Michael Jordan's Blunt Five-Word Response When Asked If He Had Gambling Problem

NBA legend Michael Jordan didn't hold back when asked by reporters if he had a gambling problem.

When considering who is the greatest basketball player of all time, it's hard not to pick Chicago Bulls legend and NBA great Jordan after his incredible achievements in the sport.

Across his 15 season long career, 'His Airness' won six NBA titles, was a five-time MVP, six-time NBA finals MVP and holds a 6-0 record in those MVP finals.

But, like many of the other greats across all of sport, it appeared that Jordan had one weakness outside of sport during his career, gambling.

Throughout his career and beyond, Jordan has been known to bet on anything from golf to cards or even minor competitions involving his former teammates, leading to one journalist finally confronting the NBA legend about his habits.

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the greatest NBA players of all time. (Image: Getty)

Although it isn't known exactly how long Jordan has been gambling, Roland Lazenby's book, Michael Jordan: The Life claims that a letter from the NBA star revealed that he had won a bet against his prom date in high school.

By the time he reached the NBA, Jordan had more than enough money to gamble as much as he wanted, and that he did, playing cards and making bets with his Chicago Bulls teammates and security guards.

Eventually, American sports commentator Ahmad Rashad decided to confront Jordan about his gambling habits, asking him in 1993 if he had a gambling problem.

"I have a competition problem," Jordan cooly replied.

And it wasn't just cards that Jordan gambled on, as it appears that betting on golf was his most expensive endeavour.

In February 1993, James "Slim" Bouler was, a gambler and suspected drug dealer, was sentenced to nine years in prison for money laundering and conspiracy.

During the trial, Jordan was made to testify over a $57,000 check that he had written to Bouler, admitting that he had initially lied about it being a business loan and that it was instead debt accumulated from bets on the golf course.

Michael Jordan is a keen golf player. (Image: Getty)

But it appears that wasn't even his most expensive bet, as in In May 1993, Richard Esquinas, another golf partner of Jordan's, released a book title Michael and Me: Our Gambling Addiction... My Cry for Help.

In the book he claimed that Jordan owed him a staggering $1.25 million due to bets, but this was quickly disputed by the NBA legend, who later settled his outstanding bets by paying Esquinas $300,000.

Despite the several gambling controversies in 1993. Jordan didn't stop there, with numerous stories about his regular bets emerging since.