Ahead of The Last Dance, the highly anticipated 10-part ESPN docuseries, Michael Jordan sat down with Good Morning America's Robin Roberts on Thursday for a rare interview. While quarantining in his home in Florida, Jordan reflected on his life as a college star in North Carolina, and how different things were then. "It's a little different today,' Jordan said of student life. "I had a phone bill that was probably $60 or a little less and I only had $20 in my account," adding that he used to write his mom letters.
"My mom, she kept all my letters," Jordan said. "It's somewhat embarrassing, but yet it's refreshing that I took the time to write a letter to say how much I love my mom and, you know, what I needed in college." While fans are likely expecting to see the tenaciously competitive side of MJ—as we often do—the do also offers a glimpse of "Mike Jordan," his name before the infamous 1982 NCAA championship shot transformed him into "Michael Jordan," as he explains in the documentary and in the clip above.
Later in the interview, Jordan talks about how influential his parents, as well as his brother Larry were in shaping him into the competitor that he became. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my brother Larry," Jordan said. "Larry pushed me and we used to fight after every game, but through that fight, you know, emerged someone like me."
Viewers were also treated to a juicy clip from the documentary, that perfectly captures Jordan's unrivaled competitive edge.
The Last Dance is set to feature commentary from the likes of Isiah Thomas, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and even Barack Obama among many other notable public figures and NBA legends, as it tracks Jordan's final championship run with the Bulls. "We all were all trying to enjoy that year knowing it was coming to an end,” Jordan said. “Phil started off the year by saying, ‘this is the last dance,’ and we played it that way.”
The Last Dance premieres April 19 on ESPN. Watch the full Good Morning America interview below.
