• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Michael Jordan's comment to man who made million dollar shot at basketball game left him stunned

Home> News> Sport

Published 16:21 5 May 2024 GMT+1

Michael Jordan's comment to man who made million dollar shot at basketball game left him stunned

The Calhoun Shot was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

If you managed to nail a hail mary shot from three-quarters the length of a basketball court for a grand million-dollar prize, you'd hope there would be some reward, right?

During a timeout on April 14, 1994, as the Chicago Bulls faced off with the Miami Heat, one fan wowed the world with his impressive heave.

Launching the basketball like a javelin, office supply salesman Don Calhoun made the stadium erupt in stunned applause as he landed the shot.

He was then embraced by the Bull's teammate like one of their own, handing out high fives and a hug to legend Michael Jordan, who'd told him 'great shot kid'.

Advert

High praise indeed.

19 people had tried and failed to take the shot before Calhoun nailed it, and he soon became famous for his incredible exploit.

However, Don would find out, it would be a lot harder to get his money than he'd expected.

The insurance company didn't want to pay out, arguing that because Calhoun had played college basketball, he broke the competition's rules.

Eventually, the event's sponsors promised to pay him the money if the insurance company wouldn't and for the next 20 years, he received an annual payment of $50,000, though after taxes it was $38,000.

A few weeks later, he met Jordan again, telling ABC7 that he wanted to get the basketball legend's signature on the ball he'd made the shot with.

Don was then embraced by the bulls teammate like an old teammate, handing out high fives and a hug to Michael Jordan.  (NBA)
Don was then embraced by the bulls teammate like an old teammate, handing out high fives and a hug to Michael Jordan. (NBA)

Calhoun heard from a friend that Jordan always went to see one of his kids play basketball at their school, so the million dollar shot man showed up with his ball in the hopes of getting Jordan's signature on it.

Jordan's security told Calhoun that the basketball star didn't sign anything while at his kid's game, though when things were coming to an end, a security guard told him he could walk with Jordan to his car.

According to Calhoun, the first thing Jordan asked him when they were walking together was: "Did you get your money?"

What the basketball star said after hearing that Calhoun did get the money absolutely stunned the man, as he revealed that Jordan then told him: "We made them give it to you.

Don found that it would be a lot harder to get his money than he expected.(NBA)
Don found that it would be a lot harder to get his money than he expected.(NBA)

"We were upset that they were trying not to pay you."

In the end, Calhoun also got Jordan's signature on his iconic ball after being told that, while he wouldn't sign anything at his kid's game, if the ball was sent to his steakhouse he'd sign and return it.

While Calhoun was worried that he'd never see his prized possession again, he decided to trust Jordan and he later got a call from the steakhouse telling him 'Michael signed it and he wishes you well'.

Featured Image Credit: Aurelien Meunier / Contributor/NBA

Topics: Michael Jordan, Basketball, Sport

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • Taylor Hill/WireImage
    5 hours ago

    Country star Maren Morris sends strong message to people who voted for Trump

    She also described Fox News as a 'Cocomelon brain rot for boomers'

    Celebrity
  • Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Flight attendant explains whether Airplane Mode is actually necessary on planes

    Cabin crew don't make the request just a means of making things awkward passengers

    News
  • Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited
    5 hours ago

    Former Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson hits back at critics saying that she's aging 'poorly'

    Kendra Wilkinson fired back at the 'negative energy' of people who attack her appearance 20 years after the Playboy Mansion

    Celebrity
  • Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Alysa Liu says everyone has been pronouncing her name wrong and reveals the right way to say it

    She admitted that her moniker is 'hard to pronounce'

    Celebrity
  • Michael Jordan's comment to man who made million dollar shot at basketball game left him stunned
  • Man made million dollar shot during basketball game only for company to not intend on paying him
  • Dwyane Wade claims he could have surpassed Michael Jordan as the 'G.O.A.T' of basketball
  • Inside Michael Jordan's new $70,000,000 private jet with custom $500,000 paint job