Originally appeared on E! Online
What’s in a name? Just ask Michael B. Jordan.
After all, the “Sinners” actor — who shares his name with Michael Jordan — admitted that stepping out of the NBA legend’s shadow wasn’t exactly a slam dunk, as the bullying that came from being compared to a world-class athlete became a “big time” problem during his childhood.
“I got teased so much,” he told CBS Sunday Morning in an interview that aired Jan. 4, “to the point where I almost changed my name.”
In fact, the 38-year-old — who was named after his father, Michael A. Jordan — considered going by his middle name Bakari, meaning “noble promise” in Swahili. However, he opted instead to embrace his given moniker, noting that being compared to the basketball superstar “was a part of the alchemy that made me who I am today.”
“It definitely made me want to be competitive,” he explained. “I wanted to be great at something, if not for nothing else at that time, just to feel like I had my own identity.”
What a difference a decade makes.
READ: Inside Michael B. Jordan’s Award-Worthy Evolution From All My Children to Sinners
And with numerous accolades for his work over the years — including a 2026 Golden Globe nomination for his dual roles as twin brothers in the horror blockbuster — there’s no denying Jordan has delivered on the promise for which he was named.
“I feel like I’m walking in that and will continue to do so, big time,” he said of his middle name’s significance. “We got a lot more things to do. We’re just getting started.”
But for now, Jordan is celebrating the ongoing success of “Sinners,” both at the box office and among critics.
“It came out so early in the year, and people are still excited about it,” he told E! News in December, “still going back to the theaters and seeing it and acting as if it’s the first time that they’re seeing it.”
“It feels great,” Jordan added. “It feels good.”
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