Former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce made a surprising revelation on social media this week, acknowledging that he may have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The admission came after a Twitter user commented on one of Kelce’s posts, suggesting that only someone with CTE would make such unsubstantiated claims.
The interaction began when Kelce made a bold statement about the 1973 Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, alleging that the horse was “juiced to the gills” with steroids. He further emphasized his stance in a lengthy tweet, pointing out the lack of testing in the past and historical evidence of performance-enhancing drugs being used in the 1960s.
In response to Kelce’s comments, a Twitter user implied that only individuals suffering from CTE would make such claims without factual evidence. Kelce surprisingly did not refute the suggestion and instead acknowledged the possibility of having CTE.
He responded: “I mean I can virtually guarantee that I have CTE, all the research would suggest I have some degree of it. I think it is entirely reasonable to assume I have some degree of that pathology.”
This admission is significant, considering Kelce’s successful 13-year career in the NFL. It sheds light on the issue of CTE within the league, a topic that has been a cause for concern and controversy. The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have faced criticism for allegedly downplaying the long-term effects of head injuries on football players.
CTE has been a concern for decades in the NFL
Kelce’s public acknowledgment of a potential CTE diagnosis raises awareness about the prevalence of this condition among former NFL players. It also puts a spotlight on the league’s responsibility to address and support players dealing with the consequences of head trauma.
In light of the situation, Kelce has since expressed regret for his original tweet about Secretariat, indicating a sense of accountability for his words.
The revelation also prompts a closer look at CTE and its impact on athletes. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head injuries, particularly in contact sports like football. It has been linked to symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and mood changes, posing serious long-term health risks for affected individuals.
Kelce’s admission serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing player safety and well-being in professional sports, particularly in a high-impact sport like football. His openness about the potential presence of CTE in his own life adds a personal dimension to the ongoing conversation about head injuries and their lasting effects in the NFL.
Jason Kelce is convinced LeBron James is among the few NBA players who could have a successful career in the NFL.
The retired Philadelphia Eagles player jumped on social media after ESPN analyst Ryan Clark claimed the mental fortitude required to play football far outweighed what’s needed on the basketball court.
‘There are NBA players athletic enough to play ‘Professional football’, but there ain’t 30… & there isn’t 5 tough enough,’ Clark wrote on X over the weekend.
‘The football mentality is built like a callus,’ he added.
Kelce agreed with the former Giants safety, but said he would sign James in a heartbeat if he was the general manager of a football team.
Jason Kelce thinks LeBron James has what it takes to succeed in the NFL
‘He’d be the greatest redzone threat in the NFL,’ the retired center said of the Lakers star
‘I love this argument and passion from Ryan, and as a football player my mind is screaming hell yea!!!’ he began.
‘But, if I was an NFL GM, and it was an option, I’d sign Lebron today and within one offseason he’d be the greatest redzone threat in the NFL,’ Kelce said of the NBA all-star.
The future Hall of Fame center was a student at Cleveland Heights High School when James made his NBA debut with the Cavaliers in 2003.
Prior to that, James was an all-state wide receiver during his days at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, before giving up football to focus on basketball.
James was a high school football star before giving up the sport to focus on basketball
During the 2011 NBA lockout, he courted offers from the Cowboys and the Seahawks
‘It definitely got my blood flowing again … thinking about the game of football,’ James said
In 2022, the Lakers star admitted he still has ‘an itch’ to play in the NFL.
‘If I was in the red zone, especially in the red zone. One-on-one… me out there with one of those small lil’ cornerbacks. Just throw it up, just throw it up,’ he said during an episode of The Shop on TNF.
The closest James came to the league was during the 2011 NBA lockout.
Both the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks offered him a contract during the 161-day basketball sabbatical.
‘Jerry Jones offered me a contract and so did Pete Carroll in Seattle during our lockout time,’ he later revealed.
‘It definitely got my blood flowing again, my mind racing again thinking about the game of football, being out there on Sundays,’ he continued.
‘We was able to get a deal done in the NBA and I was back on the court in no time. But I definitely thought about it.’
During his latest appearance on ‘First Take’, Austin Rivers recently expressed his shock over LeBron James‘ omission of Michael Jordan from the list of the ‘most influential’ players. The former NBA player was shocked at the 4-time NBA champion’s selection. Following that, the 31-year-old elaborated on his stance while justifying his belief
The situation arose in the first episode of ‘Mind the Game‘ podcast where James discussed the matter with his co-host JJ Redick. The panelists outlined Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson as two of the most influential NBA players. They highlighted how the gameplay and contributions of the iconic guards irreversibly impacted the league to establish their viewpoint.
The statements received a mixed reaction from Rivers as the panelists left Jordan out of the conversation. He initially admitted the impact of Curry and Iverson on the culture and display of the modern game. However, the California-born emphasized the uniqueness of MJ, shedding light on his legacy in the NBA.
