Michael Jordan said he would have played the modern game the same way he played the old one — focused on the opponent and the final score — and that he does not envy stars who now carry social media, betting markets and personal brands into the same night.

He made the comments last week at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, in a conversation with Sportradar's Carsten Koerl and DraftKings' Jason Robins. "I've thought about it," Jordan said. "If I were to play today, what would the game be? It's a totally different game. But I think ultimately, the conclusion that I come to is that I just play the game. I can't worry about what people are betting on. I can't worry about what the stats are. I never worry about the stats. All I care about is the end of the game."

"If we win, I couldn't care less who won the bet, who didn't win the bet," he said. "I know I won the game. Ultimately, that's all that I even focused on." He said athletes now have those pressures "come into play," and that fans want a closer connection. "I remember, actually, you wouldn't know what I did before a game. You........

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