before the postseason, because of His Airness refusing to sit out meaningless games towards the end.