Michael Jordan found the child at the bus stop with a note and took him to his wife When he returned, he w
It was just another chilly night in Chicago when Michael Jordan, having finished his game and feeling the weight of the night’s victory, found himself navigating the streets in his car. He was exhausted, the adrenaline of the game still pulsing through his veins, but his mind wandered to thoughts of his family. His wife, Yvette, would be waiting for him at home with a warm meal and a smile, as she always did after his late-night games.
As he neared the intersection by an abandoned market, something caught his eye—a figure alone at the bus stop. He slowed his car, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. At first, he thought it was just a forgotten bag or an abandoned coat, but as he got closer, his heart sank. It was a little boy, huddled against the cold, his clothes threadbare and too big for him. The boy’s face was flushed from the biting air, and his small body trembled as he clutched a crumpled note in his hands.
Michael immediately pulled over, his instincts kicking in. He stepped out of the car, the cold seeping into his skin, but he barely felt it. He approached the boy gently, kneeling in front of him. “Hey, little man, what are you doing out here all alone?” he asked softly.
The boy looked up, his eyes wide and filled with a mix of fear and hope. He shivered as he spoke. “My name’s Ethan. Daddy told me to wait here. He said someone nice would come.”
Michael’s chest tightened. “Where’s your mom and dad, Ethan?” he asked, his voice thick with concern.
The boy’s lip quivered as he shrugged and handed over the crumpled note. Michael unfolded it carefully, his heart pounding as he read the hastily written words: “Please take care of him. I can’t anymore.”
A chill ran through him, not from the cold, but from the realization that this child was alone—abandoned. Michael looked at the boy, then back down at the note. His mind raced, and for a moment, everything around him seemed to freeze. He knelt again, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Alright, buddy, we’re going to get you warm, okay?”
Ethan nodded, taking Michael’s hand without hesitation, and together they walked back to Michael’s car. The drive was quiet, save for the sound of the heater working hard to warm the car. Michael glanced over at Ethan, noticing how much the boy resembled someone he knew—someone from his past, someone he hadn’t thought about in years. Was it just exhaustion, or was there something more?
When they arrived at Michael’s home, Yvette was already waiting at the door, her smile lighting up her face. But as soon as she saw Ethan, the smile faded slightly. She could see the concern in Michael’s eyes, and something about the boy seemed so familiar.
“Who is this, Mike?” Yvette asked gently, her voice soft but full of curiosity and concern.
“He’s Ethan,” Michael replied quietly. “He’s been abandoned. His dad left him at a bus stop with a note. He’s… he’s been through something.” He looked down at Ethan, who was now dozing off in the passenger seat. “I couldn’t leave him there.”
Yvette didn’t ask more questions. She just nodded, her motherly instincts kicking in. “Bring him inside, Mike. We’ll take care of him.”
As Michael carefully lifted Ethan from the car, he felt an overwhelming need to protect him. He brought him inside and wrapped him in blankets while Yvette made a bowl of soup, her hands trembling as she worked. The house, normally a place of peace and joy, now felt charged with something unknown.
Later that night, after Ethan had fallen asleep in their guest bedroom, Michael found himself sitting alone in the living room, staring at the photo on the wall. It was an old picture of him with a woman he hadn’t thought about in years—Claire. The woman he had loved once, long before fame, long before basketball stardom. Claire, the woman he had dated in his younger days before their paths had diverged.
Michael’s thoughts were interrupted when Yvette came in, her face pale. She held a small, worn-out backpack that Ethan had clung to all night. She opened it slowly, as if it might break. Inside, there was little—just a few clothes, a crumpled comic book, and a plastic dinosaur. But at the very bottom was an envelope. Yvette hesitated, then opened it.
The moment her eyes landed on the photo inside, her breath caught in her throat. The photo was of Michael, much younger, with Claire beside him, both of them smiling. The handwriting on the back was unmistakable: “To Ethan, this is your real father.”
Yvette’s heart pounded. She stared at the photo, unable to speak. “Mike,” she whispered. “This… this is Ethan’s mom. That’s Claire.”
Michael took the photo from her, his hands trembling. He studied it, his mind reeling. “I thought she disappeared. I never heard from her after we broke up. She never told me she was pregnant, Yvette.”
Yvette reached for his hand, her voice gentle. “What if Ethan… what if he’s your son, Mike?”
Michael swallowed hard. He glanced over at Ethan, still sleeping soundly in the guest room, then back at the photo. “If he is… I missed six years of his life. I wasn’t there for him.”
But Yvette squeezed his hand. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”
The next day, Michael made the decision to call the hospital. After hours of phone calls and conversations, he learned that Claire had been admitted to the hospital recently, battling cancer. The news hit him like a punch to the gut.
“Let’s go see her,” Michael said quietly to Yvette. “I need to know the truth.”
The hospital room was quiet except for the beep of the heart monitor. When Claire saw Michael, her eyes softened. “You came,” she whispered, her voice weak but filled with emotion.
Michael sat beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me about Ethan?”
“I didn’t want you to feel obligated, Mike,” Claire replied gently. “I thought if I told you, you’d come back out of guilt, not love.”
