Michael Jordan‘s name has surfaced once again in connection with gambling controversy, this time through a claim made by a former NBA referee who alleges that the basketball icon was involved in fixing league games.
Tim Donaghy, a former official who served 11 months in prison following a 2007 NBA betting scandal, made the accusations. He suggested that Jordan‘s well-documented gambling habits crossed ethical lines.
“I think there was no doubt that he was in kind of deep with the gambling,” Donaghy said to The Coach JB Show. “There were rumors that he was passing information along to guys that he was golfing with.
“No doubt that he was involved with passing information.”
The podcast’s hosts attempted to offer context, arguing that Jordan‘s alleged information-sharing might have been limited to private gambling circles rather than directly tied to sports betting platforms.
“Jordan was in a private situation where the people he lost to, he said, ‘I’ll make your money back like this,'” one host remarked. “That doesn’t affect a bunch of DraftKings, FanDuelers that are about to class action lawsuit the NBA.”
While the claims remain unsubstantiated, they have reignited discussions about Jordan‘s long-standing reputation as an obsessive competitor whose love for gambling was widely reported throughout his career.
Jordan, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, was known to wager on nearly anything – from golf games to friendly locker-room challenges. To critics, his habits bordered on addiction.
Yet, Jordan himself saw things differently as in a 1993 interview, he famously refuted suggestions of a gambling problem, saying, “I have a competition problem.”
That line has since become emblematic of his win-at-all-costs mentality but even decades after his retirement, stories about Jordan‘s gambling persist, though none have ever proven criminal or tied directly to league integrity.
Financially secure and now worth an estimated $3.8 billion according to Forbes, Jordan‘s off-court ventures, including ownership stakes in major sports teams, continue to define his legacy.
Still, Donaghy‘s statements have drawn attention due to his own controversial history. His 2007 conviction for betting on NBA games he officiated remains one of the league’s darkest moments.
While many question his credibility, his remarks ensure Jordan‘s gambling narrative remains a topic of intrigue although nothing suggests he was actually involved in match-fixing as of October 31, 2025.
Jordan sparks health concerns after NBC appearance
Jordan‘s name has also been trending for another reason amid growing fan concern over his appearance during NBC’s coverage of the new NBA season during the 62-year-old’s debut as a special contributor.
He introduced himself to NBC Sports’ NBA broadcasts with his second segment, MJ: Insights to Excellence, airing earlier this week alongside host Mike Tirico but viewers took to social media after noticing that Jordan‘s eyes appeared unusually yellow.
One social media user wrote, “I need to know why Michael Jordan eyes so yellow,”
Another asked, “Does Michael Jordan have a medical condition that makes his eyes look like that?”
And a third said, “Jordan eyes red as hell. Send him to the Mayo Clinic.”
It wasn’t the first time such comments surfaced. His eye color drew attention during the 2024 Champions League match between Monaco and Barcelona, where photos of Jordan at the Stade Louis-II went viral for similar reasons.
Doctors have said discoloration like Jordan‘s could result from benign conditions, including melanin buildup or mild jaundice. However, an insider previously assured that Jordan is not suffering from any illness.
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