Michael Jordan 's fondness for gambling has been a subject of controversy even to this day. Critics constantly raise this seemingly dark aspect of MJ's life, especially those who believe he's not the GOAT.
Gambling was not a good look for Jordan, a basketball star many kids looked up to for inspiration. He has been linked to shady characters, and there have been plenty of rumors about Michael's preference for high stakes.
MJ's father defended his son
Several friends and family members defended Jordan's controversial hobby amid the rumors and nonstop criticism. Among those was the person who knew his personality the most: his father, James Jordan.
In ' Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made' by David Halberstam , James said that his son's gambling antics were a subset of his intense desire to win. For Michael's father, his son reached the peak of the basketball mountain because of his addiction to competition, not gambling.
"Michael doesn't have a gambling problem. He has a competitiveness problem," James said.
Putting money on the line raises the challenge a notch. For people like MJ, who's used to competition at the highest level, he got a kick out of high-risk games. And money was the ultimate motivator.
Related: Phil Jackson on race differences he saw in players' approach to the game: "White players are more often willing to work collectively"
High stakes fame
Jordan didn't seem to care about the criticisms hurled at him. In fact, according to legendary Bulls writer Sam Smith , Michael's celebrity status made him enjoy gambling a lot more .
"One, I know he enjoyed the lifestyle and the ability to gamble at high stakes, which was much easier to do when he had a lot of money," Smith said . "Two, he was able to separate himself with security as the years went on. He basically hung around with his security people, as you saw when he was gambling with them."
Sam noted that Bulls players rarely saw Jordan off the court. MJ was rolling with a different crew when he wasn't working on his craft.
Michael's gambling is genuinely an interesting subject, no matter what side you're on. The Bulls guard legend is one of the most interesting men on the planet. The six championships and unparalleled influence on the court are worth thousands of books and articles. His personal life, especially his gambling antics, is another aspect that deems close examination.
Related: "He wants to play for more money than you can afford to lose" - Michael Jordan's golf buddy recalls his insane gambling stakes
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