"I was scared, I was nervous" - Michael Jordan admitted he was having mixed emotions when he first came to Chicago
"I was scared, I was nervous" - Michael Jordan admitted he was having mixed emotions when he first came to Chicago originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Probably the most famous athlete in the history of Chicago, Michael Jordan is revered across generations for his contributions to the Bulls franchise. He delivered six titles to the city — completing two three-peats during the nineties.
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So, it is no surprise the team decided to honor him with his own statue outside the Bulls' arena, United Center.
Knowing how confident he was during his career, it's surprising that Jordan had mixed emotions moving to a big city like Chicago after he was drafted in 1984. Born in Brooklyn, New York, MJ was only a couple of years old when his family moved to North Carolina as he spent his adolescence in small cities and towns like Wilmington and Chapel Hill.
His mother, Deloris, served as a bank employee, while his father, James R. Jordan Sr., was an equipment manager. Growing up, nobody imagined MJ emerging as one of the greatest basketball players of all time because there were not many great players from that area.
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In a 1993 interview with Larry King, Jordan recalled the emotions he felt moving to Chicago for the first time.
"I was happy, I was scared, I was nervous. I was coming from a city that didn't have too many success stories in the game of basketball. So, I wanted to be a pioneer in that sense for other kids to follow that certain guideline, but I was really nervous coming to a city that I didn't know anybody and I had to start off with new friends," Mike said at the time.
Related: "We only needed one more guy" - Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help
Learning the social fabric of Chicago
Beginning his pro basketball journey with the Bulls, Jordan had to adjust to a new surrounding and living in a big city. Recalling his early days in Chicago, he was fascinated by everything he was learning in Chicago.
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"I didn't know the history that was good. I didn't know anything about the past; I didn't know the gangsters or racism. So I was learning the city from ground one/ground zero, and all of the people I encountered may have been a little biased because they were really nice people and I was just seeing the good side, but every time you go to the stadium, you see different sides because of where the stadium is," Jordan revealed.
Mike talked about the stadium being in a bad neighborhood and how seeing their favorite stars hoop could have a positive effect. At the time, MJ was coming off his first retirement in 1993 but planned to continue living in Chicago.
Earning legendary status with the Bulls
Playing 13 seasons for the Bulls, Jordan wanted the franchise to have the same recognition and following as the Lakers and Celtics and that meant winning multiple championships. Staying true to his mission, MJ helped the Bulls achieve unprecedented success, not only clinching the already mentioned six championships, but growing global fan base as well because of it.
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No doubt, the marriage between the Bulls and Jordan encountered its fair share of challenges, but they overcame all odds.
The people of Chicago haven't seen the same kind of success since, not even close.
Related: "I wish I could have recorded that conversation" - Derrick Rose on Michael Jordan congratulating him on his first All-Star selection
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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