Tommy Lloyd Addresses Rumored Michael Jordan Call, UNC Contract Offer Revealed in New Report

Arizona men's basketball coach Tommy Lloyd said Michael Jordan was not part of North Carolina's efforts to recruit him to the Tar Heels.

Lloyd, who announced Friday he would be turning down UNC's job offer in order to stay with Arizona, denied a previous rumor shared by Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb that Jordan had given him a call.

"The phone call never did happen, so I'll put that to rest... my Michael Jordan is Steve Kerr," Lloyd said Friday.

Lloyd turned down the UNC job despite being offered one of the two most lucrative head coaching contracts in college basketball, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

He is set to make $7.2 million next season after sticking with Arizona, which is also offering pay increases and more incentives to Lloyd's staff, per Norlander.

That marks a raise of almost $2 million annually from the $5.25 million in total pay Lloyd received this season, according to USA Today.

The news of Lloyd's return comes as Arizona prepares for a national semifinal game against Michigan on Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Lloyd spent two decades as an assistant for Mark Few at Gonzaga before joining Arizona ahead of the 2021-22 season.

He has since led Arizona to three conference tournament championships and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including this spring's ongoing bid for a national title.

His 148-35 record (.809 win percentage) and the recruiting efforts that brought five-star prospects Brayden Burries and Koa Peat to Tucson this season have been enough to make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

The top two highest-paid college men's basketball coaches are currently Kansas' Bill Self ($8.8 million) and Arkansas' John Calipari ($8 million), per USA Today.

UConn's Dan Hurley is the only other college basketball coach making more than $7.2 million this season, according to USA Today.

UNC is still searching for a replacement after firing Hubert Davis in March. The program still owes Davis about $5.3 million after his dismissal.

North Carolina has also been tied to an interest in Michigan's Dusty May, who is also preparing for a Final Four matchup, as well as the Chicago Bulls' Billy Donovan, the former Florida coach who won back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007.

May declined to comment Friday on the speculation, outside of saying he is "happy at Michigan."