Michael Jordan tried to talk his son out of being 'the next MJ' in newly resurfaced interview

Michael Jordan tried to talk his son out of being 'the next MJ' in newly resurfaced interview originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For a figure as relentlessly competitive as Michael Jordan, it’s easy to assume that the same intensity defined how he raised his children—especially when it came to basketball. But in a resurfaced interview from one of his youth camps, Jordan made it clear that he took the opposite approach at home, particularly with his oldest son, Jeffrey.

Jordan acknowledged that fame creates a unique challenge for any superstar’s family. When your name is shorthand for excellence, the expectations don’t stop at the arena doors. That pressure, he explained, weighed heavily on Jeffrey, who grew up surrounded by cameras, fans, and comparisons before he ever had the chance to define himself.

MORE: Walt Frazier says Megan Thee Stallion is Klay Thompson's 'greatest achievement'

During a Q&A at the camp, Jordan was asked how he taught his kids to handle failure. His response was candid and rooted in realism. He said the burden was actually heavier for him as a parent because his son sometimes felt destined to follow in his footsteps simply because of his last name.

“As a parent, you need to simplify it as much as possible,” Jordan said at the time. “Either way, I still love you, if you missed that shot.” He went on to explain that the real struggle was helping his son understand that greatness isn’t inherited. “It’s tougher for me than you because my oldest thinks he should be the next Michael Jordan just by birthright.”

Rather than pushing Jeffrey toward the impossible standard of replicating his career, Jordan said he and his wife actively tried to remove that expectation. “To try to talk him out of it, my wife and I are driving ourselves nuts to say, ‘You could just have a good time. There’s only one Michael Jordan,’” he said.

MORE: Tiger Woods raised $50M for charity with girlfriend Vanessa Trump in tow

Both Jeffrey and his younger brother Marcus went on to play college basketball, carving out solid but modest careers at that level without pursuing the NBA. Their sister, Jasmine, chose a different path entirely, studying sports management at Syracuse instead of competing on the court.