Photo Courtesy of Andscape
Daughter of NBA Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, Jasmine, sat down with AP News to talk about growing up with a GOAT for a dad and releasing his new docuseries The Last Dance in May of 2020.
Jasmine told AP that she’s recently been in constant contact with her dad since she began watching the ten-part series. “I’m harassing him. He’s probably tired me of texting him,” Jasmine admitted. “I think my brothers and I are doing it, probably alongside all of his friends, but, for me, it’s like, ‘Hey, I was super young.’ So, I am really taking this in as a fan.”
“And I am also trying to corroborate all of these stories that you were telling me all of these years,” she explained. “Like just trying to make sure you weren’t just fabricating and making it bigger than what it was.’ So I am definitely texting him nonstop. I don’t think there’s been an episode or a Sunday that I haven’t been like, ‘Hey, this happened — let me hear your thoughts.’”
Although Michael is regarded as one of the greatest players, Jasmine had no idea of her dad’s GOAT status. The peak of his greatness in the basketball world only hit her after she Googled him.
“When I was a child and growing up during that time, I didn’t really understand what was happening because I was so young. It didn’t resonate with me until I got older,” she said. “And I laugh because I actually Googled my dad at one time just to figure out why everyone was so intrigued by him — Like you’re just dad. You’re not that cool. But lo and behold, he was kind of a big deal.”
In the documentary, specifically made to highlight Michael Jordan at his best, Jasmine said she could recognize her dad in many emotional moments. “I know when it comes to the game, his passion is unmatched. His energy’s unmatched. So when he’s going at Steve Kerr or checking Scottie and trying to get that fire and tenacity out of them, I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s Dad.’ I mean, he’ll do that to me just so I can get an A out of a test or two. (laughs) And I’m just trying to pass school; I’m not even winning championships. So that is definitely totally him.”
According to Footwear News, Jasmine carried that tenacity over to her business, working as a field rep in its sports marketing division, highlighting future athlete icons – especially female ones. She always tries to carve out her own path as a person.
“Those who have interacted with me even for 5 seconds, they see I don’t own the room. I have no desire to own the room. I am happy to be standing in the back, grabbing water for my athletes, and checking on everybody because that’s who I am. I didn’t come in with my last name printed out in an office and taking executive roles. I’m going to work my way to that point. I want to make sure that if a role or an opportunity presents itself down the line, I can say that I did the entry job and worked my way to manager, director, executive. I took my learnings to find my way to the top.”