Editing Michael Jordan (section)

=== Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets ===
On June 15, 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the [[Charlotte Bobcats]] (known as the [[Charlotte Hornets|Hornets]] since 2013), becoming the team's second-largest shareholder behind majority owner [[Robert L. Johnson]]. As part of the deal, Jordan took full control over the basketball side of the operation, with the title Managing Member of Basketball Operations.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/hornets/release_jordan_060615.html "Michael Jordan to Become Part Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618220655/http://www.nba.com/hornets/release_jordan_060615.html |date=June 18, 2014 }}. NBA. June 15, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Associated Press (May 20, 2014). [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/10958580/charlotte-bobcats-officially-change-nickname-hornets "Hornets all the buzz in Charlotte"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319191322/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/10958580/charlotte-bobcats-officially-change-nickname-hornets|date=March 19, 2022}}. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Despite his previous success as an endorser, Jordan made an effort not to be included in Charlotte's marketing campaigns.<ref>Associated Press (June 15, 2006). [https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2771612 "Jordan writes state of Bobcats letter to fans"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201144054/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2771612|date=December 1, 2024}}. [https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2771612]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> A decade earlier, he had made a bid to become part-owner of Charlotte's original NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, but talks collapsed when owner [[George Shinn]] refused to give Jordan complete control of basketball operations.<ref>Associated Press (May 10, 1999). [http://lubbockonline.com/stories/051099/pro_051099077.shtml "Shinn says others interested in buying piece of Hornets"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104074138/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/051099/pro_051099077.shtml |date=January 4, 2014 }}. ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

In February 2010, it was reported that Jordan was seeking majority ownership of the Bobcats.<ref>Cox, Marty (February 16, 2010). [https://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272630437.shtml "Michael Jordan & Charlotte Bobcats – NBA Legend Wants to Buy Team, Report"]. ''National Ledger''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220010148/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272630437.shtml|date=February 20, 2010}}. Retrieved August 31, 2017.</ref> As February wore on, it became apparent that Jordan and former [[Houston Rockets]] president [[George Postolos]] were the leading contenders for ownership of the team. On February 27, the Bobcats announced that Johnson had reached an agreement with Jordan and his group, MJ Basketball Holdings, to buy the team from Johnson pending NBA approval.<ref>[[Associated Press]]. [https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4951410 "MJ to buy controlling stake in Bobcats"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713164744/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4951410|date=July 13, 2024}}. ESPN. February 27, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> On March 17, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved Jordan's purchase, making him the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team,<ref>Associated Press (March 17, 2010). [https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5003048 "Jordan purchase of Bobcats approved"]. [https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5003048]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> and the league's only African-American majority owner.<ref>Rhoden, William C. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/sports/basketball/28rhoden.html "Want to Make an Impact? Join Jordan"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202070131/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/sports/basketball/28rhoden.html |date=February 2, 2017 }}. ''The New York Times''. April 27, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

During the [[2011 NBA lockout]], ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that Jordan led a group of 10 to 14 hardline owners who wanted to cap the players' share of basketball-related income at 50 percent and as low as 47. Journalists observed that, during the [[1998–99 NBA lockout|labor dispute in 1998]], Jordan told [[Washington Wizards]] then-owner [[Abe Pollin]]: "If you can't make a profit, you should sell your team."<ref>Beck, Howard (November 5, 2011). [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/sports/basketball/hard-line-factions-threaten-latest-nba-negotiations.html "Hard-Line Factions Threaten Latest N.B.A. Negotiations"]. ''The New York Times''. {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120905091931/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/sports/basketball/hard-line-factions-threaten-latest-nba-negotiations.html|date=September 5, 2012}}. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> [[Jason Whitlock]] of [[FoxSports.com]] called Jordan "a hypocrite [[sellout]] who can easily betray the very people who made him a billionaire global icon" for wanting "current players to pay for his incompetence".<ref name=whitlock_11052011>Whitlock, Jason (November 5, 2011). [https://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Michael-Jordan-siding-with-David-Stern-in-NBA-lockout-a-selfish-betrayal-110411 "MJ sells out players with hard-line stance"]. Fox Sports. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107161958/http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Michael-Jordan-siding-with-David-Stern-in-NBA-lockout-a-selfish-betrayal-110411|date=November 7, 2011}}. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> He cited Jordan's executive decisions to draft disappointing players [[Kwame Brown]] and [[Adam Morrison]].<ref name=whitlock_11052011 />

During the [[2011–12 NBA season]] that was shortened to 66 games by the lockout, the Bobcats posted a 7–59 record. The team closed out the season with a 23-game losing streak; their .106 winning percentage was the worst in NBA history.<ref>Sports Network (April 27, 2012). [https://www.foxnews.com/sports/knicks-earn-no-7-bobcats-set-dubious-record/ "Knicks earn No. 7, Bobcats set dubious record"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121010557/http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/04/26/knicks-earn-no-7-bobcats-set-dubious-record/ |date=January 21, 2013 }}. Fox News. Retrieved November 10, 2024.</ref> Before the next season, Jordan said: "I'm not real happy about the record book scenario last year. It's very, very frustrating."<ref>Associated Press (November 2, 2012). [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8581175/michael-jordan-says-committed-charlotte-bobcats "Michael Jordan committed to Bobcats"]. [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8581175/michael-jordan-says-committed-charlotte-bobcats]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

During the 2019 NBA offseason, Jordan sold a minority piece of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim, retaining the majority for himself,<ref>Bonnell, Rick (September 14, 2019). [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article232128902.html "Michael Jordan selling large chunk of Hornets; won't give up majority control"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927044714/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article232128902.html |date=September 27, 2019 }}. ''The Charlotte Observer''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> as well as the role of chairman.<ref>[https://www.nba.com/hornets/mobile-hornets-executive-bios "Hornets Executive Bios"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122204931/https://www.nba.com/hornets/mobile-hornets-executive-bios |date=January 22, 2021 }}. NBA. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In 2023, Jordan finalized the sale of his majority stake to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner, although he kept a minority stake.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojnarowski |first1=Adrian |title=Sources: Michael Jordan finalizing sale of Charlotte Hornets |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37863644/sources-michael-jordan-finalizing-charlotte-hornets-sale |website=[[ESPN]] |date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616143910/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37863644/sources-michael-jordan-finalizing-charlotte-hornets-sale |url-status=live}}</ref> The sale was officially completed in August 2023 for approximately $3&nbsp;billion, more than 10 times the $275&nbsp;million Jordan had paid for the team.<ref>{{cite web |last=Maloney |first=Jack |title=Michael Jordan's 13-year run as Hornets owner ends as franchise completes $3 billion sale |work=CBS Sports |date=August 3, 2023 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/michael-jordans-13-year-run-as-hornets-owner-ends-as-franchise-completes-3-billion-sale/ |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807155313/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/michael-jordans-13-year-run-as-hornets-owner-ends-as-franchise-completes-3-billion-sale/ |url-status=live}}</ref>