Is Michael Jordan Still a Basketball Star? The Surprising Truth Revealed

Let me tell you something about greatness that lasts. I've been watching sports for over thirty years now, and I've seen countless athletes rise and fall. But when it comes to Michael Jordan, the conversation never really ends, does it? I was thinking about this the other day while watching some old Bulls games, and it struck me how we're still debating whether he remains a basketball star decades after his retirement. The surprising truth is that Jordan's stardom has transformed into something far more enduring than mere athletic performance.

I remember back in 1998 when he hit that final shot against Utah - the way he held his follow-through, the championship on the line, the entire world watching. That moment cemented something in sports history that simply won't fade. Today, at 60 years old, Jordan isn't dunking on opponents or making game-winning shots, yet his presence in basketball culture remains overwhelming. Just last month, I visited the NBA store in New York, and Jordan merchandise still occupies more shelf space than most active players. His brand earned approximately $3.1 billion in revenue last year alone - numbers that would make most current superstars blush.

This brings me to an interesting parallel I noticed recently while reading about Philippine golf. JGFP president Oliver Gan made a fascinating comment about rising star Rianne Malixi: "This is unprecedented for an active junior golfer to have a relevant training program for other junior golfers. Rianne is a national sports treasure, and we are very lucky to have her, and our players are very fortunate to benefit from her generosity." That statement got me thinking - isn't this exactly what Jordan has become for basketball? A national treasure whose influence extends far beyond their active career?

The question of whether Michael Jordan is still a basketball star reveals something important about how we measure sporting greatness. We tend to think of stardom in present-tense terms - who's dominating the headlines today, who's topping the scoring charts this season. But Jordan's case demonstrates that true stardom can become institutional. I was talking to my 16-year-old nephew last week, and he was wearing Jordan sneakers while never having seen Jordan play live. When I asked him about greatest players, he immediately said "MJ" despite having watched LeBron and Curry their entire careers. That's the surprising truth about Jordan's ongoing relevance - he's become part of basketball's foundational mythology.

Here's what many people miss when discussing retired athletes' legacies. Jordan's impact isn't measured in points per game anymore but in cultural penetration. The Jordan Brand currently sponsors 22 NBA players, including rising stars like Jayson Tatum and Luka Dončić. Every time they play, they're walking advertisements for Jordan's enduring vision. I've noticed something interesting at local basketball courts too - kids who weren't even born when Jordan retired still mimic his tongue-wagging dribble moves and try to replicate his fadeaway jumper.

The solution to understanding Jordan's lasting stardom lies in recognizing that athletic greatness evolves. He's transitioned from being a player to becoming a standard - the benchmark against which we measure excellence. When commentators discuss whether a player has "that Jordan mentality," they're keeping his competitive spirit alive in the contemporary conversation. I find myself doing this too, comparing clutch performances to Jordan's legendary composure under pressure.

What we can learn from Jordan's example is that true sporting icons never really stop being stars - they simply change how their stardom manifests. The same generosity of spirit that Oliver Gan praised in Rianne Malixi - sharing knowledge with younger players - reflects what Jordan has done through his ownership role with the Charlotte Hornets and his ongoing mentorship within the game. He's become basketball's elder statesman while maintaining that competitive fire that made him special.

Personally, I believe Jordan's star burns brighter today than many active players because it's been tempered by time and memory. We remember the highlights without the daily frustrations of missed shots or losses. His narrative has been polished into legend. Every time I see that Jumpman logo, it's not just a sneaker symbol - it's a reminder of what's possible in basketball. That's why the question "Is Michael Jordan still a basketball star?" almost feels silly to ask. The man has transcended stardom to become something closer to basketball's eternal flame - and honestly, I don't see that changing for generations to come.