“If we are talking historically, it starts and ends with Michael Jordan. I think we’re quick to just forget about what he has done for the game. It was interesting to hear LeBron on that podcast with JJ talk about the most influential and not named MJ considering this guy still outsells anybody in today’s sneaker sales for a reason. He is the most iconic player to ever play the game,” Rivers mentioned.
Amidst the unprecedented call-out, the words contained a certain truth as Jordan disrupted the league with his dominance in the late 1980s and 1990s. His influence ushered in a new era as it impacted the likes of Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and others. These iconic figures in turn have motivated the current generation of stars to thrive and aspire.
Thus, despite being a subjective conversation, Rivers shed light on a key area of the NBA’s evolution. Interestingly, Stephen A. Smith joined the discussion soon after, adding another layer.
Stephen A. Smith puts Curry at the forefront
The sports analyst applauded the breakdown from Rivers while siding with his perspective. Smith admitted the impact of MJ on the game without skipping a heartbeat. However, in terms of impacting the modern game, the 56-year-old put Curry ahead of everyone else.
Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
“The biggest influence on NBA today is Steph Curry…You have never seen people jack up threes before the way they are jacking up threes now…We have never seen people as reliant on long-range bombs the way that they are now because of Steph Curry and that’s on every level,” he mentioned.
This also shed light on the solidified legacy of Curry in the game as his shooting range changed the perception. Yet, the opinions on the topic continue to vary depending on viewers’ preferences. Hence, the conversation surrounding this remains an exciting one because of its open-ended nature.
Michael Jordan didn’t hesitate when asked to pick between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Jordan is widely acknowledged as the greatest NBA player of all time, having claimed six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and changed the perception of basketball globally.
However, there is much debate regarding who the second greatest NBA star in history, with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Magic Johnson all being able to stake a claim.
In the more modern era, James and the late Bryant are also among those in the reckoning. And Jordan once opened up about who he considered to be the superior player.
When asked to pick between Kobe and LeBron in 2013, Jordan joked: “I mean, that’s a tough one. I would say… Kevin Durant.”
The Bulls icon continued: “In terms of the dominance of the game of basketball, at this stage it’s LeBron. Championship-wise Kobe Bryant.
“He wants it so bad and he’s willing to go to the extreme. Guarding a guy. Guarding a point guard at the age of 34, playing 38 minutes, and 40 minutes. It’s ludicrous.
“I think this is what he’s battling with. It is what it is. He’s cursed as much as I am. If you had to pick between the two that would be a tough choice, and five [players] beat one.”
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were close friends (Getty)
Bryant, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, and Jordan were close friends until the former’s death in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Speaking at a memorial service for Bryant, a tearful Jordan said: “When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died.
“Maybe it surprised people … but we were very close friends. Everyone always wanted to talk about the comparisons between he and I. I just wanted to talk about Kobe.”
Jordan added that Bryant had come to him for advice during his career.“At first, it was an aggravation,” Jordan explained. “But then it turned into a certain passion. This kid had passion like you would never know … As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be.”
Michael Jordan’s 2022 earnings from his iconic brand collaboration with Nike made him more money than his entire NBA career earnings, according to stunning reports.
MJ is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time after his two prolific playing spells with the Chicago Bulls.
During his time with the Bulls, Jordan lifted six NBA championship titles and was named the NBA Finals MVP six times during the 1990s.
Jordan went on to play for the Washington Wizards in a largely forgettable spell before he called it time on a glittering career for a third and final time in 2003.
The 59-year-old American basketball legend has found incredible success off the court, including his starring role alongside Bugs Bunny in the 1996 film Space Jam.
Jordan’s marketable appeal has also been capitalised on with his partnership with Nike for the iconic Air Jordan brand, earning MJ a hefty payday in the process.
According to Front Office Sports, Jordan’s brand brought in an eye-watering $5bn in revenue for Nike in 2022 alone.
The former Bulls superstar will pocket a lucrative payday, with Jordan receiving a five per cent cut as part of his original licencing deal with Nike.
dan Brand crossed $5B in revenue for the first time in 2022. Thanks to his original licensing deal, Michael Jordan will collect 5%, or $256.1M, which is more than double his career NBA earnings. Over the past 5 years, Jordan Brand has earned more than $19B. (@FOS)
Michael Jordan once threw a free shot with his eyes closed during an NBA game
Michael Jordan once took an incredible shot.
Published 15:01 12 May 2024 GMT+1
Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time, and once he showed off his talent by taking a free throw with his eyes shut.
Chicago Bulls legend was renowned for his no-nonsense play-style, something that made him near-unplayable for much of his career.
Jordan won six NBA championships during two spells with the Bulls, winning three-in-a-row twice and being named the NBA Finals MVP on all six occasions.
His relentless pursuit of success didn’t mean that he couldn’t have a bit of fun from time to time, and he showed that when he scored a three throw with his eyes closed.
Michael Jordan reveals he nearly signed for Adidas
Michael Jordan is well known for his deal with Nike, but he nearly signed for rivals Adidas. Credit: YouTube
The incident occurred in 1991 when the Bulls were facing the Denver Nuggets, with Jordan scoring 37 points in the game.
