“Just think of me as another injured basketball player” – Bill Clinton’s message to a nervous Michael Jordan during Bulls’ White House visit originally appeared on Basketball Network.
After snagging his fourth NBA Championship in 1996, Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls visited the White House. The ferocious North Carolina alumnus was knocking down game-winning shots and dunking on seven-footers but was visibly nervous around President Bill Clinton.
Advertisement
“It’s great for me to be here,” Jordan said in 1997 via The Oklahoman. “I’m very nervous. I’ve never had the opportunity to stand next to such a prestigious man.”
The April 1997 visit was a long-delayed ceremony and was hotly anticipated by basketball fans. After their epic win over Gary Payton’s Seattle Supersonics, lots of things happened. The Bulls squeezed out another impressive season while Clinton suffered a knee injury when he stumbled down the steps outside the golfer Greg Norman’s house in Florida in March.
The knee needed to be repaired via surgery, which meant the president welcomed guests while on crutches. Clinton used this handicap to ease Jordan’s nerves.
“Just think of me as another injured basketball player,” said Clinton to His Airness. “I want you to know that in six months, I’ll be good as new and available for the next draft.”
Greatest team?
Kidding aside, Clinton called the Bulls “perhaps the greatest basketball dynasty ever” which taught Americans much about winning.
Advertisement
“They’ve given us the sense that when people do things together, a lot more is possible,” Clinton said about the Chicago squad.
The statement highlighted how the Bulls transcended the sport. Basketball didn’t just provide people with high-octane and bone-chilling entertainment; it also taught them about life. Clinton wanted to make his constituents realize how much success can be achieved if they put their differences aside for one common goal.
Larger than life
After their White House visit, Jordan powered the Bulls to their fifth NBA championship, which they followed up with another in 1998. MJ ended his career with the Bulls with six titles, countless individual accolades, and a place in history as one of the greatest.
Advertisement
It’s interesting how nervous MJ was in Clinton’s presence, not realizing that in the eyes of many, he was equally, if not more renowned than the president.
“The Last Dance” director John Hehir is more captivated by Jordan than the former American president. For Hehir, Mike’s aura is unmatched. Not even the greatest sports figures and leaders could overshadow him.
“I had experience with more people of high stature at that point and more experience with nerves and butterflies, but still, there’s no one that’s going to eclipse him. Obama, Clinton, Magic, no matter who…Larry Bird being from Boston, Jordan’s a different beast when he walks in the room,” said Hehir on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
It’s difficult not to agree with Hehir. It’s been over two decades since we last saw Jordan on the hardcourt, but we still feel his presence. Whenever we see the number 23, we instantly imagine a 6’6″ guard flying in the air or fading away from a horde of defenders.
Advertisement
Air Jordans, the signature basketball shoes that brought billions to Nike, continue to do so as lifestyle sneakers. People continue to be fascinated by Jordan’s obsession with winning. Every year, more untold MJ stories come out, which show how he was head and shoulders above everyone else.
Despite this, Jordan remains relatively low-profile, refusing to proclaim himself the GOAT. He lets other people talk and is not bothered by his critics. He knows he gave it all on the court and would rather let the young ones do their thing.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.