Ben Affleck: Golf is like meth

Ben Affleck doesn’t play golf because it reminds him of meth.

That’s something the actor revealed in a recent interview with “The Hollywood Reporter” to promote his upcoming movie, “AIR” — which portrays the dynamic partnership between a then undiscovered Michael Jordan and Nike’s basketball division that revolutionized the world of sports with the historic Air Jordan brand.

Affleck got into the topic while explaining that he met up with Jordan at a golf course to get the NBA legend’s blessing to tell his story in the Amazon film.

“I said, ‘Please, can I come out?’” Affleck recalled asking Jordan.

“And he was great. ‘Yeah, no problem. Come to the golf course.’ Went out, met with him. I waited for him to finish playing. I don’t golf myself. Because I just feel like it eats people’s lives up.

“I look at golf like meth. They have better teeth, but it doesn’t seem like people ever come out of that. Once they start golfing, you just don’t ever see them again.”

Jordan has a known love of golf that dates back to his days with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s — and it’s a hobby he’s kept up in retirement.

It wasn’t Affleck’s first time meeting Jordan.

“I periodically play cards sometimes with Michael, and we’ve got mutual friends,” Affleck said. “And … None of it sounds good, OK? And it’s not like he’d be like, ‘Oh yeah, Ben’s my boy.’ [Imitating Jordan’s voice.] He’d be like, ‘Yeah, I know him.’”

Affleck — who is a diehard Boston sports fan — went on to say that Jordan is “a hero” to him.

“And I know how important and meaningful a figure he is, in particular in the African American community,” Affleck said.

“If you’re going to f–k around with talking about Michael Jordan, do it respectfully. Nobody’s asking you to do a hagiography, but get it f–king right.”

Affleck produced, directed and starred in “AIR,” which will be exclusively in theaters globally on April 5.

He plays Nike co-founder and former CEO Phil Knight.

Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, and Viola Davis all star in the film.

The movie is the first from Affleck’s new production company, Artists Equity, which he founded with Damon, his friend of more than 40 years.

Last month, Affleck was part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he introduced the 2023 Ruffles Celebrity Game players and coaches at John M. Huntsman Center.

Affleck tied the knot with Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas in July 2022 — and the couple held a second ceremony in August, which took place at the actor’s estate in Riceboro, Ga.