"The ability to gamble at high stakes" - Bulls chronicler Sam Smith reveals what Michael Jordan liked about being famous
Longtime Chicago Bulls writer and "The Jordan Rules" author Sam Smith uncovered a fascinating aspect of Michael Jordan's personality that sheds light on the NBA superstar's inner world. Having covered the majority of the Bulls dynasty in the 90s, Smith revealed that despite his undeniable success and fame, Jordan didn't enjoy the intense pressures that came with it. However, there were a few things MJ loved about it as well.
According to Smith, Mike undoubtedly indulged in high-stakes gambling and seemed to find solace in the company of his personal security, which allowed him to escape constant public scrutiny.
"All this other stuff developed because of how great a player he was. Like he said, if he was averaging 2.0 points and 3.0 rebounds, nobody would be paying much attention," Smith told Hoopshype in 2020.
"So, all of this other stuff accumulated, but at the same time, it was two things," he continued. "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. 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. He didn’t really mingle with teammates at all. I remember some of the Bulls players during the second three-peat telling me that they’d never talked to him other than on the basketball court when he was yelling at them. They’d never seen him off the court."
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Sam thinks MJ loved his NBA superstar status
In all fairness to Smith's comments, hoops fans witnessed Jordan's penchant for gambling and preference for maintaining a certain distance from people through his security. And for the most celebrated basketball player in the world, it's a struggle to keep a happy private life while also dealing with the stress that comes with being an NBA superstar.
Based on Smith's observations, Michael was often torn between his two contrasting lives. However, MJ couldn't say he didn't take pleasure in his superstar status.
"Look, he couldn’t have disliked the life that much since he kept coming back!" Smith pointed out.
MJ loved competing and winning more
Many may have envied Jordan's career, but it also had its advantages and disadvantages. Smith could be right, but as a player, MJ's passion for competing and winning undeniably outweighed the perks of being an NBA superstar.
In conclusion, it's worth noting that Jordan's ability to navigate these conflicting forces with grace was nothing short of admirable.
