Michael Jordan’s Unexpected Lesson in Las Vegas

Michael Jordan, widely celebrated for his basketball career with the Chicago Bulls and often regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, is also known for his love of high-stakes gambling. Typically, Jordan dominates in off-court competitions, but one memorable exception involved a surprising lesson that would change his perspective.

During a trip to Las Vegas, Jordan found himself in a private poker game with another sports legend, Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky, the NHL icon with four Stanley Cups to his name, proved to be a formidable opponent, even in a different arena.

The high-stakes game between these two sports titans took place under the glitzy lights of Las Vegas. As the night unfolded, Gretzky managed to best Jordan in poker, an arena where Jordan usually excelled. This fascinating encounter was shared by Rich Strafella, the former vice president of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, in a 2010 interview with Urban Daddy.

A Lesson in Tipping

The lesson, however, extended beyond the poker table. During the game, Jordan casually tipped a waitress with a $5 casino chip. Gretzky, noticing the gesture, decided to teach Jordan about proper tipping in Vegas. He retrieved the $5 chip, handed it back to Jordan, and replaced it with a $100 chip from Jordan’s own stack, remarking, “This is how we tip in Vegas, Michael.”

This moment left a lasting impression on Jordan, reportedly influencing his tipping habits moving forward. The encounter added a new dimension to Jordan’s complex persona, showing that even the greatest can learn something new, especially in unexpected situations.