Michael Jordan interview

[King Taharqa]

it airs tonight at 6 PM on Foxsportscarolinas. Below is some of the interview...

bobcats.com: Why are you interested in owning this team?

Michael Jordan: I’ve been here in Charlotte as a minority owner for three years. Bob Johnson asked me to come in and help with the basketball side, and when I realized he was interested in selling, the opportunity to buy presented itself and I began to evaluate it closely. After I stopped playing basketball, my dream was to become the majority owner of a team, not just a minority owner, so I kept my options open in case Bob didn’t want to sell.

But the Carolinas are home, and I think that coming back and doing all I can to build a competitive team and provide a great experience is a good way of giving back to the fans who have supported me throughout my career. I look forward to bringing my kids and family here and building a legacy as an owner.

bobcats.com: Do you plan to be more visible here in Charlotte?

Michael Jordan: Yes, I plan to be here more often than I have been in the past. When I joined Bob as a minority investor, my role was to oversee basketball operations. Now that I'm the principal owner, I understand the commitment I’ve made and know the responsibilities are different. I'm up for that challenge.

bobcats.com: Are you going to make this your home?

Michael Jordan: The Carolinas never stopped being home to me. I plan to spend more time here, but I also have family in Chicago and other commitments that require me to spend time elsewhere.

bobcats.com: How involved will you be with the day-to-day business operations of the team?

Michael Jordan: I'll do whatever I can to make this team a success both on and off the court. Everyone needs to be focused on our goal: building a winning franchise.

bobcats.com: How will your ownership style differ from that of Mr. Johnson’s?

Michael Jordan: I plan to be very hands-on with this business. For me there’s a personal dimension to owning this team. I'm doing this because Carolina is, and always has been, home for me, and basketball is my main business. I’m also the first player to become the principal owner of a team, and that gives me a different perspective on ownership than anyone else in the league.

bobcats.com: How is your role as owner different from that of Managing Member of Basketball Operations?

Michael Jordan: Obviously, I now have to focus on the business side of the franchise and help grow that like I’ve done with the basketball side. But as the owner I have to rely on, work closely with, and trust the people I have in place – Fred Whitfield and Rod Higgins and the rest of my senior executive team – and listen to their recommendations on a variety of issues before making final decisions, both on the basketball and business sides. I am now the final decision-maker.

bobcats.com: Why should fans and sponsors support this team?

Michael Jordan: I don't expect anyone to support us blindly or just because I’m the owner. I think if we can put a winning team on the floor, focus on creating a winning atmosphere and good time for our fans, and be active in this community then we'll have earned people's support, and that's what we all want.

I also believe this arena is important to making uptown Charlotte economically vibrant, and that’s good for everyone. Sports and entertainment play an important role in civic pride. Whether it’s basketball or the best concerts and family shows on tour, I want people in the community to take pride in what we’re doing here. This is a basketball state and we owe it to people to build a strong connection between them and this team. We also owe it to people from across the Carolinas to make this arena the premiere destination for sports and entertainment, no matter what their interests are.

bobcats.com: Will you be changing the team name?

Michael Jordan: It’s an option we could consider down the road. We’ll evaluate everything, but for now, no.

bobcats.com: What changes, if any, need to happen in order for this to be a perennial playoff team?

Michael Jordan: We’re on the right track with a great coaching staff, and we’re starting to understand what it’s like to play as a team. I like the team we've built over the past two years. We have a Hall of Fame coach in Larry Brown and we're really starting to build a homecourt advantage.

We also have to remember that this group has only been together for a few weeks, and they're learning to play with each other on the fly, in the midst of a playoff push. Continuity is the biggest thing, and I think we'll get that moving forward. I want to do everything I can to keep this franchise going in the right direction.

bobcats.com: Are you willing to pay the luxury tax in order to add an impact player?

Michael Jordan: Right now, no. I’m not sure we need to take that risk at this time. If we become a perennial playoff team, then it may make sense to exceed the luxury tax, but it will depend on the situation. We’re not going to exceed the luxury tax just for the sake of it. But if there's a player who can make a real difference for us and that puts us into luxury tax territory, then it’s something we might consider.

bobcats.com: Are you interested in extending Larry Brown’s contract?