Despite his superb performance, the famous number 23 failed to dunk against then-rookie Dikembe Mutombo.
In an interview with Pete Holmes in 2014, Mutombo explained Jordan attempted the no-look free throw in order to mock him.
The rivalry between the pair continued into Jordan’s second spell after his brief retirement.
Jordan was filmed having a conversation with Mutombo in the changing room in the Eastern Conference team’s locker room before the 1997 NBA All Star Game.
The two men discussed whether or not Jordan had ever dunked on the then Atlanta Hawk star with the centre saying “For real Mike, you haven’t got me yet.”
MJ responded saying “Don’t even try it” before agreeing he hadn’t got Mutombo ‘recently,’ much to the Hawk’s player’s annoyance.
The next time they faced Jordan made sure he did dunk on his rival and then made sure that Mutombo was aware of what just happened.
Jordan retired for the second time after winning his sixth and final NBA championship with the Bulls in 1998, before coming out of retirement again in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards.
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Getty
Michael Jordan’s comment to man who made million dollar shot at NBA game left him stunned
Michael Jordan stunned the million dollar shot man.
The man who made the famous million dollar shot in a basketball game revealed that Michael Jordan helped him get his money.
During a timeout in the third quarter of Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat back in April 1994, Don Calhoun, an office supply salesman, stunned everyone in attendance by making a three-quarter court shot with a whopping $1 million on the line.
He threw the ball 80 feet as he landed an incredible basket following his incredible effort from the free throw line on the other side of the court.
19 people had tried and failed before Calhoun nailed his shot as he became famous for his legendary moment.
But retrieving the prize proved harder than expected as NBA legend Jordan played a huge role.
The insurance company refused to pay out, arguing that because Calhoun had played college basketball, he broke the competition’s rules.
The event’s sponsors intervened and promised to reward him for his million dollar shot.
For the next 20 yers, he bagged an annual payment of $50,000.
Michael Jordan in action for the Chicago Bulls. Image: Getty
Calhoun had been sharing the court with Jordan, who told him ‘great shot kid’ in a surreal moment.
He met Jordan again after wanting to get the icon’s signature on the ball he’d made the shot with.
Calhoun heard from a friend that Jordan always went to see one of his kids play basketball at their school, so the million dollar shot man showed up with his ball in the hopes of getting his signature on it.
According to Calhoun, Jordan asked him: “Did you get your money?”
Jordan then stunned the lad, adding: “We made them give it to you. We were upset that they were trying not to pay you.”
Calhoun also got Jordan’s signature on the ball after it was sent to his steakhouse, where he said he’d sign and return it.
While he was worried that he’d never see his prized possession again, he decided to trust Jordan and he later got a call from the steakhouse telling him: “Michael signed it and he wishes you well.
Michael Jordan smashed all four clauses inserted into his Nike deal to keep massive contract alive
The NBA legend made light work of the clauses during his rookie season.
Published 11:27 9 May 2024 GMT+1
It’s hard to imagine Michael Jordan without Nike and vice versa, but the paths of the superstar athlete and the sportswear giant came close to never crossing.
Jordan and Nike share the most recognisable and lucrative athlete-brand partnership in sports history, but the basketball legend used to partner with their company’s rivals.
Back in his college days at the University of North Carolina, Jordan looked destined to sign a deal with either Adidas or Converse.
The upcoming star preferred the three-stripe brand, but on the court he worse Converse because Dean Smith and the UNC at Chapel Hill were sponsored by them.
In the movie ‘Air’, it was revealed that after games Jordan would switch back into his Adidas gear.
So, how did he end up at Nike rather than one of the two basketball giants at the time?
Nike had a budget of $250,000 to try and sign up three to four players from the 1984 NBA Draft.
However, as revealed in ‘Air’, Nike marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro abandoned that idea and forced the company to use the entire budget on Jordan.
To persuade Jordan to sign, Nike offered the future Hall of Famer a five-year, $2.5 million contract for after his rookie season.
Michael Jordan in action for the Chicago Bulls. Image: Getty
To cover their backs in case Jordan flopped upon turning pro, Nike inserted four clauses into the deal. Jordan needed to achieve just one of them to keep his deal going.
The four requirements were: be named to an All-Star or All-NBA team; win Rookie of the Year; average 20+ points per game or sell over $4 million worth of Nike Air Jordans.
Surprise surprise, the Chicago Bulls star smashed all of those requirements and remained with Nike for his entire career.
By the end of his rookie season, Jordan had averaged 28+ points per game and had sold $162 million worth of sneakers.
He was also crowned Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Star and All-NBA second team.
The rest, as they say, is history. Both player and brand had profited hugely from the partnership, with Jordan making an estimated $1.6 billion up until 2023.
Jordan could have earned even more money had he accepted a lucrative offer to fight a boxing legend.
Michael Jordan wanted to give away his wages to one teammate he thought was ‘underpaid’
Michael Jordan claimed that Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen was underpaid.
