When Bubba Wallace — one of NASCAR’s most high-profile drivers — talks about his boss, the legendary Michael Jordan, people probably have a certain assumption in mind. That expectation comes from Jordan’s reputation as arguably the fiercest competitor ever to step on a basketball court, notorious for demanding excellence from himself and everyone around him.
However, during a candid appearance on “Casuals with Katie Nolan,” Wallace offered a different perspective, revealing that Jordan actually brings a very different kind of presence to the race garage.
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The relaxed side of MJ
Jordan stepped into the motorsport arena in late 2020, teaming up with NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin to create 23XI Racing — a Toyota-supported Cup Series outfit built through a technical partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Reportedly investing well over $100 million, MJ chose his legendary number 23 for the team’s flagship car. Not long after, Wallace — formerly with Richard Petty Motorsports — came aboard as the organization’s first full-time driver for the 2021 season.
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Since then, 23XI Racing has picked up multiple race victories, and after a few seasons together, Wallace has observed Jordan operating in a very different realm than basketball. Those experiences, which the 32-year-old recently reflected on, were surprising — to say the least.
“He’s (Jordan) super cool, super laid-back. Really fun to be around… honestly, just a genuine, down-to-earth, really good guy,” Wallace said, noting that the six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls carries “a deep passion for NASCAR and motorsports” and genuinely loves being around the cars.
Of course, on the basketball court, Jordan was his own kind of “boss” — or at least an extension of iconic NBA head coach Phil Jackson. Hearing how Jordan’s former colleagues described his leadership at the time makes Wallace’s portrayal even more intriguing.
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For example, Scottie Pippen — with whom Jordan had a well-documented falling out — recalled that instead of leading gently, the Bulls legend “got on guys” and insisted he was the far better teammate.
Furthermore, Steve Kerr, who played 231 regular-season games with Jordan, recalled that the former Bulls star’s reaction to fellow players missing (easy) shots could be unforgiving and even intimidating.
Jordan’s advice
One thing became clear when Wallace described what it’s like working under Jordan: his daily demeanor is nothing like the intense, hyper-demanding figure most fans would imagine.
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Podcast host Katie Nolan immediately noted the contrast, pointing out with irony that the words Wallace used to describe Jordan — laid-back, chill and easygoing — were far from how the multiple Most Valuable Player was typically described during his storied and intense basketball career.
Wallace caught the joke instantly and played along. “Yeah, he’s not competitive at all,” he quipped, before shifting into a story that showed the other side of Jordan’s leadership. The Alabama native recalled that His Airness had once told him not to get involved in anything if he knew he was going to lose.
Nolan acknowledged that the logic made sense, even if most people — herself included — sometimes struggle to live by it. Wallace said he already follows it, which is why he and Jordan never challenge each other in their respective arenas. Mike would never get into a race car, and in turn, Bubba would never play basketball with him.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.