Jay Leno is well known across America as a popular TV show host. He once asked Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan a question that he soon regretted. As some of us might already be aware, Leno was best known for being the host of NBC’s The Tonight Show. He worked as the show host from 1992-2009.
This is clearly a large stretch of time and he could have certainly made mistakes in that span. However, this question infuriated Michael Jordan, who even demanded to know if Leno was stupid for asking it. Fans must certainly want to know more about this interaction and whether Jay Leno’s question was all that stupid.
Michael Jordan got annoyed when Jay Leno asked him if he could still dunk
Sometimes, people ask questions without knowing the potential they have to offend others, especially if not phrased right. As we all know, Jordan was a transcendental player and athlete. He is the only player of this generation to manage three-peating twice with the Chicago Bulls and winning titles. His ability to score and high basketball IQ made him a threat even toward the back end of his career.
However, that was not all which made Jordan great. One of his most incredible characteristics was his unreal athleticism. It was put on display through his incredible vertical jump. Fans will remember that the Air Jordan shoe has the iconic jump from the free throw line for a logo.
MJ was interviewed by Jay Leno for an episode of The Tonight Show. Those who are familiar with these kinds of television shows know that one of the goals is to understand the celebrity and make the audience empathize with them.
Perhaps, Leno was trying to achieve this effect when he asked Jordan if he could still dunk and when he last tried it. Jordan, who is still far away from being a feeble old man took offense at this question.
“Can I still dunk? Are you stupid? Yeah, I can still dunk…You know I can still jump, I can still palm a basketball, Yeah I can still dunk.”
Hearing Jordan’s curt response and the audience’s hilarious reaction to it, Leno wondered out loud if Jordan was feeling testy answering the question. That led the Chicago Bulls legend to reiterate his stance on the quality of the question, “Yeah I am testy. That was a dumb question.”
Jordan was around 57 years old at the time and passed his days in the league. However, dunking on players while playing in the NBA and dunking with no contest at the rim for practice are very two different things. If only Jay Leno phrased his question better, perhaps Michael Jordan wouldn’t have jumped at it calling it stupid and dumb.