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Michael Jordan Hints LeBron James, Stephen Curry, And Current Generation Of NBA Players Deserve More Respect

Originally posted on Fadeaway World
By Chaitanya Dadhwal | Last updated May 23, 2025 12:47 PM ET

Michael Jordan agreed to be a 'special contributor' on NBC in their next season's coverage of the NBA. According to sources, Jordan had ulterior motives and a vision to fulfill by asking for this role. He did not simply want a paycheck but wants to change the narrative around NBA.

According to an associate close to NBC's production, “Mike told us flat-out. If hearing it from him is what it takes for these fans to stop disrespecting guys like LeBron, Steph, or even Harden, then so be it. He wants the game to move forward.”

“Fandom has gotten so warped. They hate today’s game, but still watch every second. They say it’s not physical enough, but they ignore how advanced players have become. And they use Jordan like a weapon in every conversation. It’s delusional," further added Jordan's longtime friend.

Additionally, according to Medium's reports, Jordan reportedly argued in support for the current generation of players with an NBC producer.

“This era has some of the most skilled players we’ve ever seen. It’s time fans start appreciating that," he said.

He reportedly singled out not just LeBron James, but also Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and others as generational talents. To be fair, when Jordan averaged 30 points per game for eight seasons in his career, it was considered a big deal. Now, three of the four names mentioned above have at least done that once in their career. Jokic missed out by just 0.4 points per game this season. So it's no longer considered a major deal if a player does that in a season.

“If I say it’s okay to call these guys great, maybe my fans will listen. Maybe then they’ll stop tearing the game down”, he further added.

As per this report, Jordan is also tired of his name being used in the GOAT debate. He seems to feel that the debate in itself is tainted and toxic.

“The GOAT debate is toxic because it’s not a debate,” said a retired coach close to Jordan, as per the report. “It’s a cult. And MJ is tired of being the golden calf.”

Michael Jordan Was Responsible For This Deal With NBC For His Return To The NBA

According to the report by Elliot Barnes of The Medium, Jordan's agent did not contact the board of NBC for this deal. Rather it was MJ himself who orchestrated this deal behind closed doors.

“He didn’t just want a paycheck or to show up a few times. He wanted to be involved. He had a vision. And it had nothing to do with nostalgia. Frankly, it took us a minute to realize what he was really trying to do," said a senior NBC producer.

Jordan allegedly feels that the fans have not evolved with the game over the years. He has also allegedly admitted in private that the narrative around his 6-0 record in the NBA Finals is 'toxic' as it ignores the losses he took earlier in his career during the Playoffs.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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