9:39 AM PT -- Michael Jordan now says the slap was not malicious -- but rather, a "tap of endearment."
"It was like a big brother and little brother tap," Jordan told the Associated Press ... "No negative intent. Only love!"Michael Jordan SLAPPED Malik Monk on Wednesday night!!!!
Here's the deal ... MJ is the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets and Monk got a really stupid technical foul that coulda cost the team the game.
So, MJ reached back like a dad upset with his kid and whacked the 20-year-old in the back of the head .