Michael Jordan has never been shy about his competitive nature or his gambling habits. Many stories around the league talk about the ex-Chicago Bulls icon’s habit of putting his money on the winning side.
However, the NBA legend says neither sports betting nor modern scrutiny would have changed how he approached the game. If Jordan were playing in today’s NBA, he believes his attention would still be fixed on winning rather than anything else.
“I’ve thought about it,” Jordan said at the SBC Summit in Lisbon. “If I were to play today, what would the game be? It’s a totally different game. But I think ultimately, the conclusion that I come to is that I just play the game. I can’t worry about what people are betting on. I can’t worry about what the stats are. I never worry about the stats. All I care about is the end of the game.”
Jordan’s comments are particularly notable given the massive growth of legalized sports betting since his playing career ended.
Player props and other wagers have become part of the modern NBA landscape, given the recent surge in gambling companies’ involvement.
The former Bulls great said he would not have allowed that pressure to affect his preparation or mindset. His priority would have remained understanding his opponent and doing whatever was necessary to win.
Article Continues Below“I would’ve focused on what my opponent can do, either going left, right, blah, blah, blah,” Jordan added. “I would’ve never worried about who’s betting on the Bulls, who’s not betting on the Bulls, what’s the spread, blah, blah, blah.”
According to Jordan, social media is another major difference between his era and today. Modern players face constant public attention, while Jordan said athletes in his playing days had far more separation between their professional and personal lives.