Published 12/20/2022, 2:30 PM EST
Many people might think that basketball was the first love of NBA legend Michael Jordan as he thoroughly dominated the game. However, it was not the case and MJ didn’t even grow up watching NBA. The five-time NBA champion grew up watching several sports and his favorite was the one that had Richard Petty as one of its legends. In light of this, a few ago years Jordan opened up on how Petty helped him to fall in love with the sport.
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WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK – AUGUST 08: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 08, 2021 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Richard Petty is lauded by many as the greatest of all time in the field of stock car racing. Apart from that, he is one of the most decorated NASCAR drivers. From raking up the most wins to tying for the most championships, the King was one of a kind. As a result of this, he was probably able to able to attract the five-time NBA champion and make him fall in love with the sport.
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Michael Jordan on falling in love with NASCAR and Richard Petty
A few years ago, in an interview with Marvin R. Shanken of ‘Cigaraficionado,’ Jordan revealed how he fell in love with stock car racing even before becoming the co-owner of the $150 million NASCAR cup series team, 23XI, which has Bubba Wallace as one of the drivers.
Jordan started off by saying that, in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he grew up he was unable to watch NBA games as there were only two channels other than NBC and ABC.
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Therefore, it resulted in him following more baseball and NASCAR. Subsequently, the six-time NBA champion said that he emulated his father and hence he watched the aforementioned sports as it was also watched by his father.
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Thereafter, MJ added, “I also grew up a NASCAR fan, a Richard Petty fan. I was more into stock-car racing than I was into anything else.”
LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 26: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Therefore, his statements clearly stated how much he loved the King and his involvement with stock car racing.
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