Jordan: Dean Smith was 'mentor, teacher, 2nd father'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Jordan called North Carolina coaching great Dean Smith the most influential person in his life other than his parents.

Smith died Saturday night at 83.

In a statement on Twitter released through his business manager, Jordan says Smith was “more than a coach — he was a mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it.”

The former NBA superstar and Charlotte Hornets owner says Smith taught him not only about the game of basketball, but about “the game of life.”

Jordan played three seasons for Smith from 1981-84. When he was a freshman he helped lead the Tar Heels to a national championship in 1982, hitting a 16-foot jump shot in the final seconds to beat Georgetown.

Jordan and Smith remained close ever since.