Michael Jordan’s tenure as owner of the Charlotte Hornets has been pretty dismal, but his ownership role with NASCAR racing team 23XI alongside racing veteran Denny Hamlin has drawn high praise from the latter. Hamlin drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, but also co-owns the 23XI with the Chicago Bulls legend, who calls Hamlin a “dedicated owner.”
In an interview with Fox Sports, Hamlin discussed how Jordan became a huge fan and took an active interest in the operations of the team:
“I know he’s a big fan. I was watching the game and I saw him reaching out and talking to (Bubba Wallace Racing Team Captain) Butty (Buck) and I was like, ‘Oh, man. Oh, my gosh. , I know Booty must be worried that Michael is right behind them and screwing things up. But he’s a very dedicated boss. That’s what we need.”
It comes after Michael Jordan sold the Hornets to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnarr earlier this year.
According to ESPN, the deal is worth up to $3 billion. In 2010, Jordan purchased a majority stake in the NBA team, then known as the Charlotte Bobcats, for $275 million.
Michael Jordan didn’t have a great track record as owner of Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan, a North Carolina native who also attended the University of North Carolina, was viewed as the perfect face to lead the Hornets, but he had less than half the success he experienced as an NBA player.
In 13 seasons with the team, Charlotte made the playoffs twice, but was eliminated in the first round both times in 2014 and 2016. Their only winning season was in 2021-22, when they went 43-39, but were eliminated in 2020. Play-in round.
As an owner, Jordan did make some questionable choices when the draft fell apart. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller, Noah Vonleh and Frank Kaminsky were all captured. But he did hit the jackpot with LaMelo Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and also won Rookie of the Year.
The Hornets were 27-55 last season before the team left, with Ball playing in only 36 games due to injury. Now, with the addition of rookie Brandon Miller, Charlotte hopes to make the playoffs with a young team in key roles. But it’s safe to say that Michael Jordan’s ownership of the Hornets isn’t what the world expected.