Michael Jordan may be an NBA legend, but he's now more closely associated with the racing world thanks to his NASCAR team, 23XI. As the leader of that team, though, MJ has rather unusual methods.
23XI marks Jordan's latest venture in the sporting world. After dominating basketball and becoming one of the greatest and highest-paid athletes of all-time, as well as turning his hand to baseball and a spot of golf, Jordan decided to make his mark on the NASCAR arena.
His team features NASCAR icon Bubba Wallace, once the only Black racer in the field, and he and Jordan have developed a rather interesting and successful partnership on and off the track.
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But, what is Jordan like behind the scenes? Well, according to Wallace in a recent interview with Fox News, the GOAT has brought all of his determination and competitiveness to the world of NASCAR.
Discussing Jordan's management style, Wallace said: "He’s competitive. He’s a lot of fun, he’s a guy that you can take jabs at, and he’ll dish it right back, so you have to have thick skin. That’s how I was brought up and raised, and trash talk is half the game, and he’s probably one of the best to do it."
It's not all insults and intensity, though. Wallace has recently welcomed his son, Becks, into the world with his wife Amanda, and the driver revealed Jordan has been highly supportive of this life change.
He added: "He just keeps asking if I’m getting enough sleep, and surprisingly enough, we are getting sleep. Becks sleeps pretty good, most nights."
Obviously, a tired driver is not something Jordan would want in one of his cars, as he and Wallace continue to break boundaries for the sport. Wallace is now the highest-finishing Black driver in the Daytona 500, a feat which may not have been possible without Jordan's investment.
Jordan may be a big deal, but he still has a way to go when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of NASCAR. That's according to Wallace, who added: "What it was like for him coming through the league, and try to compare similarities to what it’s like here. And then I just got to school him on his racing knowledge, because he thinks he knows a lot, but there’s a lot to be learned in this sport for sure."
Topics: Michael Jordan
Jakob Barnes