Steve Kerr Reveals Why Michael Jordan Retired To Play Baseball

BYAlexander Cole4.0K Views
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Steve Kerr
Michael Jordan's first hiatus from basketball has always been shrouded in mystery.

When Michael Jordan retired from the game of basketball in 1993 to pursue a career in baseball, people were very confused. He had just won three championships and was easily the best basketball player in the world. Had he continued, the Chicago Bulls could have easily won eight titles in a row. Of course, we will never know if this would have been true but regardless, we can still fantasize about it.

Over the past few decades, fans have theorized that MJ left basketball for more sinister reasons. For instance, some think Jordan was actually suspended indefinitely for gambling. Jordan's teammates have denied this over the years, specifically Steve Kerr who recently spoke to Rachel Nichols about that very subject. As he explains, Jordan was simply burnt out from the previous three seasons.

“I will always maintain that the reason he went and played baseball was because he was fried emotionally from the scrutiny that really only he felt.” Kerr said. “Just watching him, by the time I got there, watching the life that he led compared to everybody else — it was insane.”

Perhaps Kerr's comments will put to rest all of the rumors that have been surrounding Jordan since the 90s. Of course, this is an optimistic take when you consider how Twitter is never satisfied, regardless of how logical an explanation might be.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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