How Michael Jordan’s Wild Contract Clause With The Chicago Bulls Gave Him The Ultimate Basketball Freedom

The truth behind Michael Jordan's 'for the love of the game' clause.

4 Min Read

Credit: RVR Photos/USA Today Sports

As arguably, the greatest basketball player ever, it makes sense that the Chicago Bulls were willing to take extra measures to ensure the happiness of Michael Jordan.

During his 13-year run with the Bulls, Jordan rose to unprecedented levels of fame as an athlete, and it gave him unprecedented levels of power.

Apparently, his superior talent also allowed him to have some unique conditions on his contract. One such condition, dubbed ‘for the love of the game,’ gave MJ the freedom to play basketball anytime he wanted.

(via Bleacher Report)

Back in the early days of the booming baseball era, Babe Ruth was infamously suspended for barnstorming during the offseason. That is, he toured the country making extra money playing exhibition games in all corners of the nation, and even some outside of it.

It makes sense that the league would be angry—the most marketable player in the game was risking injury for a few extra bucks.

However, Michael Jordan had a clause in his contract that he was allowed to play basketball whenever he wanted to.

Jordan could play in exhibition games, scrimmages or just a pickup game in a random park whenever he wanted—the only player that general manager Jerry Krause ever thought about giving this clause to.

There have been some contract clauses a lot worse than that, but it’s still weird to think that Jordan had to have a special condition to be allowed to hoop.

It sounds ridiculous to think that an NBA player shouldn’t play basketball whenever they feel like it, but there’s a risk involved anytime someone picks up a basketball. By preventing players from overworking their bodies, many leagues and teams place restrictions on when and where certain players are allowed to play.

That was not the case for Jordan, and it’s obvious why. Besides being made of iron and practically never getting hurt, Jordan’s passion for the game could not be quelled by normal means, and there was no way anybody was going to keep him off the court.


Michael Jordan’s Supreme Work Ethic Maximized His NBA Career

What often separated Jordan from other NBA stars was his unbridled passion for the game. Despite all of his natural talent, he was always working hard and was always dedicated to being the best version of himself on the court.

That dedication is why Jordan was so good for so long and why we’re still talking about his game decades later. Jordan is a true hooper at heart, and that was made clear in every move he made.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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