Michael Jordan dominated opponents on the hardwood for years. But off the court, he is very conscious about getting into a relationship.
He recently admitted to taking his sweet time before committing to ex-wife Juanita Vanoy. The Bulls legend openly explained why he pumped the brakes early in their relationship, and the reason sounds quite true.
Michael Jordan Explains His Relationship Fears With Stunning Women
MJ met Vanoy through mutual friends in March 1985, just before his first playoff run. He felt an instant connection but didn’t fall head over heels immediately. He called it “infatuation at first sight” rather than love.
The six-time champion wanted to make sure their bond ran deeper than surface-level attraction before locking in, though in the end, he could not save his relationship.
Jordan admitted Vanoy’s presence caught his eye from jump because the former model turned heads everywhere she went. “She’s a very attractive girl,” Jordan said in an NBC Chicago interview in 1988.
“I didn’t want to rush into anything. I’ve seen attractive women with a lot of area in between their ears,” he added. “I actually wanted to understand her for who she really was,” Jordan explained.
The couple took things slow at first. Jordan was cautious about being taken advantage of by someone who appeared to be good but lacked depth. He’d seen plenty of knockouts who couldn’t hold a real conversation. So, the five-time MVP wanted a real partnership, not just arm candy for the cameras.
If we talk about the most expensive divorce in the world of sports, then the name of basketball star Michael Jordan will come up. When Michael divorced his wife Juanita after 17 years of marriage, he paid a compensation of 168 million dollars which is equal to 1500+ crores. pic.twitter.com/h0T66fOZNS
— THE INDIAN 🇮🇳 (@alphabrains01) July 20, 2024
Safe to say MJ succeeded for a time being as the couple stayed together for 17 years. They had three children: Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine. Jordan credited the marriage with keeping him balanced during his championship runs. He said having a family stopped him from making “wrong decisions” while raking in millions.
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But the relationship eventually fell apart. Vanoy first filed for divorce in 2002, citing irreconcilable differences. They reconciled briefly before splitting for good in 2006.
When Michael finally divorced Juanita after 17 years of marriage, he reportedly paid a compensation of 168 million dollars, which represented nearly half of Jordan’s estimated $350 million net worth in 2006.
So, his cautious approach to dating attractive women didn’t prevent heartbreak. But it did give him 17 years with Vanoy and three children he adores. The irony? Hardwood G.O.A.T. can’t even predict how relationships shake out.
