Michael Jordan did not use his considerable star power in North Carolina to help draw fans to the arena in his previous role with the Bobcats.
Jordan said that would change now that he is the majority owner.
?Now that I have invested in this process, I assume his responsibility in terms of putting my face on this organization and obviously trying to move to the next level,? said Jordan, who will buy a home here but remain a resident of Chicago.
?I understand the expectations of the city,? he said. ?I understand what they endured obviously when the team left.
?They want to win again. They want to feel good about their basketball team. I?m on board with that. I?m trying to get that feeling back here again.?
Jordan added: ?I want this place to be like when we used to come to play, it was the loudest thing. You?d hear that buzzing and all that crazy stuff. I want that same feeling to come back here. And it?s going to take some time. Obviously, it starts on the basketball court. And at the same time, building that relationship back with the community. That?s what I want to do.?
Jordan said he would turn to Commissioner David Stern as well as Jerry Reinsdorf, the Chicago Bulls? owner, and others for advice in rebuilding the franchise.
?He considers himself a North Carolina native, and he?s quite anxious to make this team into an important part of the community,? Stern told The Associated Press recently. ?I think he has the capacity and the will to do that. I think he?s the right majority owner at the right time.?