Michael Jordan met his now ex-wife, Juanita Vanoy, in 1985 and the two started dating soon afterwards, which would eventually lead to their marriage in 1989. However, the couple’s journey to marriage wasn’t as smooth as one might expect. Jordan was reportedly reluctant to accept their firstborn son Jeffrey as his own a year before marriage. Vanoy’s attorney at the time, Michael Minton, told The Washington Post that the Bulls superstar paid proper attention to the situation only after Juanita sought legal counsel. However, Jordan would admit paternity within months and the couple would move toward a happy family life. Four years after denying paternity, Michael Jordan revealed in his 1992 Playboy interview how he had turned himself into a dutiful father, curating his son’s basketballs skills from an early age.

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Jordan had already proposed to Vanoy the previous year, but later on, was hesitant to accept that his fiancee was pregnant with his son in 1988. Vanoy stayed calm during the whole process and decided to file a paternity suit against the most famous man in America. However, Jordan soon realized his mistake and adopted the role of a husband and a father.

Michael Jordan on his son Jeffrey’s basketball skills

Michael Jordan has garnered the reputation of a kind and gentle family man over the years, especially after the birth of his grandson. However, Jordan tried to instill the principles of his fierce competitive spirit within his sons as a young father. He kept a close eye on his eldest son Jeffrey’s development from the early age of 3.

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During his 1992 Playboy interview, the Bulls legend opened up about his son’s basketball skills at the time. Jordan detailed the Xs and Os of Jeffrey’s game, during the interview:

“He[Jeffrey] travels a lot. He knows how to shoot a free throw. I tell him to shoot a free throw, and he backs up, dribbles, concentrates, boom. When he goes in for a dunk, he holds his form. And when he’s really excited about things, he starts shooting and saying Yes! He’s a show-off, man.”

Jordan knew the immense pressure of expectations that would be always on his kids to emulate him. However, he tried his best to alleviate the burden of expectations on them, allowing them to create their own path in life. The six-time NBA champion’s sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, both had short-lasting stints with basketball, after which they decided to venture into the world of business.

Jeffrey Jordan’s career in basketball and beyond

Jeffrey Jordan went on to play for the University of Illinois and the University of Central Florida. Jordan failed to make a lasting impression, averaging only 1.6 points and 1.2 assists in his career.

After college, Jordan entered a management-training program with Nike. He is now the co-founder of the Jordan Avakian Group, a Chicago-based consultancy firm.

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