One of Michael Jordan's closest friends, George Koehler, once shared a hilarious story about being a personal slave for Jordan.
Michael Jordan is probably the most popular basketball athlete to ever play in the NBA. MJ's popularity surpassed the United States and made the league popular overseas as well. If it wasn't for Jordan, the NBA wouldn't be at the level it is right now.
But at the end of the day, being so popular means most do not want to be friends with Michael Jordan without an ulterior motive. While MJ has made friends during his time in the NBA, most of those friendships haven't lasted.
However, before being unarguably one of the most popular athletes in the world, Jordan had a close circle of friends. Among them was George Koehler, who was Jordan's limousine driver and personal assistant.
George Koehler Talked About Working With Michael Jordan
When Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he certainly didn't know anyone in the city. In a 1999 interview, Koehler revealed that he was the first person Jordan met in the city apart from the Bulls' staff. George also unveiled how it was working for him and the way their friendship evolved over the years.
Via Chicago Tribune:
"I am not really the driver, I am kind of like the personal slave," Koehler jokes. "There are a million people in this world who would just love to hang out with Michael. Fortunately, I am a friend, and as long as he wants me around, I will be around."
"Of course, this experience has changed my life," Koehler said. "Fifteen years ago, when I first met Michael here in Chicago, I was the very first person he met in this city. That was when I had a limousine company. He will tell you that I have been taking him for a ride ever since then. Of course, duties and responsibilities have shifted from limousine driving to all sorts of things for Michael. That's only because there are a lot of things that need to be done that Michael can't do himself. I don't mind doing that. (I have) a lot of great, fond memories of just hanging out and being Michael's friend."
Koehler continued, "I want to keep that private. I don't think that's anybody's business," Koehler said. "My life with Michael . . . that's for me to know. It has been special . . . I might do "Oprah" one day. No, just kidding."
Having a trustworthy friend is important for everyone in their lives. Even more so when you are the greatest basketball player of all time. Mike found that comfort and friend in Koehler. While most would want Koehler to share personal stories about Mike, it's up to decide whether he wants to do that or not.
This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.
FAQs
Who are Michael Jordan's closest friends? ›
One of Michael Jordan's closest friends, George Koehler, once shared a hilarious story about being a personal slave for Jordan.
What was Michael Jordan's most famous quote? ›I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.
Who was Michael Jordan scared of? ›On the court, Michael Jordan has never been afraid of anything or anyone. Outside, however, the mythical number 23 had a phobia unknown: water. It all started when, at the age of 7, he lost a close friend who sank in front of him, almost taking him down with him.
What was Michael Jordan's personal hardships? ›His big brother was hard on him and very physically abusive to him. His dad was tough on him and didn't show much love. His high school coach cut him. He had a terrible franchise that he inherited in the Chicago bulls.
Why doesn t Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan talk? ›Barkley, who is famous for his opinionated takes, told 60 Minutes correspondent Jon Wertheim that Jordan broke off the friendship over comments Barkley made about the Charlotte Hornets. Jordan is the owner of the NBA team which, at the time, had been struggling to win games.
What did Scottie Pippen say about Michael Jordan? ›Jordan's most acclaimed teammate said the NBA legend wasn't a pleasant co-worker: "He was a horrible player." Michael Jordan was a "horrible player" who was "horrible to play with," Scottie Pippen, the top wingman for His Airness on the Chicago Bulls, said recently.
What are 5 famous quotes? ›Quote | Who | Language |
---|---|---|
That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind. | Neil Armstrong | English |
The love of money is the root of all evil. | the Bible | Greek |
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. | Franklin D. Roosevelt | English |
The truth will set you free. | the Bible | Greek |
If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.
Who gave Michael Jordan the hardest time? ›Despite Michael Jordan's reputation as one of the best scorers in NBA history, there was a shortlist of players who gave him a hard time on offense. One of them is Latrell Sprewell, whom Jordan admitted was one of his toughest matchups.
What did Michael Jordan get rejected from? ›EARLY CAREER
With the desire to be a professional basketball player, Michael realized he needed to step out into the world of basketball. He tried to join his varsity basketball team. But he got rejected and was ridiculed because of his height.
Did Michael Jordan cry when he retired? ›
After playing two seasons with the Washington Wizards, Jordan retired for the 3rd and final time in 2003. He had to wait until 2009 to finally be inducted into the Hall of Fame. As soon as he came to the podium, Jordan couldn't hold back his tears.
What was Michael Jordan's personality like? ›In his public character, Michael appears to be a determined person, a perfectionist. He had to overcome many obstacles to reach the peak in his sport. In interviews he appears friendly and likeable. There was criticism of his ungrateful speech at the 2009 Hall of Fame, and he has past evidence of gambling addictions.
What is Michael Jordan's daily life like? ›He'll work out, meditate, or enjoy a massage. He may meet up with buddies to play ball or attend to obligations, such as the Hornet's games, and social events. At some point in the evening, he'll have dinner, which, according to his one-time trainer, Tim Grover, consists of, “whatever he wants.”
