NBA legend Michael Jordan—six-time Finals MVP and 14-time NBA All-Star—once owned a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, but eventually sold it in 2023. A lot of things were said and speculated on why he decided to step away from the management side of basketball, but the team’s former general manager revealed information as to why Jordan chose to do so.
In an interview with NESN, former Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak talked about his relationship with the NBA legend Michael Jordan, and also touched on the story behind MJ selling his majority stake in the team.
“Really tough for him to be patient and build out the team,” Kupchak said. “I’m not sure going forward that he was comfortable with the direction the NBA was heading.”
Kupchak also mentioned that the generational gap and how things are played today compared to his time contributed to Jordan’s decision to step away from a major role in the team.
“The NBA with the salaries, and the rules, and all the exposure and player maintenance,” he continued. “The way the player is today versus the player 30 years ago.”
While he sold his majority stake in the team, Micahel Jordan continued to own a minority stake and remained part of a franchise in an advisory role.
Jordan purchased his majority stake in the Hornets in 2010 for $275 million, when the team was still known as the Bobcats. His decision was highly influenced by his close attachment to North Carolina, where he grew up and played for USC in college.
Hornets Former GM Thinks Compares Michael Jordan Era to Today’s Players
Mitch Kupchak also touched on the difference between how games were played during Michael Jordan’s era, and how players like MJ would fare if they had played with today’s rules.
“He’s old school,” Kupchak said. “I’m not sure he would fit into today’s player. Back then, you drive the paint, you leave the ground, you’re in the air and you literally get tackled right to the ground. The three-point shot was very different. There was hand checking back then.”
“It’s a totally different game. Guys like Michael and Jerry West, under today’s rules, they could have averaged 40 to 45 points a game.”
Right now, Michael Jordan spends his time with his family and continues on philanthropy work as well.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
