Michael Jordan & Cigars

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest athletes of all time — and perhaps the greatest basketball player ever. He’s a rare athlete who has transcended his sport to become a cultural icon, and his love of cigars is both well-known and a significant part of his public persona. Indeed, Jordan often smokes a cigar when he’s interviewed or makes public appearances at events like golf tournaments. Want to know about the Michael Jordan cigar lifestyle? You’ve come to the right place.

Michael Jordan and Cigars: A Signature Lifestyle

According to Jordan, cigars came into his life in 1991. The Jordan-led Chicago Bulls had just won their first NBA Championship when Bulls’ owner Jerry Reinsdorf entered the locker room and gave Jordan one of his cigars.

Later, he received cigars from friend, and former NFL-athlete and sportscaster, Ahmad Rashad. But it wasn’t until 1993 that cigars became a habit for Jordan.

In a 2005 interview, he told Cigar Aficionado that he smoked a cigar before every home game as he drove into the arena. “I wanted that feeling of success and relaxation. It's the most relaxing thing . . .  Every time I get to a point where everything is coming at me, I would rather just sit back and smoke a cigar and relax.”

The Influence of Michael Jordan’s Cigar Habit

While Jordan is far from the first athlete or celebrity to smoke cigars, it is notable that his love of cigars coincided with the fabled cigar boom of the 1990s, when other celebrities and pop culture figures dove into the habit as well. What’s more, cigars have become synonymous with Jordan’s unique brand of competitiveness and excellence. It’s perhaps not a surprise that many athletes today enjoy cigars. Players such as Steph Curry, Ray Lewis, and Cam Newton have all followed in Jordan’s footsteps by appearing in Cigar Aficionado itself. 

And of course, winning teams often light up cigars to celebrate championships just as Jordan did in 1991. (Look no further than Jalen Hurts smoking a Plasencia after the Eagles' victory in Super Bowl LIX for proof.)

What is a Victory Cigar?

Michael Jordan is a larger-than-life figure, and it’s undeniable that cigars play a role in his mystique. His incredible legacy has become associated with cigars, and when an athlete lights up a victory cigar, they’re carrying on a tradition that Jordan helped popularize. 

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