What was Michael Jordan passionate about? ›One important factor that we have left out is that exactly like Jon Snow, Michael Jordan never openly spoke about a desire to be a leader. His passion was to become the world's best basketball player and to win as many championships as possible. He never declared that his personal aspiration was to lead.
Why aren t Pippen and Jordan friends? ›He described Jordan as a terrible teammate, highlighting his tendency to prioritize individual play and take ill-advised shots. Pippen claimed that it was only when they truly came together as a team that they achieved greatness, overshadowing Jordan's individual brilliance.
Are Shaq and Barkley actually friends? ›The lovable duo appeared on NBA TV's pregame show in Denver ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, and Shaq had plenty of nice things to say about his partner in crime, calling Barkley “the older brother I never had.” It turns out O'Neal and Barkley were connected even before their friendship grew on television.
Who is better Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley? ›Jordan, universally seen as the greatest player of all-time, winning six NBA championships, while Barkley is infamously remembered as being the best player in NBA history to never win it all.
Do Pippen and Jordan get along? ›Their relationship became strained following the release of ESPN's 2020 docuseries about the 1997-98 Bulls, The Last Dance, and things only got worse when Jordan's adult son began dating Pippen's ex wife, Larsa. So how did the Jordan-Pippen partnership become so frayed?
Could Jordan have done it without Pippen? ›Together, they won 6 championships with the Chicago Bulls across 8 seasons. The two might not see eye to eye anymore, but even Michael Jordan once admitted that he would not have been able to achieve everything he did without Scottie Pippen.
Are Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman friends? ›The Windy City team was an outstanding 165-34 when both Jordan and Rodman played. Rodman averaged a mind-boggling 15.3 rebounds, 5.2 points, and 2.8 assists in 199 games with the Chicago Bulls. The duo's time in Chicago transformed a testy relationship into a genuine friendship that has lasted through the years.
What is the most quoted line of all time? ›
Rank | Quotation | Year |
---|---|---|
1 | "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." | 1939 |
2 | "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." | 1972 |
3 | "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am." | 1954 |
4 | "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." | 1939 |
- "I have a dream." ...
- "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - ...
- "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - ...
- "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." -
Michael Jordan was the first athlete-billionaire — here's how he makes and spends his millions. Michael Jordan turns 60 this year.
What made Michael Jordan the best ever? ›Dominated on both ends of the floor: Michael Jordan owns the record for most scoring titles in NBA history with a total of 10. The more impressive part is how dominant he was on defense while putting up the most points per game in the history of the NBA.
What is one cool fact about Michael Jordan? ›Michael Jordan is an avid golfer. He played 36 holes of golf a day while in Barcelona for the 1992 Olympics. He hosted his own charity tournament, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, from 2001 to 2014, and has his own golf course, The Grove XXIII, in Florida.
What was Michael Jackson's famous last words? ›He reveals that Jackson's last words were: "Let me have some milk" before adding: "He was pleading, and begging me, to please, please, let him have some milk." Murray then stated: "That was the only thing that would work. He really could not sleep. Have you ever seen the Thriller image when he was made up?
What are three lines about Michael Jackson? ›Michael Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards, including 8 for the album Thriller. Jackson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5 and in 2001 for his solo career. Jackson also helped open the doors for Black artists on the radio and on television (particularly MTV).
What is one of the most famous quotes? ›Quote | Who | Language |
---|---|---|
That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind. | Neil Armstrong | English |
The love of money is the root of all evil. | the Bible | Greek |
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. | Franklin D. Roosevelt | English |
The truth will set you free. | the Bible | Greek |
It's worth noting that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar may actually be one of the most legendary NBA players well ahead of Jordan as he outpaces him by nearly 6,000 total career points.
Who was Michael Jordan's favorite player? ›According to Darren Rovell of The Action Network, UNC basketball legend Walter Davis was Jordan's favorite player growing up. Davis was apparently one of the reasons that Jordan attended UNC in the first place and was a player Jordan modeled his game after. Rovell also pointed out an interesting note.
Who has harder competition Jordan or LeBron? ›
There were 82 playoff opponents to consider in all — 37 for Jordan, 45 for James. If you simply take the average rating of every team they played, Jordan comes out on top with the harder slate.
Why did Michael Jordan cry after winning? ›The reason why Jordan was so emotional and collapsed on the floor after the win was because it was Father's Day and this was his first championship since his father, James Jordan, was murdered in 1993. “I know he's watching,” said Jordan during his post-game interview with friend Ahmad Rashad.
What did Michael B Jordan apologize for? ›Jordan apologizes to his mom for steamy Calvin Klein underwear ad. Michael B. Jordan revealed the first thing he did when he saw the steamy images he took for his Calvin Klein underwear ad campaign. He called his mom to apologize.
