Top 10 lesser-known facts about Michael Jordan that make him one of the most interesting people in NBA

When talking about greatness, there are a few names as synonymous with the term as Michael Jordan. An incredibly dominant two-way player who famously won six championships during his time in the NBA, he is arguably the greatest of all time.

In honor of NBA legend Michael Jordan turning 60 years old today, let's take a look back at 10 of the most interesting things about him.

10 - His short shift to a baseball career was made due to the death of Michael Jordan’s father

There have continued to be theories regarding why Michael Jordan decided to pursue baseball after his father's death. The most well-known theory is that then-NBA commissioner David Stern handed him a private suspension as a result of betting on games. For his part, Jordan has vehemently denied those claims.

The fact of the matter is that Jordan was such a talented athlete that he was able switch to baseball as it was his father's dream.

9 - He is the first player in the NBA to become the majority owner of an NBA team.

Jordan didn't just break barriers on the court with signature shoes, flashy moves or incredible dominance, he also did so off the court. After retiring, he increased his minority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to become the official majority owner of the team, making him the first former player to do so.

8 - He began his smoking habit in 1991

Although Jordan can frequently be seen with a cigar in his mouth, it wasn't a habit he brought into the NBA with him. It wasn't until Jordan won his first championship in the NBA in 1991 that he picked up the habit of smoking cigars.

7 - He is the first player in the history of the NBA to become a billionaire

Well, players like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird brought success to the NBA, but Jordan was the first NBA player to truly make it global. Between his signature shoe deal with Nike and numerous other investments throughout his career, Jordan managed to position himself as the first NBA player to become a billionaire.

2022 NBA All-Star Game

6 - He has a strain of Salmonella named after him

Michael Jordan was such a global icon in the 90s that a doctor famously named a strain of salmonella after him called 'Salmonella Mjordan'. While having something named after you in the scientific and medical community is an honor, Jordan and his agent were understandably somewhat confused.

5 - He has 3 older siblings, one who he believes could have been better than him in the NBA

Given Jordan's dominance and love of trash talk, it's hard to believe that he would say anybody could potentially be better than him. Despite that, Jordan once claimed that if his older brother Larry was taller, MJ would've been known as 'Larry's brother'.

4 - His cigar lounge has an advanced filtration system to keep it from smelling TOO smoky

While Michael Jordan loves his cigars, he doesn't want his cigar lounge to smell too smoky. As a result, he had a state-of-the-art filtration system installed to prevent the room from ever smelling like stale smoke. Talk about putting your money to good use!

3 - He ate a 23oz steak four hours before every game

Many athletes want to make sure they don't feel sluggish during games, but Michael Jordan famously ate a 23 ounce steak, mashed potatoes, salad and had a ginger ale four hours before every game. He kept the somewhat shocking ritual right up until his retirement.

2 - He has a custom-made metal table with 32,392 holes in it

One of Jordan's most coveted possessions is his custom-made table with 32,392 holes punched into it. While that number may seem strange, it's the exact number of points that MJ scored throughout his career. According to reports, he admires the piece so much that he displays it at his home

1- He planned to be a weatherman had he not made it as a basketball player

Oh, what could've been had Michael Jordan's basketball career not worked out. The North Carolina native would've gone on to become a weatherman instead. Knowing what we know now, it's pretty hard to imagine the 6-foot-6 guard standing on TV and reporting the weather.