Michael Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets and an NBA star and Hall of Famer, acknowledged that he had made mistakes as an owner but that he had learned from them, improved his decision-making, and acknowledged that he was a better owner now than he had been when he acquired the team four years earlier.

Shortly before the Hornets’ season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, Jordan declared, “I always considered myself an owner that was dedicated to doing the best job to bring the best team here to the city of Charlotte.” And a lot of criticism based on victories and defeats follow. And many have questioned it in light of the successes and setbacks I’ve experienced over the years as the owner. Since we’re winning, folks have expressed their thoughts on that from a different perspective.

“I’ve always thought of myself as a very successful business owner who strives for wise choices. Even when you make poor choices, you grow from them and carry on. In that regard, I believe I’m superior. I’ve gone through every high and low that comes with being a business owner and successful enterprise. I suppose that makes me a better owner if that’s what it means.”

Donning a 3/4-sleeved Hornets t-shirt, black cargo pants, throwback Air Jordan sneakers in Hornets colors, and his signature hoop earrings, Jordan had a laid-back, contemplative demeanor when discussing his expectations.

In the last few days, Jordan has been more available than normal as Charlotte formally reverts to its old moniker, the Hornets.

Tuesday, Jordan even participated in a Twitter takeover, posting on the @Hornets official account. He took a selfie, wrote “LOL” and marveled at the impact of social media.

“It was a one-day event,” Jordan said. “I’ve never been one of the guys who gets fascinated to let everyone know what I’m doing every minute of the day. I’m not fascinated by that. It was amazing how much people drew off of that. I didn’t anticipate that. They told me it could happen that way. It’s amazing how things happen now in this era. I never thought that me drinking coffee or me photobombing someone would be that big of a thing. But it was one-day event. I don’t look to do that no other time. …

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t fathom if I was playing in this day and era all the things I would have to do to keep up, just to maintain, as opposed to just playing the game of basketball.”

The rebranding from Bobcats to Hornets began the day Charlotte’s 2013-14 season ended against the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. From the court to the garbage cans, it’s all Hornets, and Jordan was hands-on throughout the process. He did a walk-through in the arena on Monday, and his brother, James R. Jordan, Hornets executive vice president of operations, said Jordan pointed out things he liked and didn’t like.

Jordan had a strong influence on the team’s new locker room, wanting it to be sanctuary for his players like the Bulls’ locker room was for him.

The re-branding, including new logos, uniforms, court and apparel, and convergence of an improving team is a financial boon for small-market, small-revenue Hornets. Charlotte has more than 10,000 season-ticket holders, is second in new season-ticket sales for 2014-15 and had 77% increase in sales at the team store.

With the team’s 43 wins and a playoff appearance under then-first-year coach Steve Clifford, Jordan expects more this season but is not unrealistic.

“Anything can happen in the course of a season,” he said. “Obviously, we have wishes. I would like to be better than we were last year. We built ourselves a base of 43 wins. I’d like to see us improve on that. I’d like to see us go deep into the playoffs. Hopefully we stay healthy, Lance (Stephenson, signed as a free agent) fills in like we anticipate and for us to be a force in the East. Getting out of the East? I don’t know. A lot of things have to fall in place. A lot a maturity has to happen over this time frame.

“I love talking about this because we have potential to do that. It’s much better talking about it when you have the potential as opposed to talking about it and really don’t have the opportunity or potential to do so. It makes me feel good.”