Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest player and this has led his popularity to boost consistently. Everything and anything that he does makes it to the headlines and takes the internet by storm. This is quite literally how the famous ‘Crying Jordan’ meme emerged out of an emotional moment. It is considered odd that not only a grown man but the legendary Jordani is weeping.
This is largely why people suspect whether the iconic meme is even real. Despite Jordan being the tough guy he is, doesn’t shy away from being emotional. Only a few years after Michael Jordan cried during an acceptance speech, the meme was birthed. It did not take too long for fans to make use of it, and until now, it remains very much on social media.
I thought after all these years I would get over the crying Jordan meme.
Nah, sorry. Still hilarious when used right 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/yRNBm74JdE
— Wilder Thoughts 🤔 (@Mr_TallandTan) October 15, 2023
Furthermore, Jordan is unsurprisingly aware of the memes that swirl around. He humorously brought this up during the public memorial service for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The Bulls star mentioned, “I’ll have to look at another crying meme for the next — I told my wife I wasn’t going to do this because I didn’t want to see that for the next three or four years”. This was Jordan’s way to lighten a heavy emotional moment.
The first time that ‘Crying Jordan’ meme likely came to light was in 2012. This was when the team he owned Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets) did not do well and had a 7-59 record during the lockout-shortened season. Originally, the meme was captioned with “Why did I buy the Bobcats?”, and swirled around as ‘Sad Jordan’. Over the years it transitioned into ‘Crying Jordan’ and is massively used.
Michael Jordan’s crying image was taken during his acceptance speech in 2009
The origin of the iconic Michael Jordan crying meme was a snapshot from the acceptance speech that His Airness delivered in 2009. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and naturally got emotional at this achievement. There were numerous moments during the speech when Jordan cried as he looked back at his journey filled with ups and downs.
Furthermore, the speech was initially considered an inspirational and emotional one. However, over the years, it took a turn into the ‘Crying Jordan‘ meme. The photograph was captured by Associated Press photographer Stephan Savoia.
Notably, this was neither the first nor the last time that the public saw Michael Jordan crying out. At the time of his father, James Jordan’s death, Jordan was emotional. In fact even years after it, this topic remains highly touching for him. MJ would almost break down even after hearing his father’s name.
The NBA world has an ever-changing landscape with moments that make it to the meme world. However, the iconic crying meme of Michael Jordan remains popular even decades later. This is largely due to the legacy that he has left behind, and the ability to remain relevant even in this era.