"I was just texting him" - Lewis Hamilton names Michael Jordan as sporting hero, name drops Serena Williams too
Lewis Hamilton and Michael Jordan are two of the most accomplished athletes in history in their respective sports. Hamilton holds the record for the most Formula 1 championships, with seven titles to his name, while Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Both have been widely regarded as the greatest of all time in their respective fields.
During the United States Grand Prix in Austin Texas over the weekend, Lewis Hamilton told media that he got a text message from Jordan prior to Sunday's race. He also went a step further and called the NBA legend his 'sporting hero'.
"Michael Jordan ... I was just texting him this morning. I speak to Serena Williams all the time," Lewis Hamilton said, via Formula 1 insider Sean Kelly.
"I was actually texting with Michael Jordan this morning. It was kind of crazy. I woke up to a message but it's just always very surreal to have the opportunity to meet some of these people you've grown up since you were a kid watching and admiring," Hamilton added, via Fadeaway World.
Michael Jordan has been a sporting hero to many sports personalities
Michael Jordan's exceptional basketball skills revolutionized the game, making the NBA a global brand. It's no surprise that he has been a sporting hero to many athletes, including other sports.
For example, LeBron James, his main rival in the GOAT conversation, has admitted that Jordan was his hero growing up when talking about the first time he met him.
"I couldn't believe it. The dude looked like Jesus Christ to me. He was Black Jesus to me. Nobody could say to me anything different," LeBron James once told the Uninterrupted (opening segment), via Sports Illustrated.
"When I saw him I was like, 'If the man above would've took me that day, I would've lived a hell of a life.' I swear to God, after seeing Mike."
James has won four NBA championships, been named Finals MVP and league MVP. He is also the all-time leading scorer in the league. These achievements place him next to Jordan as one of the greatest of all time.
Similarly, Aaron Rodgers, an NFL legend and Super Bowl champion, who spent 17 years with the Green Bay Packers (2005-2022) and won the NFL MVP award four times (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021), talked about the Bulls' legend and why he is his sporting hero.
"Michael Jordan. It's very simple -- because he was the best, and basketball was my first love, as far as sports go," Rodgers told ESPN.
Aside from a six-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, Jordan retired as a five-time NBA MVP, a 14-time All-Star, a three-time All-Star MVP, and a two-time Olympics gold medalist.