Comments made by NBA legend Michael Jordan over the compensation of former Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen have resurfaced, with the man largely regarded as the best-ever basketball player saying he wished his teammate was better paid.
The duo were arguably the best in the history of the league as the pair played a key role in helping the Bulls win six championships across eight years between 1991 and 1998, terrorising defences throughout the United States.
In fact, prior to Pippen’s move to Chicago in 1987, Jordan hadn’t won a single championship having struggled to benefit from the quality of his teammates as well as his own.
Back in the 1991 offseason, Pippen made one of the worst decisions an athlete can make, signing a seven-year, $18million contract extension. Those seven years were the best of the American’s career but he only took home $2.57million per season.
During the 1996-1997 season, one of the best players in the league and arguably his best year, Pippen only earned $2.25million. In the same campaign, Jordan earned an eye-watering $30.14million.
A few years into the contract and Jordan shared his sympathy for the Robin to his Batman. In an interview with reporter Cheryl Raye-Stout, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard revealed that he wished to pay Scottie out of his own contract. Calling out the Bulls to reward him with a fair deal after the end of the contract, Jordan said: “I wish there was some way legally that I could give him some of the money that he totally deserves as a player. He’s totally underpaid. For years, I was underpaid, but I played it out, and I think he’s going to play it out too. At the end of three years, I hope they reward him with a just and fair contract.”
“I wish there was some way legally that I could give him some of the money that he totally deserves as a player. He’s totally underpaid. For years, I was underpaid, but I played it out” ~ 1994,Michael Jordan talking reporter Cheryl Raye-Stout #NBA #BullsNation
In 1997, a similar conversation was had between Jordan and a reporter with the NBA legend dissatisfied with general manager Jerry Krause’s plans to rebuild the Bulls whilst also underpaying the likes of Pippen.
When asked by the reporter what he would do if he ran the franchise, Jordan joked that he would pay himself $50,000,000, give coach Phil Knight $50,000,000, hand Pippen a cool $75,000,000, and leave teammate Dennis Rodman with $25,000,000 because of his tight budget.
The latest episodes of The Last Dance expounded on Michael Jordan the son and baseball player. More importantly, though, it also explored the persona that defined his legendary NBA career: Jordan the competitor.
The man touted as the greatest basketball player of all time was so cutthroat that both opposing players and his own teammates in the Chicago Bulls were afraid of him.
As Jordan explained, “I wanted them to understand what it felt like to be in the trenches. And if you don’t understand, then you’re not gonna respond when the war starts.”
MJ didn’t spare anyone; Steve Kerr can attest to that. In a 2012 interview on The Dan Patrick Show, the former Bulls guard spoke on His Airness punching him on the face during practice.
“It was one of the best things that ever happened for me,” remembered Kerr. “I needed to stand up and go back at him. I think I earned some respect. But, we have a great relationship ever since… You got to prove it, and then once you prove it, you’re fine.”
The next players on this list — from ex-teammates to fellow stars — weren’t as lucky as Kerr:
Rodney McCray (Chicago Bulls)
Another former teammate of Jordan via Sports Illustrated: “‘He’s the most viciously competitive player I’ve ever seen. That’s what makes him, I think, the greatest player ever. He has practically ruined [reserve forward] Rodney McCray for us.’
When the two players were on opposite teams in scrimmages, the source said, ‘[Jordan] is in Rodney’s face, screaming, ‘You’re a loser! You’ve always been a loser!’ Rodney can hardly put up a jumper now.’”
Will Perdue (Chicago Bulls)
The 7’1″ center talked to CBS about also being a recipient of MJ’s blows in one of their training sessions.
“He did, and I wasn’t the only one,” narrated Perdue. “That’s how competitive our practices were. That wasn’t the only fight, that was one of numerous. But because it involved Michael Jordan, and it leaked out, that it became a big deal.
“And the funny thing was, in that practice that it happened, we basically separated, regrouped and kept practicing — it wasn’t like that was the end of practice. Stuff like that was common, because that’s how competitive our practices were.”
Craig Ehlo (Cleveland Cavaliers)
The shooting guard on the wrong end of “The Shot” shared a savage anecdote about MJ’s career game (69 points) to Deadspin: “We were running up the court side-by-side and he told me, ‘Listen man, I’m hitting everything, so I’m gonna tell you what I’m gonna do this time and see if you can stop it. You know you can’t stop it. You know you can’t stop this. You can’t guard me.’
“‘I’m going to catch it on the left elbow, and then I’m going to drive to the left to the baseline, and then I’m going to pull up and shoot my fadeaway.’ And sure enough…”
Shaquille O’Neal (Orlando Magic)
The four-time champion when asked on The Dan Patrick Show if Jordan ever talked trash to him:
Shaq’s reply? “He told me what he was going to do to Nick Anderson. He was like, ‘I’m coming down. I’m going to dribble it between my legs twice. I’m going to pump fake, and then I’m going to shoot a jumper. And then I’m going to look at you.’ And that’s exactly what he did.”
Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers)
The Hall of Famer recalled making the mistake of talking smack to MJ as a rookie on Jimmy Kimmel Live!: “‘There’s a new kid in town.’ He kind of looks at me and starts shaking his head. So, at the half, I have 10, and he has four points. I’m doing all this talking.
“In the second half, he ended up with 44, and I ended up with 12. He outscored me, 40 to two. And as he’s walking off, (he told me) ‘Be sure, and be careful, you never talk to Black Jesus like that.’”
Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)
On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the NBA legend related what Jordan did after he taunted the latter during a Dream Team scrimmage.
“He came down on the right side, took off,” Johnson began. “David Robinson took off. And [Jordan] said, ‘Okay, I’m going to sit here in the air because I know David Robinson is going to go down.’ So David Robinson went to the ground, [Jordan] 360’d, tongue moving, and dunked it — 360 in a practice game!”
Muggsy Bogues (Charlotte Hornets)
Arguably the most popular story about how competitive Jordan was involved the shortest player ever to play in the league (via Deadspin): “On the biggest possession of the game, Mugsy had the ball with the Hornets down one. Jordan backed off of him and told him, ‘Shoot it you f*cking midget.’ Mugsy shot it, didn’t come close. A year later Mugsy actually told Johnny Bach that he believes that single play ruined his career. His shot never recovered.”
In an anonymous study by The Athletic surveying 103 current NBA players, results found that the vast majority (58.3%) consider Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time with LeBron James (33%) and Kobe Bryant (6.8%) coming in at second and third. Bill Russell and Tracy McGrady were the only other players mentioned in the votes.
Making a case for MJ, one player said, “M.J., for sure. Definitely 6-for-6 (in the Finals) is a big thing for me. But the way I look at basketball is (it’s) about the winning, and if I feel like I need (somebody) to go win me a game, I’m picking M.J. over everybody. (I’d pick) whoever is going to carry me through a series, carry me through the playoffs, and is setting the tone. I think M.J. checks all those boxes.”
Other questions asked in the survey include the best defender and most underrated player in the league right now, which were both won by Jrue Holiday at 28.7% and 17.5% of the vote respectively. Joel Embiid was considered the most deserving of the MVP at 50% and the reports indicated that the coach that players would most like to play for is Gregg Popovich. The most feared player in the league is James Johnson at 41.1% and the person voted as giving the most trash talk is unsurprisingly Draymond Green.
Take a look at the full poll results here.
Elsewhere in sports, Lionel Messi is potentially set to return to F.C. Barcelona.
LeBron James, the NBA’s highest-paid active player, became a billionaire in 2022 thanks to endorsements with the likes of Coca-Cola and Nike, and his business smarts
NBA OG Junior Bridgeman made only US$350,000 a year as a player, but opened 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s franchises after retirement, rocketing his net worth to US$600 million
The National Basketball Association, or NBA, only operates in North America, but that hasn’t stopped the institution from becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Watched by millions around the world, the sport has also turned many of its players into multimillionaires – and now billionaires too. Of the four billionaire athletes in the world in 2023, three are former or current NBA players. (Golf legend Tiger Woods completes the billionaire athletes circle.)
So which NBA stars are laughing all the way to the bank in 2023? The internet wizards at Celebrity Net Worth and Forbes reveal the fortunes of the wealthiest players in the game.
8. Grant Hill, 51: US$250 million
Grant Hill, who played for various NBA teams, made most of his money with footwear brand Fila. Photo: @realgranthill/Instagram
Having played for popular teams like Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers, it’s no surprise Grant Hill has raked in a fortune. Besides playing professionally for 19 years, his long list of endorsements has helped him accumulate an impressive quarter-of-a-billion-dollar fortune.
Over the years, he’s worked with the likes of McDonald’s, Nike, Tag Heuer, Adidas and AT&T in advertisements. However, his biggest deal might be with shoe brand Fila: he signed a seven-year contract worth US$80 million in 1997. Then, in 2018, he signed a lifetime deal with the brand that pays US$10 million a year, per Yahoo! News.
7. Hakeem Olajuwon, 60: US$300 million
Former Houston Rocket Hakeem Olajuwon went into the property market after retirement and made his fortune there. Photo: AFP
Following an impressive 18-year career in the NBA, Nigeria-born Hakeem Olajuwon is known as one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. And also one of the wealthiest.
After his retirement from the NBA in 2002, Olajuwon embarked on a highly successful entrepreneurial career and also got involved in the Houston property market, where he made most of his hefty fortune, per Sportskeeda. He owns a large property portfolio consisting of commercial buildings, parking garages homes and apartment complexes.
6. Shaquille O’Neal, 51: US$400 million
Shaquille O’Neal, brand ambassador, TV host, marketing guru and entrepreneur, owns a wide variety of businesses. Photo: AP
As one of the most iconic (and charismatic) players in the history of NBA, it’s no surprise that Shaquille O’Neal found success as a brand ambassador and TV host after retiring from sports.
