I know that he was extremely popular/famous and there was a lot of interest in him, but being a famous player doesn’t have to be the same as being a loved player.
For example, in todays game, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are both very famous players in the league who get a lot of attention from media and from Basketball fans, but Curry is a player who seems to be almost universally liked, not many fans have negative feelings about him. Durant on the other hand is as media famous as Curry, but he is less loved, a lot of regular fans have negative feelings about him.
So how was it with Jordan? Yes he was extremely famous. But was he liked/loved by many Basketball fans (apart from Bulls Fans of course)? Or was he just respected? Did many even have negative feelings about him?
He’s not one of. He is THE most popular player of all time. He is THE reason the NBA is a world wide league now. He was as big as the biggest popstars.
He basically pioneered sports stars in movies with one of the most popular kids movies of the 90s.
NFL is nowhere near as big around the world because of Michael. It’s bigger inside of America, but outside it’s the NBA.
The NFL isn’t as big partially because of the culture around the support and Michael, yes, but primarily it’s because no one plays it outside the US compared to basketball which is popular globally lol
I would add two other things why I think the NBA is more popular globally.
First: Basketball, while having a lot of rules, is an easy game in its basics. You have to throw the ball through the hoop. Everyone in the world understands that, so everyone can easily watch a Basketball game. American Football is more complicated, a lot of people outside the Us wouldn’t be able to tell what exactly a team has to do in a football game.
Second: Basketball is the most „individual“ team sport. It’s all about the special players, the superstars in the team. So the NBA is much more marketable with certain players, certain faces. Brand recognition. The NFL is more anonymous, more about teams than individuality, which makes it harder to market it in a new market, to make a connection with the people there.
Low barrier of entry is important in global sports. Soccer needs a ball and 2 thing. Any two things to be goal posts.
Basketball needs a hoop and a ball. It’s not far off.