Kemba Walker spent his first eight years in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets , during which time he not only rose to the All-Star level but even developed a strong bond with former majority owner Michael Jordan . While the six-time Finals MVP's on-court expertise provided valuable help, their relationship extended beyond basketball.
However, given the latter's renowned competitiveness, the four-time All-Star quickly realized that engaging in gambling activities with Michael was ill-advised.
Walker on deciding never to gamble with Jordan
During his appearance on the '7 PM in Brooklyn' podcast, Kemba recounted an incident from his sophomore year in the league, wherein on a trip to Monaco, he realized how he would never be able to match MJ's intensity.
"This was my second year. One thing I learned, I ain't gambling with him. I ain't gon lie! He different. I gambled with him when we was in Monaco one time. He too intense! He too intense, bro," Kemba said . "I'm good. He throwing the money down, I can't compete with him."
Related: “If it were him, he, too, would be upset” - Jordan apologized to Scottie Pippen over 'The Last Dance' controversial scene
He isn't the only one who witnessed Jordan's competitiveness in gambling
Given Michael's desire to be the best in everything he undertook—be it basketball, table tennis, golf, or even cards—the stakes never mattered to the five-time MVP. MJ wanted to simply win and dominate his opponents. Antonie Walker witnessed this competitive nature firsthand, recalling how the Chicago Bulls legend once played a game of spades for 36 hours in a restaurant and shockingly trailed by a six-figure amount.
"If you don't have $20,000 to get in, you can't even play. Mike was competitive. I remember one time we played spades for 36 hours. We were playing against two other guys, and Mike and I were partners. They had us behind $900,000," Antoine said during his appearance on the All Things Covered podcast.
MJ was dead set on getting his money back, no matter how long it took, because he hated losing. Luckily, Jordan never had to worry about running out of cash to support his habits. Even now, with a net worth of a billion dollars, it's evident that some habits stick with you forever - and for the six-time NBA Champ, it's been gambling.
Related: "MJ gave me an opportunity" - Kemba Walker on Michael Jordan's trust and what Charlotte meant to him
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