Michael Jordan has praise for former rival’s arena in new interview

Michael Jordan’s contributions to the NBA on NBC this season have been interviews at halftime of select broadcasts this season. We already know how Charles Barkley feels about this mini interviews that were filmed in one sit down session, but for some they can be informative.

It is cool to hear Jordan speak on the game as it is today as well as stories from his playing time. But on Sunday, during halftime of the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks game, he dove into Madison Square Garden and why he loved playing at the Mecca of basketball.

And Jordan wanted to put on a show in the arena every time he played there.

“I’ve always considered Madison Square Garden a mecca of basketball, right? You know, the knowledge of basketball, the way that people perceive basketball. And they’re hard workers, and the New York Knicks teams always seem to play hard for their fan base. And the fans knew it, too. If they didn’t, the fans let them know that, right?” Jordan said in the latest installment of “Insights to Excellence.”

But there’s more…

Michael Jordan was motivated to play at MSG

Madison Square Garden is historic, opening in 1968 and being the league’s oldest venue. It still has the old school feel to it and when the stars are playing that night, there’s almost nothing better. That was the case when Jordan was playing the game as he and the Bulls took on rival New York for some memorable matchups.

But for Jordan, he never was bothered by the rowdy fans.

“I go in there with the notion that I know it’s not hostile. It’s more of the awareness that they’re going to cheer for the team, and they’re going to do everything to get you off your game,” he said. “It was never hostile towards me. It was more motivating and trying to get me off my game.”

“And look, once I’m in a game, once the ball goes up, I never even hear the fans. You know, if the fans ever can affect me or I can hear the fans, that means I’m not focused on what I should be doing, which is playing the game of basketball,” he continued. “I get into the game. My opponent becomes more the focal point. The fans are fans.”

Michael Jordan breaks down the significance of playing at MSG —

MJ’s mentality is unmatched.

(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)

pic.twitter.com/3FO8io65KE

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 2, 2026

Jordan’s mindset is a different one than some players might take, especially in today’s game. But he knew that going into MSG with the rowdy fans, he could use it as motivation.

Jordan dominated when he played in the Garden. He still holds the highest scoring average of any visiting player in the Garden’s history, averaging 31.8 points per game. In his first game at MSG, Jordan scored 33 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 5 assists. He also shot 68 percent from the field, putting together an impressive performance.

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