Michael Jordan

That Time Michael Jordan Won $300,000 In 30 Minutes Playing Blackjack

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  • Michael Jordan once took chips from Charles Barkley at a Las Vegas casino and won big at the blackjack table.
  • Jordan returned Barkley his chips after winning $300,000 in just 30 minutes at the blackjack table.
  • Cedric the Entertainer told the gambling story on the NBA Unplugged TV broadcast with Kevin Hart.

CHICAGO – NBA legend Michael Jordan’s love for gambling is well documented, but this blackjack gambling story with Charles Barkley is just another example. Cedric the Entertainer told the story of Jordan running away with Charles Barkley’s chips to the blackjack tables, where he profited $300,000.

“I’m on the roulette table with Charles Barkley. He’s doing good too, he’s up like $600,000 or something at the time. He has a bunch of chips o the table, MJ walks in, grabs a bunch of Charles’ chips and walks off!” Barkley questioned how much Jordan was taking from him, and MJ replied with “Does it matter? It doesn’t matter dog, you know I got you!”

The story was told on ESPN’s NBA Unplugged segment with Kevin Hart, aired during the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat’s Wednesday night matchup. Cedric the Entertainer explained how Jordan brought all of Barkley’s chips back after winning big at live dealer blackjack.

Jordan Hits Big At The Blackjack Table

Jordan then headed to the high roller blackjack table, where he profited $300,000 in just 30 minutes playing. He returned back to the roulette table where Barkley and Cedric are, and gave him all his chips back. As he left, Jordan told Barkley “I’m up $300,000, over here man, I’m good!”

Gambling was arguably Jordan’s biggest hobby outside of basketball, fueled by his competitiveness and desire to win. Jordan even had to address his gambling habit in an NBA interview back in 1993, right in the middle of his legendary NBA career.