Does Michael Jordan Own A Basketball Team

Okay, so let’s get this straight right out of the gate. Yes, Michael Jordan owns a basketball team. But it’s not the one you’re probably thinking of first. Sit down, grab your coffee—or your Gatorade, because MJ—and let’s untangle this.

You know he’s the greatest player ever. Six rings, that shrug, the tongue wagging. But owning a team? That’s a whole different ball game. And it’s even weirder than you might remember.

The Hornets? Really?

Yep. Michael Jordan owns the Charlotte Hornets. Well, technically he’s the majority owner, the chairman, the big cheese. He bought in back in 2010, then took full control in 2023. It’s his baby.

But let’s be honest. The Hornets haven’t exactly been a dynasty. They’re not the Bulls. They’re not even the Jazz. They’re more like… the Charlotte Sometimes-We-Win.

Does it feel a little like Einstein teaching basic math? A bit. But Jordan’s got a soft spot for Carolina basketball. The guy went to UNC, remember? It’s his home turf.

Wait, Didn’t He Own the Wizards, Too?

Oh, you’re good. But no. That’s the biggest brain-twister. He was a part-owner and president of the Washington Wizards back in 2000. But then, get this—he quit to play for them.

Imagine owning a car, then selling your share so you could drive it. That’s MJ. He literally said, “I’m leaving the front office. I’m putting on the shorts.” And he did. At age 38. It was weird and kind of awesome.

So, did he own the Wizards team? For a hot second. But he’s never owned them since. That’s a firm nope on current Wizards ownership.

Michael Jordan selling majority ownership stake in Charlotte Hornets

Is He a Good Owner?

Depends on who you ask. He’s not the hands-on, draft-picking genius you’d expect. His player picks? Let’s just say they’ve been… generous to the rest of the league. He passed on Luka Dončić. Yeah. Ouch.

But he’s also not a meddler. He lets his basketball ops guys do their thing. He’s more of a “show up, shake hands, look cool” owner. And honestly? He looks the part. His suits are immaculate.

Do the Hornets win? Barely. But they’re profitable. And in the NBA, being profitable is its own kind of ring.

What About the Bobcats Thing?

Oh, the Bobcats. Yes, the team was called the Charlotte Bobcats from 2004 to 2014. That was before Jordan fully owned them. He bought in during the Bobcats era. Then he renamed them back to the Hornets in 2014. Why? Because nostalgia sells, baby.

It was a smart move. The old Hornets franchise had history (Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning). It felt like bringing a ghost back to life. And MJ loves ghosts. Or at least, he loves legacy.

Does Jordan Own An Nba Team at Ethan Fuhrman blog

So, tl;dr: He owns the Charlotte Hornets. Not the Wizards. Not the Bulls. Not the Dream Team. Just the one team. And he’s been pretty chill about it.

But Is He the Only Player to Own a Team?

Nope. But he’s the most famous. Other guys like LeBron want to own one (he’s part-owner of Liverpool FC, which is soccer, not basketball). Magic Johnson owned a tiny piece of the Lakers for a bit. But MJ is the only one who went from dominant player to dominant owner (at least on the balance sheet).

He’s also the only former player to become a billionaire through team ownership. That’s the real flex. He didn’t just buy a team—he made it worth way more than he paid for it. That’s the Jordan Brand business brain at work.

So, next time someone says, “Does Michael Jordan own a basketball team?” you can grin and say, “Yeah, the Hornets. And he’s probably wearing a ridiculously expensive sweater while watching them lose.”

And that’s okay. Because even His Airness can’t win ’em all. But he can cash the checks. And that’s a pretty good consolation prize, right?