In an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook shared a funny childhood story that involved him blowing off Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls are back in the spotlight given ESPN’s 10-part “The Last Dance” documentary, and Westbrook told Fallon about his experience attending one of Jordan’s basketball camps as a child.
“The first time I had an opportunity to meet Michael Jordan… I probably was about 10 or 11 [years old],” Westbrook recalled. “I went to a Michael Jordan camp. My parents sent me to his camp in Santa Barbara.”
In a new interview with Fallon on Tuesday night, the now 31-year-old Westbrook continued:
At the end of the camp, usually every kid on every team brings something for Michael Jordan to sign. You need to stand in line and be ready to go. When my team was up to get a basketball signed — my parents gave me a ball to get signed — when it was my team and my time to go, I was in the middle of a game. I was playing pickup with other kids.
My coach was like come on, come on, you’re going to miss the opportunity to get a picture with Michael Jordan. and an autograph with him. Myself, I said ‘Don’t worry, I’m okay, I don’t need it right now.’ So I didn’t get a pic with Michael Jordan, didn’t get an autograph. I literally didn’t get in line. I just kept playing basketball, kept hooping.
When camp was over and I got home, my mom and dad were like, ‘Did you get the ball signed?’ I literally was like, ‘No, I was playing in a pickup game.’ At the time, it didn’t click to me.
Fortunately, Westbrook’s excellence on the basketball court eventually led to him meeting Jordan and even forming a partnership of sorts.
Today, the nine-time NBA All-Star and 2017 MVP has a long-term endorsement contract with the Jordan Brand.
The complete interview, which also touches on Westbrook’s numerous coronavirus (COVID-19) relief initiatives, can be viewed here.
