Why Sharing A Name With An NBA Legend Gave Michael B. Jordan A ‘Healthy’ Chip On His Shoulder

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Michael B. Jordan is a well-known actor, but he also shares a name with basketball legend Michael Jordan. Given the athlete’s incredible success, you might think Michael B. would feel pressure to live up to the name. However, he has an interesting perspective on sharing it.

With award season underway, Michael B. Jordan has been discussing his upcoming 2025 vampire movie, Sinners, which has already earned positive reviews. He recently appeared on Variety’s Actors on Actors and spoke with Jesse Plemons, a former co-star from Friday Night Lights. During the conversation, Jordan reflected on his early life and how it shaped him, including the moment he understood the importance of his own name.

Growing up, I often felt a little different because I didn’t really have any heroes I admired. My parents were my main role models for how to live and act. Looking back, I realize having the name Michael Jordan probably had an impact on me, but at the time, I didn’t fully grasp how.

As Shakespeare famously asked, what’s in a name? For Jordan, it turned out to be quite a bit. He realized the weight of sharing a name with basketball legend Michael Jordan, but instead of feeling pressured, he decided to embrace it. He used the playful expectations as motivation, and it appears to have been a positive force in his life.

Your name is a core part of who you are – it’s how you present yourself and how others see you. But knowing there was someone else who seemed to already be that person actually motivated me. It gave me a healthy drive to compete and forge my own path. I didn’t know what I wanted to be great at, I just had a strong desire to excel at something, anything.

Michael Jordan is often considered the greatest basketball player of all time, largely because of his incredibly strong competitive spirit. He never avoided a challenge and openly strived for excellence. It seems Michael B. Jordan was also seeking that level of greatness, and so far, it’s been a successful approach. During a recent interview, Jesse Plemons asked Michael B. about the story behind his name, which led to a humorous conversation.

  • Jesse Plemons: Did you ever ask your parents why?
  • Michael B. Jordan: My dad’s name is Michael Jordan.
  • Plemons: He was probably around the same age?
  • Jordan: My dad’s older than Mike. So I had no shot.
  • Plemons: So it was not their fault. It’s just the way the stars aligned.
  • Jordan: It was all meant to be, real talk.
  • Plemons: It’s funny that you’re talking about this chip. The other Michael Jordan is notorious for using that chip as well. It’s working for both of y’all.
  • Jordan: He’s Michael A. I’m Michael B.

Michael B. Jordan is now a highly recognizable actor, thanks to his roles in popular films and his work as a director. His new series, Sinners (available on HBO Max), is gaining attention and is considered a strong possibility for awards this season. Recently, Jordan received his first Golden Globe nomination for playing twins Smoke and Stack in the vampire drama directed by Ryan Coogler.

It’s no surprise that Michael B. Jordan, who is constantly working, has several new projects lined up. He recently directed and starred in a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, and is likely to appear in Joseph Kosinski’s Miami Vice movie – both are major films. Michael B. Jordan has clearly had a lot of success, so when people say they want to ‘be like Mike,’ they might not be referring to Michael Jordan the basketball player anymore.

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2025-12-14 17:09