Jordan Morgan on Building a Multi-Dimensional Life Through Professional Basketball, Non-Profits, and Entrepreneurship

Written By Ryan Morrison
 
 

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About Jordan Morgan

  • Former University of Michigan basketball player (2009-2014) who made the iconic charge play at the 2013 Final Four

  • Professional basketball player with over a decade of experience across multiple European leagues including Italy, France, Turkey, and Slovenia

  • Senior Men's National Team player for the Basketball Federation of Slovenia (2020-2023)

  • Industrial and Operations Engineering graduate from University of Michigan with a certificate in entrepreneurship

  • Founder and CEO of Spin Travel, a platform connecting travelers with local hosts worldwide

  • President and Founder of The Jordan Morgan Foundation, focused on education and youth development in Detroit

 

From University of Michigan to Professional Basketball

Jordan Morgan's journey from Detroit to international basketball stardom wasn't a traditional path. Growing up in Detroit and attending University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Morgan was shaped by parents who prioritized education above all else. His father, also an engineer, made it clear that school came first, and if Jordan was good enough at basketball, scouts would find him.

This philosophy followed Morgan to the University of Michigan, where he balanced dual passions for Industrial and Operations Engineering and Division I basketball. When most college athletes focus solely on their sport, Morgan immersed himself in the College of Engineering, taking the road less traveled but one that would define his multifaceted approach to life.

Morgan's college basketball career culminated in one of the most memorable moments in Michigan basketball history. At the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta, he took a crucial charge that sent Michigan to the National Championship game. While many remember the stat-sheet moment, Morgan reflects on it differently—it was about sacrifice, putting the team above personal glory, and demonstrating that selflessness can create lasting legacy.

After graduating in 2014 with five straight years of full-time enrollment (including summer semesters), Morgan embarked on a professional basketball career that took him across the globe. He played for clubs in Italy (Pallacanestro Virtus Roma), France (Hermine Nantes Atlantique), Turkey (AYOS Konyaspor Basketbol), and ultimately earned naturalization to play for Slovenia's senior men's national team from 2020 to 2023.

The Engineering Mindset in Basketball

What sets Morgan apart from many professional athletes is his engineering background and how it informs his approach to basketball. During his time at Michigan, he wasn't just taking engineering classes—he was actively applying them. Morgan worked as an intern at TechArb, helping startups with customer discovery and UI/UX testing. He conducted engineering consulting projects with local businesses, implementing lean manufacturing solutions and exploring cost-benefit analyses of 3D printing for medical prosthetics.

This operational efficiency mindset translated directly to the basketball court. Morgan approaches the game with the same analytical rigor he learned in the lab, studying film, breaking down plays systematically, and finding optimal solutions to complex defensive and offensive schemes.

Morgan also completed an entrepreneurship certificate during his undergraduate years, attending entrepreneurship hours and taking classes in management, marketing, and business strategy. This early exposure to the startup world planted seeds that would later flourish into his own ventures.

 

Building Spin Travel and Pursuing Entrepreneurship

While maintaining his professional basketball career, Morgan founded Spin Travel, a platform designed to connect travelers with local hosts around the world. The concept emerged from his own experiences living in multiple countries and recognizing the value of authentic local connections over traditional tourist experiences.

Currently in the soft launch phase, Spin Travel represents Morgan's commitment to entrepreneurship and his belief in building solutions to problems he's personally encountered. The platform allows travelers to discover experiences through the eyes of locals, creating meaningful connections that go beyond typical tourist attractions.

Morgan's approach to entrepreneurship mirrors his basketball career—methodical, strategic, and willing to put his back against the wall. He recently drove to the Global Entrepreneurship Conference (GEC) in Indianapolis on short notice, demonstrating his commitment to immersing himself in the Midwest entrepreneurial ecosystem and building face-to-face relationships with potential partners and collaborators.

His philosophy echoes Daymond John's "Power of Broke" concept—sometimes your best work comes when you have limited resources and no choice but to move forward. This mindset has served him well both on the court and in business.

 

The Jordan Morgan Foundation

The Jordan Morgan Foundation represents Morgan's deepest commitment to his Detroit roots. Founded with a mission to be a catalyst for inner-city generational change through education, outreach, and sport, the foundation focuses on providing opportunities for young people in the greater Detroit area.

Drawing from his own experience as a Detroit kid who succeeded through the combination of sports and education, Morgan understands the transformative power of having access to both. His foundation works to ensure that other young people from similar backgrounds have the same opportunities he did.

The foundation's work centers on three core pillars: education (providing resources and support for academic success), outreach (building relationships and mentorship programs), and sport (using athletics as a vehicle for teaching discipline, teamwork, and perseverance). These aren't abstract concepts for Morgan—they're the exact framework that shaped his own journey from Detroit's inner city to international basketball courts.

Balancing the demands of a professional career overseas with leading a Detroit-based foundation requires the same operational efficiency Morgan learned in engineering school. He remains actively involved in the foundation's work, even while playing professionally abroad, demonstrating that geographic distance doesn't have to mean disconnection from purpose.

 

Life Abroad as a Professional Athlete

Morgan's professional career has taken him to some of the top basketball leagues in Europe. Each country presented unique challenges and growth opportunities, both on and off the court.

