Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
But the legend himself just admitted something shocking about his relationship with the game.
And Michael Jordan made one stunning admission about the last time he picked up a basketball.
Jordan made his NBC broadcasting debut with a shocking revelation
NBC brought the NBA back to its airwaves for the first time since 2002 with a splash on Tuesday night.
The network rolled out Michael Jordan as a special contributor for their new "MJ: Insights to Excellence" segment during halftime of the season opener between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
Jordan sat down with longtime NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico for what many expected would be analysis of the day’s game.
But when Tirico asked Jordan when he last picked up a basketball, the answer stunned everyone watching.
"I haven’t picked up a ball in years," Jordan revealed.¹
Tirico couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
"No, come on. Just like walk past. There’s got to be a hoop somewhere at your place," Tirico said.²
But Jordan wasn’t kidding around.
The man who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and dominated the game for 15 seasons really hasn’t touched a basketball in years.
Jordan retired from professional basketball for the third and final time in April 2003 at age 40.³
The only time Jordan picked up a basketball left him terrified
Jordan then told Tirico about the one recent time he actually took a shot.
And the circumstances that led to it were completely unexpected.
"I was at the Ryder Cup," Jordan explained. "I rented a house from the owner. He came over to do pictures. He had grandkids, and I was meeting and greeting, thanking them for allowing me to stay in the house, and he had a basketball court."⁴
Jordan was attending the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York last month.
The homeowner asked Jordan to do something simple – shoot one free throw in front of his grandchildren.
"He says, ‘I want you to shoot one free throw.’ I said, ‘Really?’ Now, I already paid for the house; it’s not like he got to see me," Jordan said with a laugh.⁵
What happened next would surprise even the most devoted Jordan fans.
"When I stepped up to shoot the free throw, it’s the most nervous I’ve been in years," Jordan admitted.⁶
Think about that for a second.
This is a man who hit the championship-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals with millions watching worldwide.
Jordan was the most clutch performer in basketball history, someone who lived for pressure-packed moments.
But standing at a backyard free throw line in front of a few kids had him shaking.
"Reason being, those kids heard the stories from the parents about what I did 30 years ago," Jordan explained. "So their expectation is 30 years prior and I haven’t touched a basketball."⁷
The weight of his own legacy was crushing him.
These children expected to see the Michael Jordan who averaged 30.1 points per game across 15 seasons.⁸
They’d heard about the five MVP awards and six Finals MVP trophies.
They knew about the 10 scoring titles and the two Olympic gold medals.⁹
Jordan had to deliver in a moment where he couldn’t control the outcome through practice and preparation.
He hadn’t touched a basketball in years, and now kids were watching him – kids who thought they were about to witness greatness from 30 years ago.
Tirico asked the obvious question everyone wanted to know.
"I hope you swished it," Tirico said.¹⁰
"Absolutely," Jordan replied confidently.¹¹
Of course he did.
Video footage of the moment later surfaced on social media, showing Jordan lining up at the free throw line, taking one dribble, and calmly draining the shot through the net.¹²
The crowd of onlookers erupted in cheers while Jordan grinned and exhaled with visible relief.
"I got the most gratifying (feeling). That made my whole week. I was able to please that kid, not knowing if I could," Jordan said.¹³
Jordan’s competitive fire still burns 20 years after retirement
The segment revealed something deeper about Jordan’s relationship with basketball and competition.
He may not touch a basketball anymore, but that legendary drive still defines who he is.
"Love it like you wouldn’t believe," Jordan said when asked about the game. "In all honesty, I wish I could take a magic pill, put on shorts and go out and play the game of basketball today. Because that’s who I am. That type of competition, that type of competitiveness is what I live for. I miss it."¹⁴
Jordan acknowledged why he can’t go back, even though he desperately wants to.
"I miss that aspect of playing the game of basketball. Being able to challenge myself against what people see as great basketball," Jordan continued. "But it’s better for me to be sitting here talking to you as opposed to popping my Achilles and I’m in a wheelchair for a while."¹⁵
Jordan’s new role with NBC represents a different way for him to stay connected to the game he revolutionized.
NBC signed an 11-year broadcasting agreement with the NBA last year, bringing pro basketball back to the network after more than two decades.¹⁶
Jordan’s "MJ: Insights to Excellence" segments will air throughout the 2025-26 season, featuring taped conversations with Tirico covering various basketball topics.
The network teased that next week’s installment will feature Jordan’s thoughts on load management and why he always tried to play all 82 games during a season.¹⁷
Jordan explained his motivation for taking on this new role.
"I have an obligation to the game of basketball," Jordan stated. "As a basketball player, it’s about passing on messages of success and dedication to the game."¹⁸
Even Charles Barkley admitted he was "shocked" when NBC announced Jordan would be part of their NBA coverage.¹⁹
Jordan has mostly stayed out of the public eye since selling his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023.²⁰
The fact that he’s willing to step back into the spotlight for NBC shows how seriously he takes giving back to the game.
But that backyard free throw story captures something essential about Michael Jordan.
The legend still exists, the competitive fire still burns, and the pressure of living up to his own name still weighs on him – even at a rental house in front of a few kids.
Twenty years after retirement, Jordan proved he can still deliver when it matters most.
https://twitter.com/CourtsideBuzzX/status/1981399476452405392
And he swished it.
¹ Dylan Gwinn, "Michael Jordan Makes Stunning Admission About the Last Time He Picked Up a Basketball," Breitbart, October 22, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ "When Did Michael Jordan Retire From the NBA," MyBasketballAcademy.com, accessed October 23, 2025.
⁴ Nick Piastowski, "Michael Jordan has a Ryder Cup story. It features one free throw," Golf.com, October 22, 2025.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ "What age did Michael Jordan retire?" MeetBeagle.com, accessed October 23, 2025.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Piastowski, Golf.com.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² Kyle Koster, "New Video of Michael Jordan’s ‘Most Nervous’ Free Throw Emerges After NBC Interview," Sports Illustrated, October 23, 2025.
¹³ Piastowski, Golf.com.
¹⁴ "Michael Jordan discusses last time shooting a ball, why he wishes he could still play in broadcast debut," CBS Sports, October 22, 2025.
¹⁵ Ibid.
¹⁶ "Michael Jordan Joins NBA on NBC as Special Contributor," SomosHermanos.mx, October 21, 2025.
¹⁷ "How To Watch Michael Jordan’s Appearance With NBA on NBC," ProFootballNetwork.com, October 22, 2025.
¹⁸ "Michael Jordan’s Debut Appearance on NBC Sports Draws Reaction From Sports Media," Barrett Media, October 22, 2025.
¹⁹ Matt Clapp, "Michael Jordan makes NBA on NBC debut," Awful Announcing, October 22, 2025.
²⁰ "Michael Jordan’s NBC debut exposes a disconnect," RollingOut.com, October 23, 2025.
