Michael Jordan’s Nervous Free Throw Encounter with Kids

Even though Michael Jordan is often considered one of the greatest, he found himself feeling a bit anxious recently, thanks to a few kids on Long Island.

During his first NBA appearance on NBC, Jordan shared about a trip to Long Island for the Ryder Cup last month. The owner of his Airbnb had asked him to shoot some free throws in front of his grandchildren.

This anecdote came up when Mike Tirico, who’s been calling games since 2002, expressed disbelief that the NBA icon hadn’t touched a basketball in “years.” Jordan recounted, “I was playing in the Ryder Cup, and I rented a house from the owner. He came over to take pictures, and I thanked him for the stay. There was a basketball court, and he said, ‘I want you to shoot one free throw.’ I thought, ‘Really?’”

Jordan recalled the moment with a sense of humor, noting, “I had already paid for the house, but as I prepared to shoot, I realized I was the most nervous I had been in years. Those kids heard stories about my past greatness from their parents, so, you know, their expectations were sky-high despite me not having played in a long time.”

Tirico joked about Jordan’s hopes for success, and Jordan responded, “Of course.”

This pre-recorded interview was part of Jordan’s new role in NBC’s “MJ: Insights to Excellence” segment, which the network announced back in May. This marks the start of a significant 11-year, $27 billion media rights deal the NBA has with NBC.