You’ve definitely thought about it. Whether you were watching Adonis Creed take a hit in the ring or Erik Killmonger monologue about history, that nagging question pops up in the back of your mind. Is Michael B. Jordan related to Michael Jordan? It’s arguably the most common question the actor has faced since he first appeared as a scrawny kid on The Wire.
The short answer? No. Not even a little bit.
Honestly, they aren't even from the same part of the country. Michael Jordan—the "Air Jordan" GOAT—was born in Brooklyn but is the quintessential North Carolina legend. Michael B. Jordan? He’s a Jersey boy through and through, even if he spent his first couple of years in Santa Ana, California.
The Truth About the Name
So, if he’s not the son of the basketball legend, why the name?
It’s actually way more personal than a marketing gimmick. He was named after his father, Michael A. Jordan. Because his dad had the name first, and he’s actually older than the NBA Michael Jordan, the family wasn't exactly trying to chase sports fame when they picked it.
The "B" is the savior here. It stands for Bakari. That’s a Swahili name meaning "noble promise."
Without that middle initial, Hollywood would have been a logistical nightmare. Imagine trying to book a table at a restaurant or check into a hotel as "Michael Jordan" in the 90s. You’d have a fleet of disappointed waitstaff and paparazzi following you, only to find a guy who’s just looking for his room key.
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Is Michael B. Jordan related to Michael Jordan? The family tree breakdown
If you look at the actual kids of the NBA superstar, the list is pretty clear. Michael Jordan has five children:
- Jeffrey
- Marcus
- Jasmine
- Victoria
- Ysabel
None of them are named Michael Jr., though Jeffrey’s middle name is Michael. Marcus and Jeffrey both played college ball, but they didn't quite reach the stratosphere of their dad.
Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan’s family is totally different. His mom, Donna, worked as a high school counselor. His dad was a caterer and a former Marine. He’s got a sister, Jamila, and a brother named Khalid. It’s a tight-knit group—so tight that Michael B. famously lived with his parents in a house he bought for them well into his adulthood.
He joked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show a few years back that while he loved them, having "roommates" who are your parents leads to some pretty awkward kitchen run-ins at 2 a.m.
Growing up with "The Name"
Living in the shadow of the greatest basketball player to ever live wasn't always easy for the actor. He’s been vocal lately about how much he got teased as a kid.
Imagine being a 12-year-old in Newark, New Jersey. Your name is Michael Jordan. Every time you step on a court or walk into a classroom, people expect you to dunk or at least have a killer jump shot.
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"I got teased so much, to the point where I almost changed my name," he admitted in a recent interview with CBS. He seriously considered going by just Bakari Jordan. He wanted his own identity. He didn't want to be the "other" Michael Jordan.
But something shifted. Instead of running from it, he used it as fuel. He developed this intense, almost manic competitive drive to make sure that when people heard his name, they thought of his face, not just a jersey.
He basically decided: If I’m going to have this name, I’m going to make it mean something else, too.
The "Technically" Related Joke
There is a funny clip floating around where Michael B. Jordan says, "Technically, I am related to Michael Jordan."
Don't let the clickbait fool you. He follows it up immediately with, "But not the one you're thinking of." He’s just talking about his dad.
It’s a classic dad joke that has been recycled into a thousand TikToks. In reality, the two Michaels have met, and there’s nothing but respect there. But they don't share any DNA.
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Why He Won't Pass the Name Down
If you’re wondering if we’ll see a Michael C. Jordan in the future, don't hold your breath.
Michael B. has already said he’s "breaking the circle." He felt so much pressure living up to his father’s name—and by proxy, the athlete’s name—that he doesn't want to dump that baggage on his own future kids.
He wants them to have their own shoes to walk in. Literally.
What You Can Take Away From This
The story of Michael B. Jordan isn’t just about a celebrity coincidence. It’s actually a pretty cool lesson in branding and identity.
- Own your "handicap": What started as a source of childhood bullying became the very thing that pushed him to outwork everyone in Hollywood.
- The power of a "B": Sometimes one small distinction—a middle initial, a different niche—is all you need to stand out in a crowded room.
- Legacy is built, not inherited: He could have been "that actor with the basketball name." Instead, he’s an A-list director and star who happens to share a name with a legend.
Next time someone asks you if they're related, you can tell them the truth: they’re just two guys who decided to be the absolute best at what they do, regardless of who else was using the name.
If you want to see more of how he’s carving out that legacy, keep an eye on his upcoming projects like Creed IV or his work with his production company, Outlier Society. He’s busy making sure the "B" stands for "Best" in his own right.