The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I’ve always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It’s been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. It’s a relationship that has evolved over time, given me the greatest respect and love for the game.

Jordan frames basketball not merely as a profession but as an intimate, lifelong relationship—one that has offered sanctuary (“refuge”) as well as demanded sacrifice (“intense pain”). The quote compresses the emotional arc of elite competition: the sport becomes a place to process pressure and identity, while also producing the highest peaks of fulfillment. By describing the relationship as “evolved over time,” he suggests maturity—moving from youthful passion and ambition to a deeper, reflective respect for the game itself. The emphasis on love and respect underscores a reciprocal bond: the game shaped him as much as he shaped the game.