Michael Jordan shared why dealing with fame was difficult after fans chased him on the streets: "I can't just move around" originally appeared on Basketball Network .
One of the biggest reasons it's difficult to hear Michael Jordan or see what he's up to these days is that he prefers to be outside the spotlight. The reason for that is due to the burnout he experienced as a public figure during his legendary 15-year run in the NBA. MJ didn't entirely prepare to say goodbye to his lifestyle after quickly turning into a global icon, but that's what he had to do.
"When I can't do basic things, I can't just move around, I can't go to the grocery store, I can't get out of this car and pump my gas without someone coming around," said Jordan during his appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. "Everyday little things we tend to take for granted. I can't stop and get some coffee or go to a restaurant."
As much as Jordan often dreamed of living a quiet life in public, he eventually had to accept that it would never happen. After becoming the most famous person on the planet, the Chicago Bulls star often missed going to movies and having quiet dinners with his loved ones. That's something he faces to this day.
While it's frustrating to never get the chance to live a normal life, the six-time champion also understands why that's the case. The perks of being regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever live don't just come with the luxury but with the power to influence and inspire — which Jordan has embraced as his responsibility.
"It's a big responsibility, you know that. It's a big responsibility and you're so susceptible to a lot of things. I think the good outweighs the bad by all means and to be admired by kids or anybody from grown-ups to kids, gives me the sense of motivation to move further and enjoy what I do and be an example of trying to live. No matter how you look at it, I'm still just a normal human being. I mean, I gotta go to the bathroom just like everybody else," added Jordan.
Besides being stripped of living a quiet life during his career, the pressure of being a role model also added to the burnout that came with fame. While Mike embraced the responsibility and looked at it as an opportunity, that didn't mean it wasn't tiring to continuously meet the public's expectations and demands for him off the court. Jordan said it wasn't easy trying to be the perfect role model.
"I mean, a mistake for me is much more critical than a normal mistake by any person and I'm aware of that. At the end of the day, I have to be aware of it and it's a different challenge. I don't know how I'm going to continue to deal with it, but as long as I got my parents and wife and supporting cast, then certainly it's going to be easier for me to grow," said Jordan back in 1990 when he was just 27.
After retiring from the game for good, Jordan tries to stay out of the spotlight and is now living the quiet life he was deprived from during his playing days — at least, in his own way. It's rare to hear from or even feel his presence on social media but ultimately, that's his choice and the way he's making up for what he went through during his storied NBA career.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