Why couldn t Jordan wear Jordan's? ›Nike still has a framed letter from the NBA explaining that the association's “rules and procedures” prohibited Jordan's shoes. Though the letter didn't state it explicitly, the shoes violated the “51% rule,” which demanded that players' footwear be mostly white, and in keeping with their team's jerseys.
Was Michael Jordan ever nervous? ›In an interview, Michael Jordan once said “I was pretty much nervous before every game”. Now recognizing that this is a sensation that all players have felt at some point in time, how do we combat it? First, accept that it is not only normal, it's expected.
What did Michael Jordan say when he came out of retirement? ›I love the game of basketball, I always will. I just feel that at this particular time in my career, I've reached the pinnacle of my career, I've achieved a lot in that short amount of time, if you want to call it short, but I just feel that I don't have anything else to myself to prove.
Why did Jordan take 2 years off? ›Shaken and disillusioned by the murder of his father and an NBA investigation into allegations of illegal betting (of which he was eventually cleared), Jordan announced his retirement from basketball in 1993.
What is Michael Jordan mindset? ›To understand why he risked everything, let's take a peek into the mindset of Michael Jordan, the competitor: "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." "I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come."
Who is Michael Jordan's best friend? ›One of Michael Jordan's closest friends, George Koehler, once shared a hilarious story about being a personal slave for Jordan.
What is Michael Jordan's favorite food? ›What was Michael Jordan Favorite food? Michael Jordan's favorite food was steak at a Chicago restaurant called 23. Jordan also enjoyed eating in other restaurants throughout the United States and around the world.
What does Michael Jordan eat everyday? ›
His day typically started with omelets, strawberries, blueberries, and orange juice. His next meal was berries, Gatorade, and a whey protein shake. Jordan's pre-workout meal, meanwhile, consisted of chicken breasts, pasta, and a green salad. Mike would have a protein shake and Gatorade as his recovery snack.
What was Michael Jordan's diet? ›“Extreme diet change,” Jordan said on Good Morning America. “I stripped down my diet completely. Grilled chicken, brown rice, broccoli, a lot of water. I worked out two to three times a day, six days a week.
How many hours would Michael Jordan sleep? ›MJ Played 40 Minutes A Night
Michael Jordan played 40 minutes a night when he was playing at the height of his career. That's equivalent to 8 hours of sleep per day. If you want to emulate MJ's sleeping habits, it's important to get enough rest every night.
"To be successful, you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable.
For what qualities is Michael Jordan most known? ›5. For what qualities is Michael Jordan most known? Power, agility and leadership ability.
Why are the whites of Michael Jordan's eyes yellow? ›That said, Michael Jordan may have conjunctival melanosis — specifically racial melanosis. It's a benign type of conjunctival pigmented lesion sometimes found in individuals with darkly pigmented skin. Conjunctival melanosis can increase with age, and is not shown to often progress to melanoma.
Who was Michael B Jordan's best friend? ›Jordan and Jonathan Majors Are 'Best Friends' After Making Creed III. Creed III star Jonathan Majors reveals that shooting for the film made him best friends with Michael B Jordan because of the "intimacy of warriors." Creed III actor Jonathan Majors opened up about he developed a close relationship with Michael B.
Who is the closest basketball player to Michael Jordan? ›NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson appeared on First Take on Monday and said Kobe Bryant is the most comparable player to Michael Jordan following Bryant's appearance in Episode 5 of The Last Dance, ESPN's documentary series about the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls.
Are Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan close friends? ›Once upon a time, Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan were not only teammates but also close friends. They shared the court, triumphed together, and built an enduring legacy with the Chicago Bulls.
Is Michael B. Jordan still friends with Jonathan Majors? ›And for Majors, one of the best parts of his trajectory is how his close friendship with fellow actor Michael B. Jordan has flourished. Over the last year, their bond grew as they promoted Creed III together. We saw profiles on the pair from esteemed publications that detailed their tight connection.
Why did Michael B. Jordan's relationship end? ›
Jordan and Harvey, 26, ended their relationship in June 2022 after more than a year of dating. According to PEOPLE, a source close to the model said that Harvey “wasn't ready to commit” amid a focus on her career over a romantic relationship.
Who has more Jordan or LeBron? ›Who has more career points: Michael Jordan or LeBron James? As of 2023, LeBron James is an all-time leading scorer and has 38,652 points, thus he has more than MJ.
Who played more LeBron or Jordan? ›Jordan | Totals | LeBron |
---|---|---|
1,072 | Games | 1,421 |
32,292 | Points | 38,652 |
6,672 | Rebounds | 10,667 |
5,633 | Assists | 10,420 |
Michael Jordan vs Scottie Pippen Duel 2002.12.
How much is Michael Jordan worth? › Who is the greatest rebounder in NBA history? ›At the top of my list is Chicago's very own Michael Jordan. Widely regarded as the greatest of all time, known for his incredible drive to do what it takes to win, Jordan has won six NBA championships, five MVP awards, ten scoring titles and is a 14-time NBA All-Star.