Michael Jordan must give some of his $3.8billion fortune to alma mater North Carolina, ex-player claims

Michael Jordan has been urged by a former North Carolina star to give some of his $3.8billion fortune to his alma mater and help 'revamp' the basketball program.

Jordan, of course, starred with the Tar Heels from 1981-84 before embarking on his legendary NBA career.

And on the back of a disappointing season for UNC, 2004-05 national champion Rashad McCants has called on Jordan to boost the school's NIL funding.

'It's a whole revamp, a whole rebuilding situation down in Carolina,' he told Kyle Odegard. 'The culture of college basketball has changed with the NIL. Michael Jordan needs to throw some money in there. [Jerry] Stackhouse, Vince Carter, all these guys that are alumni. They say it's a brotherhood. You've got to offer the bread.'

'These kids want to know why they should go to Carolina,' McCants continued. 'The tradition is no longer where it was. We were winning through our talent and our recruiting, and now the standard of Carolina basketball is 'Come play, graduate, then go on to play overseas ball.' Getting back to understanding how to get recruits to your university – you've got to start throwing some money around now.'

While UNC and coach Hubert Davis made the national title game just three years ago, the Tar Heels haven't produced a first-round NBA draft pick since 2021.

Additionally, the player on this year's UNC squad with the highest NIL valuation, Henri Veesaar, is outside of the top 10 in NIL earners according to On3.com.

Veesaar's NIL valuation is $1.5million according to the site, which is less than 13 players.

UNC lost in the first round of March Madness last season following a trip to the Sweet 16 a year prior.

They failed to make the tournament the year prior to that in 2022-23.

'The guys that win – Villanova, UConn – these are people that have always done right by the players, the university and the integrity of the game,' McCants continued. 'And now with NIL, you can throw the money around. You don't have to hide your hands anymore, bring in the falsified documents.

'Now that everything is moving the way it's been moving, you've got to adjust. There hasn't been any adjustment by certain programs, and you can tell, because they haven't won since.'

Jordan, who sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets two years ago, is gearing up for a new role as a 'special contributor' to NBC's NBA coverage this season.

The NBA season tips off next Tuesday.

McCants, meanwhile, is a former NBA first-round pick who played for the Timberwolves and Kings across four seasons.