NBA icon Michael Jordan says he hasnt touched a

Michael Jordan was nervous.

All he had to do was sink a free throw, but a lot was using on that one shot.

It had nothing to do with a championship or a scoring title or the end result of any significant recreation.

It had all the things to do with being Michael Jordan, the person thought of by many to be the best basketball participant of all time.

In his new function as a particular contributor to NBC’s coverage of the NBA — which returned to the community Tuesday night time after a 23-year absence — Jordan was interviewed by Mike Tirico in a section called “MJ: Insights to Excellence.”

In it, the six-time NBA champion who is still the league’s all-time chief in factors per recreation made a considerably startling admission.

“I haven’t picked up a ball in years,” Jordan said.

Pressed on the matter by a surprised Tirico, Jordan said he was last persuaded to shoot a ball when he was renting a home during the Ryder Cup (he didn’t specify that it was the most current version of biennial event that befell last month in Farmingdale, N.Y.).

The home had a basketball court, and the home proprietor wished his grandchildren to see the legendary participant in motion. Jordan agreed to attempt one free throw.

“When I stepped up to shoot your free throw, it’s the most nervous I’ve been in years,” Jordan said. “The reason being is those kids heard the stories of the parents about what I did 30 years ago. So the expectation is 30 years prior, and I haven’t touched the basketball.”

But this is Air Jordan we’re speaking about.

He swished it, proper?

Right???

“Absolutely,” Jordan said. “The most gratifying event that made my whole week is that is that I was able to please that kid, not knowing if I could.”

Jordan retired as a participant for the third and ultimate time in 2003. Since then, he has develop into a extremely profitable businessman — he was the controlling proprietor of the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets from 2010-2023 (he still retains a minority possession in the group) and is the controlling proprietor of the NASCAR Cup Series group 23XI Racing — with a internet value of close to $4 billion.

In addition to his business pursuits, Jordan told Tirico, he strives to spend as a lot time as doable with his household.

“You never really know when you in the prime of your career how much time you really do not have for family,” Jordan said. “That’s what I have time to do now. I mean, the most valuable asset I have is time. So that’s probably why you don’t see enough of me, because that time I’m trying to spend with family members and things that I’ve been missing out on for such a long time.”

All that said, however, Jordan admits he still loves basketball and does want he might be on the market on the court taking part in at his peak.

“In all honesty, I wish I could take a magic pill, put on shorts and go out and play the game of basketball today,” Jordan said. “Because that’s who I am. That type of competition, that type of competitiveness is what I live for, and I miss it. I miss that aspect of playing the game of basketball, being able to challenge myself against what people see as great basketball.

“But it’s better for me to be sitting here talking to you, as opposed to popping my Achilles and I’m in a wheelchair for a while, but it’s nice to be able to share the things that can still make the game great going forward.”