Michael Jordan: Larry has supported me and I support Larry. One of the reasons that Larry came here is because of our relationship. I want to keep Larry as long as he’ll stay here.

bobcats.com: How do you answer criticism of your past player personnel decisions?

Michael Jordan: I tend not to worry about the critics, because they're not the ones who have to make the tough decisions.

When I first got to Washington, people didn’t understand the financial position that team was facing. In Washington we put together a five year plan that included clearing huge salaries off the books to create cap flexibility, and building a roster that would become a playoff contender. In just three years, we went from almost $22 million over the cap to more than $8 million under, and traded veterans with big contracts for young talent. In year five, with a roster made up mostly of guys we brought in, they made the playoffs.

In Charlotte, I think with the trades we've made here and the hiring of a Hall of Fame coach, we're ahead of the curve and we're right there in playoff contention. In three years here, we went from being a losing team to being on the verge of making the playoffs.

http://www.nba.com/bobcats/jordan_interview_100318.html

[Dpantherman]

well guess hes not moving to Charlotte. he'll probably by a home here anyway though

[EC123]

well guess hes not moving to Charlotte. he'll probably by a home here anyway though

The people focusing on where he lives are apparently too stupid to think of something else to complain about.

By the way, he said he will have a home here in Charlotte, as well.

If he doesn't live in it everyday of the year, so the hel_ what? You have other owners who own franchises all over the freaking country, and they all have multiple homes, they don't live in the same city all the time as the teams they own.

GET OVER IT.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

He probably already owns 100 homes here. You might rent from him and not even know it.

That kinda money runs deep.

But seriously, no matter how much time Jordan spends wherever, you gotta be crazy to imply he doesn't own real estate somewhere in Mecklenburg and/or surrounding counties.

Do people think he stays at LB's house when he's in town, or at a hotel room? A penthouse isn't good enough so people want him to own a house on the lake?

So tired of that debate.

[Harwood]

His house is almost finished on Lake Norman! It is over 20,000 sq ft with the big Spivey Homes sign in front of it...........Shows you how much people really know what is going on in their community!

[Panthers128]

I liked Jordan's answers. He didn't say what people might want (liked his comment on critics not making the decisions) but he sounded confident and dedicated. Hopefully it's not all talk.

[panthersphan]

Here's a link to the video:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5007385

At one point he says "Not just for North Carolina, but South Carolina has well"

He's going to change form "Charlotte" to "Carolina"

[pdandy1994]

saw it on ESPN and ESPNEWS, and NBATV

glad to see somebody gives a sh*t

[Mesmer]

I am behind MJ 100% now that it's official. That speech was great.

[King Taharqa]

At one point he says "Not just for North Carolina, but South Carolina has well"

He's going to change form "Charlotte" to "Carolina"

He cant. City leaders required the name of the team be "Charlotte" when they negotiated with the NBA to award us another franchise. As proud Charlottean, that makes me happy to know. Washington Redskins get support in Maryland and VA, 2 states, and are named after the city they play in as well.

And to the Bob Johnson haters. He's still with the Bobs as a minority owner and advisor to Michael. So he's still here.

[Liminy]

Loved watching this, made me feel good for the city to have the hopes of getting back into the basketball scene. I think the Bobcats are gonna tear up in the playoffs.

[Mesmer]

And to the Bob Johnson haters. He's still with the Bobs as a minority owner and advisor to Michael. So he's still here.

I don't see how this can possibly be a bad thing. Mr. Johnson is a very successful businessman and as far as I see it, he will be nothing but a great resource for MJ.

[King Taharqa]

I don't see how this can possibly be a bad thing. Mr. Johnson is a very successful businessman and as far as I see it, he will be nothing but a great resource for MJ.

I agree. This was a HUGE day in Bobcats history.

[Kevin Greene]

G/L, the NBA needs more quality owners. All you have to look to is Los Angeles and consider Dr. Jerry Buss vs Donald Sterling. Same town, same venue, polar opposite result for decades.