Michael Jordan Played One-on-One With Some Charlotte Bobcats

He’s the only NBA team owner who can hold his own on the court against current players, and occasionally, Michael Jordan will suit up and hoop against his Charlotte Bobcats. Yesterday, MJ provided some on-the-court instruction to his young team (video of the practice can be seen here.) Per the Charlotte Observer: “It has become an unofficial annual event: Bobcats owner Michael Jordan shows up at a home practice in workout clothes. He watches, he instructs, he gets the old itch. Eventually he wanders out onto the court and ends up playing one-on-one with the midsize guys. This year it was Gerald Henderson and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, with injured Tyrus Thomas throwing Jordan entry passes. Everyone left smiling, and maybe a little more savvy about basketball, too. ‘He’s the best ever to play and he’s still got that competitive nature. He always feels he can help you,’ said team captain Henderson. ‘We played one-one-one. That’s always fun. He wants to win.’ How much does a 49-year-old Jordan have left? ‘He’s still got it. He can still shoot,’ Henderson said. ‘I don’t know about his defense, but he can still score.’ Jordan’s participation started out with him showing Kidd-Gilchrist some post moves. It escalated into some one-on-one. Naturally, players started migrating over to form an audience. Then Henderson, a former Duke Blue Devil, joined in against Jordan, a former North Carolina Tar Heel. Everyone knew what that meant. Henderson is coming back from a sprained foot. Jordan has said he likes how Henderson doesn’t just defer to him. ‘He’s a basketball genius,’ Henderson said. ‘But I don’t know if he wants to see me in a couple of months.’ This was Jordan’s first hands-on practice with the players since coach Mike Dunlap came aboard. Dunlap said this might have served as a pick-me-up with the Bobcats on an eight-game losing streak.”