NBA legend Michael Jordan says his competitive drive is both a blessing and curse that keeps him young. The 23XI Racing co-owner watched his team dominate the 2026 NASCAR Cup season with Tyler Reddick earning four wins in seven starts.
"Think I'm cursed," Jordan told CBS Mornings. "I'm cursed with this competitive gene that anything that I do is from a competitive lens. In some ways, that keeps me young. It keeps me aggressively thinking positively."
Even simple morning routines become competitive for Jordan. He races his wife to the bathroom shower and calculates timing to reach the golf course first while managing his daily schedule with children.
Jordan attributes his competitive nature to childhood experiences at UNC before becoming an NBA legend with the Chicago Bulls. The competitive gene helped him evaluate every stage of success despite facing failures along the way.
The former Bulls star doesn't know when this competitive urge began, but recognizes it as a rare trait others lack. Some people reach the threshold of success but cannot overcome that final hurdle.
23XI Racing, co-owned by veteran driver Denny Hamlin, required years of hard work before achieving premier status. Jordan's infectious competitive energy now drives the team's success in a sport few expected them to influence.
"Every time you see me giddy down in the pit, it's because we're doing it. We're starting to make a difference in a sport that no one thought we could make a difference in," Jordan explained.