Michael Jordan admitted that he considered himself racist when he was a teen, adding that he was "against all white people." The basketball great's quote is printed in "Michael Jordan: The Life," by Ronald Lazenby. 

Growing up in North Carolina in the 1970s, Jordan was subject to seeing the rise of the KKK, and was often told he was inferior. During his teen years he rebelled by throwing a soda can at a girl who called him the n-word, resulting in expulsion from school. It was his mother who told him to let go of racial hatred and move beyond it. 

Quotes from the NBA legend were brought up after Donald Sterling's recent racial remarks, which Jordan also spoke on.  

"I look at this from two perspectives — as a current owner and a former player. As an owner, I'm obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views."As a former player, I'm completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA — or anywhere else — for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed."

He added, "I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level."

Source: news.com.au