• 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> NBA

Published 15:20 14 Sep 2023 GMT+1

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

Don Calhoun had some help from Michael Jordan in getting his million dollar prize

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Don Calhoun, the man who made the iconic million dollar shot in a basketball game, revealed that NBA legend, Michael Jordan, helped him get his money.

On April 14, 1994 during a timeout in the third quarter of a Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game an office supply salesman wowed everyone by making a three quarter court shot with $1 million on the line.

Watch here:

Advert

Hurling the ball from the free throw line on the other side of the court, Don Calhoun threw it 80 feet and watched it hit the basket perfectly.

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

However, while people cheered on the amazing basketball moment, Don discovered that actually getting his money was harder than expected.

On April 14, 1993 Don Calhoun made a million dollar shot that experts said had less than a one percent chance of succeeding.
NBA

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.

When he made the million dollar shot, Calhoun had been sharing a court with the legendary Michael Jordan, who'd told him 'great shot kid' in that magical moment.

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

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.

Michael Jordan later told Calhoun he'd helped him get the million dollars.
Aurelien Meunier / Contributor

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. 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: Basketball, Michael Jordan, NBA, News, Sport, Money

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@MrJoeHarker

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • YouTube/The Patient Story
    6 hours ago

    Woman diagnosed with cancer after doctors dismissed symptom for three years

    Taylor Scheib was no stranger to cancer in her family, but was left shocked when she received her diagnosis

    News
  • ITV
    6 hours ago

    Doctor shares easy way to fall back asleep if you keep waking up at 3am

    It may just be a better option to counting sheep...

    News
  • Getty Stock
    7 hours ago

    Exact amount you need to earn per year to be considered 'rich' in each US state revealed in new study

    It turns out that the amount of money you need to be considered rich now has gone up

    News
  • Bryan Bedder/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Israeli producer of 'Tehran' spy thriller on Apple TV found dead in hotel

    Dana Eden has died aged 52

    News
  • 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
  • Amazon warehouse employee left stunned by Jeff Bezos' response after she emailed him about her pay
  • Michael Jordan buys $2.5 million Hypercar that no one else is ever allowed to own