What Michael Jordan selling the Charlotte Hornets means for UNC

Big news came this morning in the NBA and in the state of North Carolina with the announcement that Michael Jordan would be selling the Charlotte Hornets. However, while that obviously changes the future for the franchise in the Queen City, that decision could also impact what could happen in the future for a certain program just down the road in Chapel Hill.

Brendan Marks wrote an article at The Athletic during the last college basketball season about Jordan’s impact as a player at North Carolina back in the early 80s. Now, with news that he won’t be owning the Hornets anymore after 13 seasons, Marks pointed out in a tweet today how that decision could soon allow him to be more involved with the Tar Heels moving forward.

One thing worth noting about Michael Jordan selling the Hornets, as it relates to #UNC: He should no longer be beholden to NCAA rules limiting contact between NBA personnel and schools.

Aka, he is (in theory) free to be more involved with the Tar Heels:https://t.co/gZ2hjhNOfl

— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) June 16, 2023

In Marks’ piece, he spoke with UNC AD Bubba Cunningham about Jordan’s involvement with the basketball program. Marks noted how MJ’s impact as ‘still actively growing’ considering what Cunningham had to say about his role in the Tar Heel’s coaching search after Roy Williams’ retirement.

“I called him after Roy announced his retirement and wanted his advice and thoughts on where we should go next. He was gracious enough to give me his ideas and thoughts,” Cunningham said. “We had a couple of calls as the process went along. So he’s deeply invested.”

From there, though, is where Jordan hit a snag. Since he was an NBA owner, he works under the same restrictions as other personnel in front offices across the association considering what could have been considered a competitive advantage. In Marks’ article, current North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said as much.

“I’m sure he wants to be around the team and around the program a whole lot more. But, because of the rules, he really can’t,” said Davis.

Jordan purchased a minority stake in the Hornets in 2006. He then bought the majority stake in Charlotte in 2010 for $275 million. That has made him the only Black majority owner in the association in those 13 seasons.

He is now selling the franchise to another group which is led by Gabe Plotkin, the Hornet’s minority owner, and Rick Schnall, the Atlanta Hawk’s minority owner. Per Adrian Wojnarowski, the selling price is for a valuation of approximately $3 billion.

Since the 2006-2007 season, Charlotte’s franchise, known both as the Bobcats and Hornets in that time, has posted just four winning campaigns. That includes the shortened 2011-2012 year where they went 7-59.

The end of Jordan’s tenure in Charlotte will send its own tremors across the NBA. However, considering what it could now mean for UNC, this decision could cause its own vibrations in college basketball, especially in the state of North Carolina.