O’Neal fast became a marketing guru, endorsing a variety of products and brands throughout his NBA career and long after. Besides working with the likes of Reebok, Nestlé, Buick, Papa John’s, Hulu and Epson over the years, O’Neal also owns 150 car washes, 40 health clubs and a string of nightclubs. He even once owned 155 branches of Five Guys restaurants, which he later sold, per Essentially Sports.
5. Vinnie Johnson, 67: US$500 million
Vinnie Johnson’s wealth ballooned after he retired and went into business. Photo: Getty Images
When it comes to the OGs of NBA, Vinnie Johnson is one of the first names that springs to mind. Despite his legendary status, Johnson famously only earned US$6 million during his basketball career between 1979 and 1992.
After retiring, he founded an automotive company called the Piston Group, the world’s largest value add assembly supplier. As founder, chairman and CEO of the company, Johnson took his wealth to new heights and is now worth half-a-billion dollars, per Capital Journal.
4. Junior Bridgeman, 70: US$600 million
Junior Bridgeman’s post-NBA ventures catapulted him into the league of big earners. Photo: @thecocacolaco/Instagram
Much like many of the NBA OGs, Junior Bridgeman made his fortune after retiring from the sport. When he stepped back in 1987, he was “only” making around US$350,000 a year. That’s when he started Bridgeman Foods Inc, which, by 2016, operated more than 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s restaurant franchises. By 2017, his company became a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company. He also famously owns Ebony and Jet magazines in the US. Needless to say, his post-NBA business ventures have paid off big time.
3. LeBron James, 38: US$1 billion
LA Lakers’ LeBron James, the NBA’s richest active player, has already expanded his business portfolio. Photo: AP
Currently the NBA’s highest-paid active player, LeBron James reached billionaire status in 2022, according to Forbes. And he’s certainly not waiting for retirement to expand his empire. Besides his endorsement deals with the likes of Microsoft, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, Baskin Robbins, Samsung and Nike, he’s also a savvy businessman. James is known to make deals that give him equity in the brands he partners with, earning him profits in the long run instead of making a quick buck. He’s an investor in the Blaze Pizza chain, and takes equity in brands like gym-maker Tonal and ride-share company Lyft, to name a few.
2. Magic Johnson, 64: US$1.2 billion
Magic Johnson retired young after his HIV diagnosis, but built up a massive business empire after that. Photo: @appletv/Instagram
Congratulations are certainly in order for Magic Johnson, who joined the billionaires club this year, per Forbes. Johnson dramatically retired from the NBA in 1991 after being diagnosed with HIV, but fortunately he managed to stay healthy – and thrive in every way possible.
The legendary player-turned-businessman has managed to accumulate over a billion dollars after buying stakes in various sports franchises, including Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the Major League Soccer’s LAFC. His own company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, owns a movie studio, theatres and a marketing company. With fingers in so many different pies, we suspect he’ll be adding a lot more digits to his net worth in years to come.
1. Michael Jordan, 60: US$3 billion
Michael Jordan is the first athlete on Forbes’ list of America’s top 400 wealthiest. Photo: EPA-EFE
Still at the No 1 spot, Michael Jordan’s fortune increase dramatically this year. Forbes even revealed that the former NBA champion became the first athlete to land on its list of America’s 400 wealthiest people.
Jordan, who reached billionaire status in 2014, saw his net worth reach new heights following the sale of the Charlotte Hornets in August for US$3 billion, per CBS. Of course, he has famously partnered with a variety of brands over the years too, from McDonald’s and Nike to Gatorade and Hanes. Known as the NBA’s greatest player of all time, Jordan also has the greatest NBA player bank account of all time.
Different eras, playstyles, strategies, stars, and trends characterize the evolution of the NBA. From the start of the league in the 1940s to today, we have seen numerous individuals dominate the game in various ways. From a slow-paced game dominated by big men to an offense-oriented fast-paced game overflown by shooters, the NBA has seen its fair share of change.
You can make a case certain players benefited from playing in their eras, as the game was better suited to their skillset. But if they were put in a different era that emphasizes their weakness more, a lot of players would have been far off their original level. It is only normal, as it’s rare for a player to be so good in every aspect of their game to be able to adapt to any era and playstyle.
Only the best of the best can be for sure put in any era of the NBA and be just as dominant, if not even more. The GOAT, Michael Jordan, is one of those players, as his all-around game and mentality just make him competent to dominate no matter what kind of era we are in. There is no arguing that, but who are some other players that have or had the ability to play just as successfully in different eras?
Over the course of his incredible career, Michael Jordan faced off against some of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen. From the “Showtime” Lakers to the Stockton/Malone Jazz, Jordan built his legacy on the strength of his competition – competition he defeated more often than not. The 1990s in particular were filled with Hall-of-Famers and All-Stars whose incredible seasons were cut short by losses to Jordan in the playoffs.
MJ isn’t just a legend just because he won – he’s a legend because he won against all-time greats. Even fellow members of the Dream Team weren’t safe from his dominance. Ranking those greats and determining the most impressive victories of Jordan’s career isn’t easy, but there are a few players in particular who rise to the top. The following is a list of the best players Jordan defeated in the playoffs.
