Starting as a small boy from Philadelphia, or Philly as he has endearingly recounted many times, Will Smith had to weather out several storms coming his way. Be it as a rapper who chose not to cuss or as an actor who just does not play the bad guy, the Oscar winner owing to several experiences has developed a ruthlessly competitive mindset. Or so he thought. Smith’s calculation of his competitiveness proved to be mere dust every time he found himself in a room with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

The actor formed quite a bond with the legendary NBA player over the years. This led to him learning what a phenomenon Jordan is not just on the court but in real life. However, there is one place where the basketball player just could not excel.

What according to Will Smith is Michael Jordan’s weakness?

Will Smith and Michael Jordan are considered the strongest soldiers by the black community in their respective fields. This shared time on the war front, that is, the entertainment industry, has made them learn a lot about each other. Therefore, when on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show in 2018, Will Smith felt that he would let fans in on a peculiar weakness of Michael Jordan. The King Richard actor started off by describing how spending time with Jordan was “like a competition“. Be it drinking water or walking, the NBA champ just does not lose a chance to win. Except for when it comes to picking up cheques at dinners.

After hearing tales about how competitive the 60-year-old is, Kimmel inquired if that was the case when it came to paying for dinners as well, and to that Will Smith had to say, “he’s not good at that”. 

The statement came just a minute after the Fresh Prince said Jordan only competes when he wants to win. And if he is not racing to pay cheques at dinners, it is most likely because the basketball champion chooses his battles wisely. In their time spent together, the basketball icon may not be paying for meals, but he did do something very valuable for Will Smith.

Michael Jordan’s act of generosity towards The Fresh Prince

It is unclear why with a net worth of $2 Billion, Michael Jordan did not pay for dinners but perhaps he considered it as payback for the multiple favors he did for Will Smith. At the time when  Smith’s acting career was beginning to sail off, Michael Jordan’s Nike Air became the talk of the town. And The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor was all ears for this talk.

The actor even went on to lengths as extensive as begging the basketball star for them. Later on, the basketball player even gifted the actor Gold Air Jordans for his 50th birthday, which is more expensive than any dinner could cost.

Did you imagine Michael Jordan to be that friend who does not pay for dinner, as Will Smith described? Let us know in the comments below.