Michael Jordan Flew to Nashville Before Sealing $3 Billion NBA Deal Only to Find One Person

Remember, in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals—what’s now called The Flu Game—Michael Jordan dropped 38 points while barely able to stand. Most players would’ve sat out. MJ suited up and took over. It is moments like this that reflect MJ’s mindset. That same grit shows up in his business moves, too. He didn’t just lend his name to Nike—he built the Jordan Brand into a billion-dollar empire by demanding the same excellence off the court that he did on it. So, Michael Jordan is business-savvy. That said, Jordan has always had strong ethics. The Bulls legend has always taken a stand for his friends. Back in 2023, Jordan sold his majority stake in an NBA team. However, he did one thing before the massive sale that caused waves.

It goes back to his love for North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ 1982 NCAA championship will forever remain the most unforgettable moment. And Jordan was part of it thanks to his gravity-defying shot. By the time MJ joined the University of North Carolina, he had already shown how good he was at the sport. His skills were otherworldly. However, the spotlight truly turned to him when he led the team to a championship. It was Dean Smith’s first national championship. This alone doesn’t explain the love MJ has for North Carolina.

Before the sale of his stakes in the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan flew all the way to Nashville to meet a friend, Eric Church. The two often go golfing and share a great friendship. The American singer revealed that Jordan offered him the chance to buy stakes in the Hornets because he wanted North Carolina people to represent the team.

“Just kind of started you know hanging out a little bit, We opened a bar in Nashville called Chiefs and he came up there and then he kind of got me into being an owner with the Hornets. He was selling his stake and wanted some local people from North Carolina that would represent a percentage of the Hornets so I did that and and since then we’ve been on a couple trips together and hung out together and it’s been a lot of fun,” Church said on The Steam Room podcast.

via Imago

After the sale of the majority stake, Jordan reportedly remained a minority owner in the team. He sold it for $3 billion to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. That was a big step, as it saw Jordan’s net worth rise to $3.5 billion, making him the richest NBA player. The time Jordan spent in North Carolina after his family moved is special to him. He grew up in the city and has a massive love for the place and the Tar Heels.

Michael Jordan’s love for the Tar Heels

The Chicago Bulls legend’s love for his college team is much more than his worldwide recognition and the money he earned from the pro league. His six championship titles with the Bulls made history. During this time, he also got into the Dream Team of 1992, which elevated him to global fame. During his interview with Marvin R. Shanken in 2005, the Chicago Bulls legend admitted that it is his time with the Tar Heels and that he considers it his favorite.

His era with the Heels had its challenges, and it was the competition that was his favorite. “By the time I got to Chicago, I was drafted three, so everybody knew I was at least decent. But at North Carolina, when they recruited me and asked me to attend the university, it was an opportunity to prove myself. Up to that point, everybody had heard that this kid is pretty good, but we don’t know how good. He came from a small town. He wasn’t preseason All-American,” Jordan said. He has always appreciated the lesson he learnt from his former coach, Smith.

He found huge success playing in the NBA. With his Nike shoe deal and global fame, he landed further lucrative deals with Gatorade, Coca-Cola, and more. As per Spotrac, MJ reportedly made more than $90,000,000 during his 16-year NBA career. While all these are precious to him, above everything comes the competitiveness for MJ that keeps him going.