For ordering purposes, we’ll consider each player in the context of the season or seasons when Jordan beat them, factoring in stats and accolades for those particular years. We’ll also tally their total records against Jordan in the postseason. And of course, some consideration will be given to the players’ careers in totality and the significance of their losses. After all, every one of these stars is in the Hall of Fame.
10. Reggie Miller
Years Defeated: 1998
Notable Accolades: 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA
Playoffs Record Against Jordan: 3-4 (0-1 Series)
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals series is seen by many as the greatest threat Jordan ever faced in the postseason during his six championship seasons. And by the numbers, it was. The only other time in those six playoffs that Chicago was brought to a game seven was by the Patrick Ewing Knicks in 1992. That Game 7, however, ended in a blowout for the Bulls.
In 1998, Reggie Miller and the Pacers looked as capable as anyone to swipe the title from Jordan. Miller’s scoring potential had diminished somewhat from the peak of his career, but he was still an All-Star and a fantastic player. He led the Pacers very nearly to victory, but it just wasn’t enough to stop Jordan, who averaged 31.7 PPG and 1.7 SPG for the series.
Led by the duo of Shaq and Penny Hardaway, the Orlando Magic managed to defeat Chicago in the 1995 playoffs after Jordan’s late-season return from retirement. Shaq led the league in scoring that year, and he brought Orlando all the way to the NBA Finals, only to lose to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. The next season, the Magic geared up for another Finals run. But they wouldn’t get past Jordan so easily again.
In fact, they didn’t get past him at all. Shaq put up 27.0 PPG and 10.8 RPG in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Jordan, but it wasn’t enough. The Bulls bested Orlando in a clean 4-0 sweep, and the Magic would never again make it out of the East under Shaq and Penny’s young dynamism.
It’s true that Shaq wasn’t yet at his peak when he lost to Jordan, but his dominance even at such a young age and the fact that he’d beaten Jordan in the playoffs the year before (the first time since 1990) certainly make it a win worth noting.
8. Gary Payton
Years Defeated: 1996
Notable Accolades: 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, 9x All-Defense, 1x Steals Leader, 1x Champion, 1x Defensive Player of the Year
Playoffs Record Against Jordan: 2-4 (0-1 Series)
Gary Payton had one of the best seasons of his Hall-of-Fame career in 1995-96, leading the league in steals and scoring a spot on the All-NBA Second Team on his way to being named Defensive Player of the Year. While Jordan came back strong through the East in his first full season back in the saddle, Payton, Shawn Kemp, and the rest of the Seattle Supersonics weren’t about to roll over for the Bulls.
After going down 3-0 in the Finals against Jordan, the Sonics rallied in Game 4 for an impressive 21-point victory, which saw Payton and Kemp both record double-doubles and combine for 46 points. Seattle repeated their feat in Game 5, but their window of hope closed in Game 6 as Chicago won the first championship of their second three-peat streak.
Payton would eventually claim a ring of his own as part of the 2006 Miami Heat championship team, but he would be well past his prime, averaging only 5.8 PPG in that postseason run. Still, he was a champion, which is more than many who fell to Jordan can say.
Playoffs Record Against Jordan: 12-10 (3-1 Series)
Yes – Isiah Thomas was past his prime by the time Jordan finally beat him in the playoffs. His numbers had dropped, and he didn’t make All-NBA in 1991. And yes, Thomas still holds a winning postseason tally against Jordan through their careers. Does that change the impact of Jordan’s eventual victory? No. Especially not when you take into account how huge of a barricade the Pistons were through Jordan’s early career.
Just the year before, Thomas beat Jordan on the way to his second-straight championship and only Finals MVP. Lot’s has been said and written about the lengths and changes Jordan and the Bulls undertook to defeat their Detroit demons, so we won’t go into all that here. Suffice it to say that beating the Pistons after repeated disappointments was one of the defining moments in Jordan’s career and the Bulls’ ‘90s dynasty.
And they didn’t just win – they dominated. Chicago swept Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals 4-0. Jordan himself averaged 29.8 PPG for the series, clinching the victory in a Game 4 stomp of 115-94.
The 1996-97 Utah Jazz were one of the best teams of the stacked 1990s. The recorded 64 wins that season – second only to Chicago’s 69 –and won all but three of their 41 home games. Karl Malone was named MVP, and John Stockton was still one of the NBA’s leading guards. It looked like Utah’s year.
While Stockton’s numbers weren’t quite as outstandingly high as some earlier years, he was still a fantastic player on both ends in ’97, making the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team while averaging a double-double in points and assists. Then, in the Western Conference Finals, Stockton played exceptionally against the Houston Rockets and clinched the series with a dagger three at the buzzer. The Jazz were in the Finals.
