Michael Jordan Speaks to ESPN’s Darren Rovell

Tomorrow the Hornets play their first regular season game of the 2014-15 season against the Milwaukee Bucks. In preparation for the season, Hornets owner Michael Jordan sat down with ESPN’s Darren Rovell for a small interview showed on Sportscenter last night after Monday Night Football. Here’s a few things I gleaned from that discussion.

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1.Jordan has learned the Magic Johnson Conundrum and accepts it

After retiring from the Lakers when he discovered he was HIV positive, Johnson returned to the organization as its head coach a few years later. Johnson, the consummate point guard, was probably seen as an ideal NBA coaching candidate. Johnson had trouble during his brief tenure as Lakers coach because of two things.

One, Johnson discovered not all NBA players thought like Magic Johnson. They did not have the same views of work ethic or basketball IQ that Johnson had. Having been around professionals like Kareem and Worthy probably gave Johnson the idea that all pros were like him. They were not.

Two, Johnson found himself frustrated by the lack of impact he had on a game from the coaches’ seat. Johnson found himself wanting to be on the court to do the things he could see in his mind. Eventually Johnson resigned as coach and made a brief return as a player. He felt much better being able to ‘show’ his teammates what he wanted rather than simply ‘tell’ them.

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Jordan mentioned to Rovell that he still felt those impulses, but there was nothing he could really do as an owner to impact the game. He accepts that. It is still hard for him but he gets that now. I think that this one of the reasons we have seen the rise of Rich Cho.

2.Jordan says he doesn’t play the “I Am Michael Jordan” card with free agents

Well, no. He does not have to say he is Michael Jordan. However this is why players have agents. A player can worship at the altar of Airness all they want, but the player agent is the one who makes the deal. The agent can ignore Jordan’s legacy because to him, Michael Jordan is just a money spigot- one of thirty possible money spigots.

3.Jordan sold Lance Stephenson on “competing against LeBron”
I don’t know how much I believe that.