When reporter Tyler Green asked basketball legend Michael Jordan about the mysterious missing days after his 1993 championship, he never imagined the answer he would receive. Jordan, visibly moved after decades of silence, finally shared the deeply personal story behind his abrupt retirement—one far removed from the rumors and speculations of baseball or scandal.
It began quietly in July 1993, days after Jordan had clinched his third consecutive NBA championship. Amid celebrations and endless demands from fans, sponsors, and the media, Michael received a simple yet heartfelt letter from a 10-year-old boy named Elijah Reeves. Elijah was battling leukemia, confined mostly to a hospital bed, yet his courage and optimism shone through every word he wrote. He never asked Jordan for autographs or special favors; he simply shared his life and struggles.
Jordan, profoundly touched by Elijah’s letters, secretly corresponded with the boy for months, exchanging stories of courage, basketball, and life. Elijah watched each Bulls game from his hospital room, and Jordan began privately dedicating special plays to him.
After the 1993 championship victory, Jordan made a quiet but firm promise to himself: he would visit Elijah in person. With the help of his trusted friend and security guard Marcus Wilson, Jordan discreetly arranged to disappear from public view for three critical days. Under the cover of secrecy, he traveled to the small town of Cedar Grove, where Elijah lay fighting for his life.
Their meeting was powerful and life-changing. Elijah’s awe and joy at seeing his hero in person touched Jordan deeply, as did the boy’s simple wisdom about the true meaning of courage and happiness. Their conversations revealed a shared feeling of being trapped—Elijah as the “sick kid,” Jordan as the superstar burdened by expectations and fame. Elijah’s insights resonated profoundly, especially his advice: “Everybody needs a timeout sometimes.”
Determined to fulfill Elijah’s dream of seeing him play in person, Jordan organized a secret basketball game right in the hospital’s physical therapy room. Joined by teammates Scottie Pippen, BJ Armstrong, Horus Grant, John Paxson, and even rival Charles Barkley, Jordan gave Elijah an unforgettable experience, letting the boy coach from his wheelchair. It was a moment of pure joy, untouched by cameras or commercial interests.
Elijah’s health declined soon after. Jordan remained by his side until the end, deeply affected by the boy’s final words: “Play for joy, not just for winning.” After Elijah’s peaceful passing, Jordan was left grappling with the profound impact the child had made on him.
These events compelled Jordan to reevaluate his life and career, leading to the shocking decision to retire from basketball. Publicly, he cited a desire to pursue baseball, a tribute to his father’s dreams, who tragically passed away shortly after. But privately, Jordan knew it was Elijah who had sparked this necessary pause, a timeout to rediscover his passion and purpose.
Years later, Jordan returned to basketball refreshed, revitalized, and reconnected with the joy he had first found as a child. Elijah’s memory remained close, a silent inspiration guiding Jordan through subsequent victories and defeats.
Now, thirty years later, Michael Jordan chose Tyler Green to finally share Elijah’s story, revealing the deeply personal truth behind his pivotal career decision. Elijah had given him a precious gift: the courage to step away, to rest, and ultimately, to rediscover joy. Jordan’s retirement, widely misunderstood for decades, was not about baseball or burnout—it was about honoring a young boy who had taught him that sometimes life’s greatest victories happen far away from cheering crowds, in quiet rooms where courage and joy are the most important achievements of all.
What Is Up With Michael Jordan’s Yellowish Eyes in ‘The Last Dance?’
Now on its eighth episode, The Last Dance has been the perfect stay-at-home show for sports fans and anyone nostalgic for the 90s. The ESPN and Netflix co-production is a 10-part series that follows the NBA’s Chicago Bulls in their final championship season, from 1997 to 1998.
It features present-day interviews with the team and other prominent figures, including, of course, Michael Jordan. But apart from his unforgettable games, gravity-defying dunks, and controversies, one other thing has caught people’s attention.
Fans are now wondering why Jordan’s eyes were yellow in more recent interviews for the documentary. It has even become a discussion topic of its own.
According to some viewers, present-day MJ seems to have disturbingly bloodshot, yellowish eyes. Many are concerned that it’s a symptom of larger health problems.
A yellowish tint to the whites of the eyes usually indicates jaundice, the result of an accumulation of bilirubin in the conjunctiva. Jaundice is commonly linked to liver diseases such as hepatitis, gallstones, cirrhosis, and even cancer. However, Jordan has not publicly addressed concerns about his eyes, nor has he made references to jaundice or liver problems.
Some think that it’s no biggie, considering his eyes have appeared like this as early as the 2000s.
Still, concerns about Jordan’s health are justified.
“Yellow eyes should not be ignored because they are a sign of something more going on. There is literally more than meets the eye,” Dr. Val Phua, an ophthalmologist at Eagle Eye Centre Singapore, told VICE. “Leaving eye conditions untreated includes compromise in vision and even blindness.”
He said that in some cases, “yellow eyes” may not even be the real issue. They could also be reddish, on top being slightly off-colour. In this case, causes can include conjunctivitis, inflamed pterygium and pingueculae, uveitis, and endophthalmitis.
“These conditions are quite varied in their prognosis and have to be addressed individually.”
