North Carolina legend Michael Jordan has been called out just in time for the 2025-26 college basketball season.
Before Jordan became a six-time NBA champion and five-time MVP with the Chicago Bulls, he was putting on a show in a Tar Heels uniform. The 1984 ACC Player of the Year averaged 17.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game during his career at North Carolina. The highlight of his UNC career was hitting the game-winning shot during the 1982 national title game.
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Even though Jordan has already done a lot for the Tar Heels, he’s once again under pressure to come up big.
Earlier this week, former North Carolina star Rashad McCants called out Jordan. The former All-ACC guard and NCAA champion would like to see Jordan help their alma mater out in the NIL department.
“It’s a whole revamp, a whole rebuilding situation down in Carolina,” McCants told Kyle Odegard. “The culture of college basketball has changed with the NIL. Michael Jordan needs to throw some money in there. (Jerry) Stackhouse, Vince Carter, all these guys that are alumni. They say it’s a brotherhood. You’ve got to offer the bread.”
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Jordan has not yet responded to these remarks from McCants.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 17: Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, takes part in a ceremony honoring the 2020 NBA All-Star game during a break in play as Team LeBron take on Team Giannis in the fourth quarter during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center on February 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Team LeBron won 178-164. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
State of UNC basketball.
North Carolina has won three national championships since Jordan’s departure, so it’s not like the program has been in free fall since the 1980s. That being said, anything short of a deep NCAA Tournament run is considered unacceptable.
Hubert Davis led the Tar Heels to the national title game in 2022 despite being a No. 8 seed that season. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to recapture that magic.
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The Tar Heels will enter the 2025-26 season as the No. 25 team in the country. It’s up to Davis to prove his squad is capable of making noise in March.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Oct 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