Playing professionally in Italy, France, and Turkey required more than just basketball skills—it demanded cultural adaptability, language learning, and the ability to build relationships across cultural boundaries. These experiences expanded Morgan's worldview and reinforced his belief that meaningful connections transcend geography and language.

The lifestyle of a professional athlete in Europe differs significantly from the NBA experience. Players often live more integrated lives within their communities, shopping at local markets, navigating public transportation, and becoming part of the fabric of their adopted cities. For Morgan, this grounded approach to professional sports aligned with his values and provided rich experiences that would later inform his entrepreneurial ventures.

One of the most significant challenges Morgan faced was a torn ACL, an injury he mentioned while discussing recent NBA injuries. His personal experience with recovery—understanding that while you can return to play in nine to twelve months, you don't feel like yourself for eighteen months—gives him unique empathy for players going through similar struggles. This understanding of adversity, recovery, and resilience has shaped both his playing career and his approach to business challenges.

 

Representing Slovenia on the International Stage

From 2020 to 2023, Jordan Morgan represented Slovenia's senior men's national team, a program that has featured NBA-level talent and competed in major FIBA competitions. This opportunity came through naturalization, a process that required Morgan to embrace a new national identity while maintaining his American roots.

Wearing the Slovenian jersey as an American-born player presented unique questions about identity, belonging, and what it means to represent a nation. For Morgan, it represented the culmination of his European career and a chance to compete at the highest international level alongside some of the world's best players.

The experience changed his perspective on home and identity. Slovenia gave him a platform to represent something bigger than himself, to be part of a basketball tradition, and to contribute to a national program with serious international aspirations. Playing alongside and against NBA talent in international competitions validated his decade-long professional journey and demonstrated that paths to basketball success are diverse and not limited to the NBA.

 

Balancing Multiple Careers and Passions

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Jordan Morgan's story is his ability to maintain excellence across multiple domains simultaneously. While playing professional basketball, he's building Spin Travel, running The Jordan Morgan Foundation, and staying connected to the Detroit and Ann Arbor entrepreneurial communities.

When asked how he balances these competing demands, Morgan's answer is simple but profound: "If you enjoy it, it doesn't feel like work." This philosophy has guided him since his days at Michigan, when he was taking full course loads in engineering while competing in Division I basketball.

Morgan's approach involves strategic planning and leveraging his unique position. His international basketball career has given him perspectives and connections that inform his business ventures. His engineering training provides the analytical framework for solving problems both on the court and in business. His Detroit roots keep him grounded and connected to the community he's working to serve.

He also emphasizes the importance of having his back against the wall—creating constraints that force creativity and action. Whether it's Ryan Morrison's $200 challenge at GEC or Morgan's own decision to pursue multiple ventures while maintaining his playing career, these constraints can be catalysts for innovation rather than limitations.

 

NBA Draft Insights and Basketball Analysis

As someone who's played at the highest levels of international basketball, Morgan brings a professional's perspective to NBA discussions. During the podcast, he and Ryan Morrison discussed the recent NBA draft, with Morgan sharing insights on several prospects.

He noted surprise at Danny Wolf's draft position, emphasizing that fit matters more than pure talent rankings. Morgan expressed particular enthusiasm for Jeremiah Fierce, a player who "torched" Michigan but whom Morgan respects as "a heck of a player" who will succeed at the NBA level.

On Cooper Flagg, the highly touted prospect who was expected to attend college, Morgan provided a measured but optimistic take. He believes Flagg has an "extremely high floor" and noted that watching him compete with the best players on the planet during summer competitions—while still in high school—demonstrated natural ability rather than flashy moves. Morgan predicts Flagg will produce immediately at the college level.

Regarding championship contenders, Morgan identified the Houston Rockets (with Kevin Durant) as an intriguing dark horse in the Western Conference, noting they were already strong and adding KD makes them dangerous. In the Eastern Conference, he boldly predicted the Detroit Pistons as a dark horse, citing Cade Cunningham taking another step and having Jayden Ivey back healthy.

His analysis consistently returns to a core principle: "Sports isn't fair. Life isn't fair." This perspective, shaped by his own experiences with injury and the unpredictable nature of professional sports, gives him empathy for players facing career-threatening injuries while maintaining realistic expectations about competition.

 

Memorable Quotes from the Episode

"If you enjoy it, it doesn't feel like work."

"My dad told me, hey, school is your number one priority. And if you're good enough at basketball, they'll find you."

"At the time I was sacrificing my own personal success for the success of the team. And in a time that was really difficult for me personally in doing that, I was able to still make a mark on the legacy of my time at Michigan. And it just was a testament to what being selfless can do for you."

"I've kind of put my own back against the wall."

"You can come back from ACL in nine, 10, 11, 12 months, but you don't feel like yourself for 18 months. It's a while."

"Sports isn't fair. Life isn't fair. Sports is definitely not fair."

"I hope I come back and have something cool to talk about."

 

  • The Jordan Morgan Foundation - Learn more about Jordan's work creating generational change in Detroit

  • Spin.Travel - Jordan's platform connecting travelers with local hosts

  • University of Michigan Basketball - Follow the program where Jordan made his mark

  • Basketball Federation of Slovenia - Official site for Slovenia's national basketball program

  • TechArb - The startup incubator where Jordan interned during college

  • The Power of Broke by Daymond John - Book referenced in the episode about succeeding with limited resources

 

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