“Not the Bully Everyone Thinks”: Former Reporter Reveals Michael Jordan’s Surprising Kindness Toward Media

Michael Jordan’s name is synonymous with greatness. His gravity-defying dunks, relentless competitiveness, and six NBA championships have cemented him as a global icon. But for every highlight reel, there’s another side to his legend—a reputation for being one of the most intense and, at times, meanest players in the league. Teammates have spoken openly about his harshness in practice, and documentaries like “The Last Dance” have shown him trash-talking opponents and even seemingly bullying the Chicago Bulls’ General Manager, Jerry Krause.

It’s easy, then, to accept the narrative that Michael Jordan was a bully both on and off the court. Yet, as with any legend, the truth is more nuanced. For every story of Jordan’s meanness, there are quieter tales of respect and kindness—especially when it comes to the way he treated the media.

The Other Side of Michael Jordan

Rene Knott, a former reporter who covered the Chicago Bulls during their heyday, offers a perspective that challenges the prevailing myth. On an episode of “The Circuit of Success” podcast, Knott shared his personal experiences with Jordan, painting a picture of a superstar who, contrary to popular belief, was generous with his time and respectful to journalists.

“Michael Jordan always took time with the media,” Rene recalled. “No matter if the game was won or lost, how he played, he would talk.”

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Knott recounted a memorable trip to New York, where he was given rare, behind-the-scenes access to the Bulls roster. He shadowed the team as they traveled, practiced, and prepared for a high-stakes game at Madison Square Garden. The media frenzy around Jordan was palpable—even in a city accustomed to celebrities, MJ was a magnet for attention.

After the game, Knott watched as a massive crowd of reporters swarmed Jordan’s locker, each desperate for a quote or a soundbite. The scene was chaotic: microphones thrust forward, cameras flashing, voices overlapping. Yet Jordan, Knott observed, never lost his composure.

“There’s this big group around him, and as it shrank, guys get their quotes and they move out. Shrink, move out, shrink. It was just me and him. And he didn’t turn away like, ‘I’m done.’ He talked,” Knott shared.

For Knott, this moment was revelatory. Jordan could have easily brushed off the last remaining reporter—he was, after all, the most sought-after athlete in the world. But he didn’t. Instead, he continued to answer questions, treating Knott with the same respect and attention he’d given the larger group. It’s a small gesture, perhaps, but one that left a lasting impression.

The Weight of the Spotlight

Covering Michael Jordan was no easy task. The sheer number of journalists assigned to Bulls games in the 1990s was staggering. Every word, every gesture, every facial expression was scrutinized and analyzed. For a lesser star, the constant attention might have been overwhelming. For Jordan, it was simply part of the job—but that didn’t mean it was always easy.

Jordan’s relationship with the media was, at times, complicated. He was known to hold grudges against journalists or outlets he felt had wronged him. The most famous example came in 1994, when Sports Illustrated ran a cover story titled “Bag It, Michael!” that harshly criticized his short-lived baseball career. Jordan was so incensed by the story that he vowed never to cooperate with the magazine again—a promise he has kept to this day.

But despite these high-profile feuds, Jordan’s day-to-day interactions with most reporters were marked by professionalism and, often, kindness. He understood that the media played a crucial role in building his brand and promoting the game. He also recognized that, for many journalists, a quote or interview with Michael Jordan could mean the difference between keeping and losing a job.

Power, Control, and Respect

The media landscape of the 1990s was very different from today’s world of hot takes and social media outrage. Back then, athletes like Jordan wielded significant power over who got access and when. Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA star, once commented on this dynamic.

“You did not talk down on Michael Jordan’s name, or your a** was gone,” Arenas said on his podcast, “Gil’s Arena.” “Skip Bayless, what he’s done to LeBron in 22 years, he wouldn’t have had no job past the first motherf**king month. The media we have today didn’t exist then… So, there was no making a career off of Michael Jordan slander.”

This power dynamic meant that reporters who treated Jordan fairly were often rewarded with access—while those who crossed the line found themselves frozen out. Some might call this unfair; others would argue it was simply the reality of covering a superstar in an era before social media democratized the flow of information.

Beyond the Headlines

Jordan’s willingness to speak with every reporter, even after a tough loss or a bad shooting night, went a long way. For journalists like Rene Knott, those postgame interviews were invaluable—not just for their careers, but for the stories they were able to share with fans around the world.

In the high-pressure world of professional sports, it’s easy to forget that athletes are human. They feel the sting of criticism, the weight of expectations, and the exhaustion of constant scrutiny. Jordan, for all his competitive fire, understood this. He knew that a few words with a reporter could make someone’s day—or even their career.

And so, while the legend of Michael Jordan the competitor will always include stories of trash talk, intensity, and yes, even meanness, there is another side that deserves to be told. The side of a man who, despite being the most famous athlete on the planet, took the time to treat reporters with dignity and respect.

A Legacy of Complexity

The truth about Michael Jordan is, as always, more complex than the myth. He was both fierce and fair, demanding and decent. His greatness on the court is undeniable, but his legacy off the court is still being written—by those who knew him, worked with him, and, sometimes, were surprised by his kindness.

As Rene Knott’s story reminds us, it’s easy to judge from afar. But the real measure of a person is not just how they treat their teammates or their rivals, but how they treat those with nothing to offer but a question and a notepad. In that arena, Michael Jordan was not the bully everyone thinks.

Perhaps, the next time the conversation turns to Jordan’s legendary intensity, we should also remember the quieter moments—the moments when he chose to talk, to listen, and to show a little kindness to those who needed it most.