Michael Jordan’s reaction after seeing his two sons ‘get outplayed’ by an emerging NBA star on national television
Michael Jordan’s Reaction to His Sons’ Performance Against Future NBA Star
Michael Jordan experienced a challenging moment watching his twin sons, Marcus and Jeffrey Jordan, play against a future NBA star, Eric Gordon, in a high-profile game broadcast on ESPN.
In 2007, Jordan was in attendance as his sons’ high school team, Loyola Academy, faced North Central. Despite starting strong with a 15-7 lead, Marcus and Jeffrey’s team ended up being thoroughly outplayed, with Gordon dominating the game. North Central won 88-47, with Gordon scoring 43 points, nearly outscoring the entire Loyola team.
The matchup was notable not just for Gordon’s performance but also for the symbolic significance of him wearing Jordan’s iconic No. 23 jersey and earning the nickname “Air Gordon” from the crowd. One of Gordon’s dunks in the final quarter was reminiscent of Jordan’s own style of play, adding to the intensity of the game.
The game, one of the most-watched high school basketball matches on ESPN, showcased Gordon’s exceptional talent and is considered one of the greatest high school performances. Throughout the broadcast, cameras frequently captured Jordan’s reactions in the stands, which added a memorable element to the event.
When asked about his performance against Jordan’s sons, Gordon commented, “It was great. I got to show how good I was. I’d rather see my team win than scoring this many or showing fantastic play. I’d rather see my team win.”
Gordon was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008 and has since played for several NBA teams, including the New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and Philadelphia 76ers, earning accolades such as the NBA Three-Point Contest champion in 2017.
