Michael Jordan Allegedly Won Jamal Crawford's Mercedes in a 3-Point Contest in Latest Insane Gambling Story

Michael Jordan as a member of the Washington Wizards
Michael Jordan as a member of the Washington Wizards / Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

When Michael Jordan did that 1993 interview with Ahmad Rashad in which he never took his sunglasses off despite being indoors, you knew something bananas was going to go down. Right on cue, when asked point-blank if he had a gambling problem, he said all of the things an addict would say (and does say) to explain that, hey, he totally does not have a problem. There's nothing pathological or unhinged about his behavior, no, sir.

Well, even eight years later, the aging version of MJ was still as ruthless and consumed by competitiveness as he was before he ransacked the Suns in the '93 Finals.

As the story goes, as he was working out ahead of his big return to the NBA with the Washington Wizards, he crossed paths with Bulls guard Jamal Crawford. The two would routinely get involved in shooting contests with cash on the line. Then, MJ and J-Crossover ratcheted things up even further and bet their cars: Mike's Ferrari, Jamal's Mercedes.

Guess who won?

Let's be clear: the sourcing on this story is a bit murky, as I don't speak Italian. But it's eminently plausible given what we know about Jordan. Check out the alleged source for yourself:

Again, this is a rumor. But a totally awesome one.

Jamal Crawford sure has come a long way since those early days in Chicago. If you're going to learn a hard lesson about life, you may as well learn it brutally and blatantly from the very best ever to do it.

Luckily, the wearing of indoor interview shades was not among the nuggets of wisdom imparted upon Jamal by His Airness. Let us all be thankful for that.