Home

NBA

“It’s Very Dangerous”: Despite Being a Global Icon, Young Michael Jordan Did Not Want His Fans to Imitate Him

Published 09/28/2022, 9:00 PM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

Michael Jordan was quick off the blocks when he entered NBA in 1984. The Chicago Bulls legend was a world-renowned athlete by the 1990s, winning six NBA championships in a decade. Jordan’s fierceness and skills on the court have inspired many generations of kids. They often try to imitate MJ with hopes of becoming an NBA legend like him one day. However, the 14-time All-Star revealed during an old interview that he would not want young kids to imitate some of his habits that could lead to serious repercussions.

Michael Jordan has given his fans some epic moments during his 15-season long career. The tongue, clipped haircut, and baggy shorts became a trademark imitated by kids everywhere. However, the Ghost of Chicago’s signature style was his tongue hanging out when he had the ball in his hand.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

A young Jordan appeared on ESPN’s classic show 60 minutes during his playing days. He discussed various issues, including his growing popularity and racial discrimination toward white players in the league. He also warned the kids to refrain from copying some habits of his, which could cause some problems for them.

Michael Jordan advises young fans to not imitate his bizarre habit

Jordan has been a legendary icon for the kids for many decades. MJ had the habit of hanging his tongue out with the ball in his hand. The six-time Finals MVP reckoned that he had been doing it for so long that it had become an unstoppable habit.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

A young MJ felt if kids tried to imitate his tongue habit, they could bite their tongues. He did not want to be a cause of such incidents. Therefore, Michael Jordan said“That’s one thing that I don’t want the kids to do because it’s very dangerous.”

Jordan’s other habits kids should avoid

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Michael Jordan’s NBA journey has been quite a successful one. He reflected his on-court success into his business and became the first billionaire NBA athlete. However, some habits tend to stick out despite how flawless you are on other aspects of life. MJ’s love of cigars is nothing new. The 59-year-old often celebrated his achievements with the smoking of a cigar. 

via Getty

Moreover, Jordan has been into gambling since his high school days. MJ took the thrill of taking risks and winning grand prizes in his early days. He loved to gamble on anything and everything to make life interesting. However, MJ did find himself in some tricky situations due to his love for gambling. The Bulls superstar became the subject of a lot of media scrutiny in the 90s because of his rampant gambling escapades.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch This Story: When did Michael Jordan retire for the second time?

Thus, the NBA legend would not want kids to take up habits like smoking and gambling that could result in serious consequences. Michael Jordan would want his young fans to inculcate his good habits and ignore some habits he might not be too proud of.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Rohit Kumawat

752Articles

One take at a time

Rohit Kumawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over a year.
Show More>