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“Let’s Bet Our Cars”: Michael Jordan Turned Jamal Crawford’s $1,000 Shooting Challenge Into a Ferrari vs. Mercedes Showdown

Michael Jordan hated losing, whether he was competing in a packed arena or playing a casual game away from the court. The Chicago Bulls legend’s relentless competitive streak was well documented, with teammates, rivals, and friends sharing stories of his…

By Pranav Kotai · Essentially Sports

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 8:22 AM

Key Things to Know

A popular rumor claimed Michael Jordan won Jamal Crawford's Mercedes in a high-stakes three-point shooting contest.
Crawford clarified the story is untrue, stating Jordan never won his car in a shooting challenge.
Crawford confirmed he did lose his Mercedes gambling on dice games as an NBA rookie in Chicago.

The Story in 60 Seconds

A long-standing basketball rumor claims that Michael Jordan once escalated a $1,000 three-point shooting challenge against Jamal Crawford into a bet involving Jordan's Ferrari and Crawford's Mercedes-Benz. According to the story from the summer of 2001, Jordan reportedly swept the contest by making five consecutive three-pointers to win Crawford's car.

However, Crawford has clarified that the famous luxury car wager with Jordan never actually occurred. While Crawford confirmed he previously lost his Mercedes-Benz gambling on dice games as a young player in Chicago, he emphasized that Jordan was not involved in that loss.

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