Michael Jordan has developed a reputation throughout his career as an avid gambler. However, this piece of news is sure to shock even the most hardcore Jordan fan. Michael Jordan once beat his prom date in a gambling bet.

Jordan has cemented his legacy among NBA fans as the greatest basketball player ever after dominating 90s basketball with two three-peats. His success on the court is a direct outcome of his intensely competitive nature. In fact, Netflix’s popular docuseries The Last Dance reveals how Jordan was competitive to a fault.

As it turns out, his intensely competitive spirit compelled him to push through the limits and seek satisfaction in the act of winning. As a result, sometimes he treated his teammates a little too harshly to bring the best out of them. At other times, he indulged in activities not too conducive to preserving his name.

Michael Jordan once beat his prom date in a gambling bet

According to various reports and testimonies, Michael Jordan expressed his desire to win from an early age through gambling. He once defeated his prom date in a gambling bet during his high school days in Wilmington, North Carolina, as noted in Roland Lazenby’s book, Michael Jordan: The Life.

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As it turns out, the Bulls legend even mentioned the incident in a letter. Later on, in his college career, Jordan would continue his hand in gambling. In fact, a $5 check from a pool game during his time at the University of North Carolina had been put up for auction.

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Jordan’s gambling would only get worse with time. However, the Chicago Bulls superstar would refuse to accept it as an addiction. “I have a competition problem,” he once remarked in an interview.

Theories on Jordan’s gambling

There are many theories in circulation regarding Jordan’s gambling habits during the 90s. Perhaps the most widely known one is that the death of the six-time NBA champion’s father had a direct correlation to his gambling habits.

Moreover, Jordan’s subsequent retirement in 1993 also prompted speculation regarding his gambling. Many believed that the NBA forced him out of the league to avoid negative press.

Nevertheless, Michael Jordan’s gambling stories seem to have no limit. Every time you think you’ve heard it all, a new one pops out of nowhere.

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