Unfortunately for them, it was as far as they would go. Utah lost a few incredibly tight bouts in Games 1, 5, and 6 to go down 4-2. Then the next year, the Jazz ran it all the way back with largely the same squad, and met the exact same fate. In fairness, Stockton’s performance dropped significantly in the 1997-98 season. He played well in the Finals both times, but it wasn’t enough to bring a trophy home to Utah.
More than any other player of his era, Michael Jordan constantly drew comparisons to the Portland Trail Blazers’ (and later Houston Rockets’) Clyde Drexler. Throughout their careers, the two were neck-and-neck in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Jordan outscored Drexler through his career though, by almost 10 points.
Regardless of differences in scoring, Drexler was a phenomenal player. He made the playoffs all 15 of his years in the league, and in 1992, he faced Jordan in the Finals. It was the first and only season Drexler made First Team All-NBA, averaging 26.3 PPG and great numbers across the board. But those numbers weren’t good enough to stop Jordan from claiming his second ring.
Drexler’s numbers in points and assists dipped a bit in the series from his regular-season tallies. Jordan, on the other hand, only got better, averaging 35.8 PPG in the Finals. The two teams traded victories through the first five games, but a close defeat in Game 6 sent Portland home empty-handed.
There is perhaps no NBA player whose career suffered more from the presence of Michael Jordan than Patrick Ewing. He’s even said as much himself. Ewing’s Hall-of-Fame tenure with the New York Knicks was one of the franchise’s brightest periods, but it never ended in a championship. More than anything else, that fact can be attributed to Michael Jordan, who presented a constant roadblock to Ewing in the Eastern Conference.
Ewing came close to beating in 1992, taking Chicago a full seven games, but ultimately fell. The next year, he and the team were arguably even stronger, but they fell in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. That 1993 matchup came after a strong 60-win season from New York – the best the Knicks would have with Ewing on the roster, and the last time the franchise broke 60 wins. Still, it wasn’t enough. The stars would face off once more in ‘96, with Jordan winning once again.
In a whopping 27 bouts against Jordan in the postseason, Patrick Ewing only won eight times. His series record against the Bulls stands at 0-5.
In four of the six seasons that ended in a Chicago championship, Michael Jordan won the league MVP. In 1993 though, that wasn’t the case. Instead, Charles Barkley took the honor in his first season with the Phoenix Suns, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds with a career-high 5.1 assists per game.
The two players’ inevitable Finals showdown wasn’t the first time they faced each other in the postseason. While playing for the 76ers, Barkley played against Chicago in 1990 and 1991. The Bulls won 4-1 both times. Barkley played well in those series, and he played great in 1993, averaging 27.3 PPG and 13.0 RPG. That last series, Barkley’s Suns bounced back from a 0-2 deficit and eventually brought the series to a Game 6, which the Bulls won in stunning fashion thanks to John Paxson’s game-winning three.
Throughout the whole ’93 series, Jordan was sensational. He averaged a staggering 41.0 PPG across all six games with a true shooting percentage of 55.8%. With the ’93 win, Jordan completed his first three-peat and entered retirement for the first time. Did Barkley winning the MVP have something to do with MJ’s heightened drive? Almost certainly. It was the last time they would meet in the postseason, with Barkley having lost all three of their series against one another.
The other time Jordan won the championship but lost the MVP vote, he lost it to Karl Malone. Since the those Finals Jazz Teams have been discussed in detail above, we’ll focus on Malone’s own personal accomplishments for those two seasons, which are very impressive in their own right – All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, MVP, and 0.1 RPG short of a double-double in 1996-97, and a true double-double in 1997-98 with 27.0 PPG.
Malone struggled though against Jordan and the Bulls. He was held to 23.8 PPG on average and shot just 60.3% from the free-throw line in their first postseason confrontation. That diminished scoring was a major hit against the Jazz, especially in a few incredibly close games. Malone fell with the rest of Utah 4-2, and though he was spectacular the next year as well, he would fall with the Jazz squad once again.
Magic Johnson was not the MVP the year Michael Jordan beat him. He was not the assist leader, or the reigning champion. In fact, his last championship was already behind him. But he tops this list for a few key reasons.
First, Magic Johnson was still exceptional in 1989-90. He was named All-NBA First Team and averaged a double-double, and he was coming off an MVP-winning season the year before. The Lakers were still definitively the best team in the West, and he was still the best player on the Lakers.
Second, Magic Johnson was the best player Michael Jordan ever beat in the playoffs, looked at in totality. His career surpasses those of any other player on this list, and while that only carries so much weight in this particular ranking, it still carries weight. The x-factor of a player like Magic, even in one of his less-exceptional seasons, is unquantifiable but real, and it makes that kind of player all that harder to beat.
And lastly, this was Jordan’s first championship. He wasn’t yet the dominant legend the world would come to know – he was a fantastic player who hadn’t proven yet that he was the greatest. But in 1991, he finally did. Beating LA was a feat, both because it was Jordan’s biggest hurdle, and because he did it in just five games. The competition he faced throughout his career was always stiff, but Magic Johnson was the greatest player Michael Jordan ever defeated in the playoffs.
Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
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