Michael Jordan’s critique of Common’s basketball skills, or lack thereof, almost crushed the Chicago emcee.
On Monday, Common guested on Late Night with Seth Meyers where he discussed Jordan giving him some pointers after watching the And Then We Rise author play in the 2010 NBA Celebrity All-Star basketball game.
“Well first of all, I work hard to get into those celebrity basketball games, because I love basketball,” Common told Meyers. “And so many of my friends are watching, so I’m looking to show up and do great. That year I did great. I really thought I was going to get MVP.”
But the result proved to be otherwise for the “Glory” rapper, who lost the title to Michael Rapaport that year. “I ended up, after the game, going to Michael Jordan’s brand, Jordan, party, and he said, ‘Common, come here,'” he continued. “And I gave him a little love and he said in my ear, ‘Stick to rapping and acting.'”
The comment baffled Common, who told Jordan that he “killed it on the court.” But Common wouldn’t receive the MVP title until 10 years later, when he further proved his dedication to basketball and won the trophy during the 2020 NBA Celebrity All-Star Game.
“I’ve received some awards and I’m very grateful,” said the three-time Grammy recipient when shown a picture of him with the MVP trophy. “But this is one I was fighting for, man.”
Common discussed Jordan’s being unimpressed with him last year in a Men’s Health interview, saying that the former NBA star was “grounding” him with the comment.
Although Common traded his hoop dreams for the mic, he played fictional NBA player Scott McKnight opposite Queen Latifah in the 2010 romantic comedy Just Wright.
