Jordan Denies $28-Million Deal

Michael Jordan denied a published report that he has agreed to an eight-year, $28-million contract with the Chicago Bulls that would make him the highest-paid athlete in professional sports.

The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that the star guard would sign the contract next week. The deal, including performance incentives, was initiated by club owner Jerry Reinsdorf shortly after the club set a single-season attendance record of 667,568 earlier in the week, the paper reported.

“My attorney and Mr. Reinsdorf haven’t said a thing to me about a contract,” Jordan said before Friday night’s game against the New York Knicks. “It’s more or less a rumor that got started. As far as I know, there is no agreement.”

Jerry Krause, Bull vice president-general manager, said it was club policy not to talk about contract negotiations. The Tribune said Jordan had agreed to a five-year extension to his current contract, which has three years left.

The contract reportedly would pay Jordan an average yearly income of $3.5 million, or $500,000 more than Laker guard Magic Johnson. Johnson signed a restructured deal Thursday night that could pay him $3 million a year for the next seven years.