Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.com
During NBA on NBC’s return after a 23-year hiatus (a number that basketball fans immediately associate with Jordan), the network premiered its new interview series with Michael Jordan titled “Insights in Excellence.”
One segment featured Jordan recounting a nerve-wracking free throw attempt he made while staying at a rental property during the Ryder Cup. The story quickly captured viewers’ attention with its surprising vulnerability from the basketball legend.
Jordan described how the homeowner visited with his grandchildren to take photos and made an unexpected request — asking the six-time NBA champion to shoot just one free throw on the property’s basketball court.
What made this moment particularly stressful for Jordan wasn’t the shot itself, but the weight of his own legacy. At 62, he admitted he “hadn’t touched a basketball in years,” yet faced the expectations of children who’d grown up hearing stories about his greatness from three decades earlier.
“I was at the Ryder Cup,” Jordan explained. “And I rented a house from the owner. He came over to do pictures. He had grandkids. And I was meet and greet, thanked him for allowing me to stay in the house. And he had a basketball court. He said, ‘I want you to shoot one free throw.’ I said, ‘Really?’
“Now I had already paid for the house. … So, when I stepped up to shoot the free throw, that’s the most nervous I’ve been in years. In years. The reason being is those kids heard the stories from the parents about what I did 30 years ago. So, their expectation is 30 years prior, and I haven’t touched a basketball.”
The pressure was real.
Less than 48 hours after NBC aired Jordan’s story, video evidence surfaced online confirming every detail of his account — unlike certain other NBA legends whose stories sometimes raise eyebrows among fans and analysts.
Michael Jordan’s story that he told @miketirico is 100% legit. Here’s the original video of it.@NBA @NBAonNBC @espn @SportsCenter @ESPNNBA @CourtsideBuzzX @Ballislife @LegionHoops @TheDunkCentral @JordanMuse_ @HoHighlights https://t.co/eUxUMJvKdP pic.twitter.com/9YVa5RMOlj
— Adam Gilbert (@MyBodyTutor) October 22, 2025
While NBC hasn’t confirmed how frequently Jordan will appear throughout the basketball season, his initial interview has certainly left fans wanting more from basketball’s greatest icon.
