A quiet comeback
Outlets like Firstsportz highlighted a revealing moment. During the Ryder Cup, Michael Jordan was invited to shoot a free throw on a private court. “I was more nervous than I’ve been in years,” he admitted. The homeowner had told his kids who the guest was, and the pressure to deliver was real. Fortunately, the shot went in, and Jordan celebrated it like a buzzer-beater. “It was the best part of my weekend,” he said.
“We have an obligation to pay it forward. That’s part of what this is all about.”
Watch Michael Jordan’s first conversation with Mike Tirico in the first edition of MJ: Insights To Excellence. pic.twitter.com/7tfzGm6SpM
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 22, 2025
His return to television isn’t about contracts or paychecks. After selling his stake in the Charlotte Hornets for a reported $3 billion, Michael Jordan doesn’t need extra income. “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing it because I owe something to basketball,” he explained. His goal is to give back to the sport that gave him everything—by sharing his experience and guiding the next generation.
Michael Jordan doesn’t want to play again out of ego. He wants to return because he still feels the drive to compete, to teach, to inspire. And while there’s no magic pill, his presence remains fuel for the soul of basketball.