Michael shook his head. “I would have come. I would have been there. I missed so much.”
“You found him now,” Claire whispered. “That’s what matters.”
As they stood in the doorway, Ethan came running in, his eyes lighting up when he saw his mother. Claire’s face transformed with joy, and Michael saw the love she had for her son.
“Mommy, I missed you,” Ethan said, climbing into her bed.
“I missed you too, sweetheart,” Claire whispered.
“I know who he is,” Ethan said softly, his eyes looking up at Michael. “He’s my real dad, right?”
Michael nodded, his voice cracking as he reached out to take Ethan’s hand. “Yes, I’m your real dad. And I’m never going to leave you again.”
As Claire passed away, Michael was determined to be the father Ethan deserved. Michael and Yvette officially adopted Ethan, giving him the family he had always needed. Together, they began their new life, filled with love, second chances, and a bond that would never break.
As the years went by, Ethan flourished under the love and guidance of his new parents. Michael would often remind him of the importance of family, kindness, and the power of love—lessons he had learned too late but would now pass on to his son.
Michael Jordan Children
NEW YORK CITY – APRIL 14: Basketball player Michael Jordan and wife Juanita Vanoy attend the “2000 Essence Awards” on April 14, 2000 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Basketball legend Michael Jordan may be a source of inspiration for millions of youth across the world, yet the situation isn’t the same with his own children. His children likely grew up under an exceeding amount of pressure, the kind of pressure that most boys can’t even conceive of in their whole lifetime.
Yes, it’s a life of privilege and fame, but it’s also a life packed with expectations, of needing to match or compete with your father’s outstanding records on the court, of feeling like you have to do something extraordinary with your life to become your own person, to escape the shadow of your own father.
You’d think that Michael’s terrific attributes as an athlete would undoubtedly translate to fatherhood, but over the years, his children realized that their father isn’t anything like what most people see on their screens. Ultimately, the dynamic between MJ and his children is between them and no one else. The public can make assumptions based on their own perceptions of Michael, but it’s up to the kids to evaluate the kind of father he’s been in their lives.
As it turns out, Michael’s parenting style didn’t quite reflect his personality on the court, but it demonstrated its value in other ways. Therefore, it’s time to chronicle his children’s lives and examine him as a father, not a basketball player.
Michael Jordan (L) holds his son Marcus, back in 1993 (EUGENE GARCIA/AFP via Getty Images)
Michael’s sons played basketball but never pursued it professionally
Michael Jordan and wife Juanita Vanoy (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Michael Jordan has five children from two different relationships. His marriage to Juanita Vanoy produced two sons and a daughter: Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine. Michael and Juanita continued to have an up and down marriage over the years — they filed for divorce on January 4, 2002, but managed to reconcile with each other.
However, their reunion didn’t last, and they filed for divorce again. The divorce was finalized four years later, on December 26, 2006. Michael tied the knot once again after seven years on April 27, 2013, with Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto. The two welcomed twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel, a year later.
Given that their dad is the most acclaimed basketball player and athlete in the world, Michael’s two boys did try their hand at the sport on a high school and college level. When the boys were in high school, they were some of the most high-profile players at their age.
Michael Jordan’s son, Jeff Jordan (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Jeffrey Jordan had some of his school games televised nationally at ESPN, a rare showcase for the time. Though his play received some buzz, Jeffery wasn’t recruited by any prestigious basketball-oriented university. He gained admission into the University of Illinois’s basketball program as a “walk-on,” which means he didn’t experience serious interest from scouts or elite sports programs but was instead admitted to continue the family tradition. Jeffrey left the university’s basketball team to focus on school and “life after basketball.” He later transferred to the University of Central Florida’s basketball team but left it as well due to “personal reasons.”
Marcus Jordan (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
Jeffrey’s younger brother, Marcus, achieved relatively more success as a college basketball player — his University of Central Florida team defeated many local rivals and broke quite a few records. Ultimately, Marcus also decided basketball wasn’t in his cards, and therefore, he also set out to carve his own path.
At present day, Jeffrey lives in Portland, Oregon, and now heads digital brand innovation for the Jordan Brand. He married Radhina Aneva in 2019. Marcus, on the other hand, runs an online shoe store called ‘Trophy Room.’
Michael Jordan and Jasmine Jordan (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/WireImage)
Michael Jordan’s daughter, Jasmine, may not have given professional basketball a go, but she did study sports management at the University of Syracuse. Currently, she works for the Jordan brand and even has a baby from a relationship with a basketball player, Hakeem Christmas. It’s evident that basketball plays a huge role in the Jordan family, no matter what.
Michael said he’ll support his kids with “every inch of [his] body” no matter what they do
In 2007, right before his son Jeffrey was set to debut as a freshman in a college football game, Michael opened up about fatherhood in an interview with TODAY. He said that while the rest of the world may place an excessive amount of pressure on his son, he wants nothing but the best for Jeffrey.
I want him to be his own person, you know? I want him to enjoy his life, whatever he chooses to be that, you know? If you play basketball, you’re a doctor, you’re a lawyer, whatever, I’m gonna support you with the love and every effort, every inch of my body.
Michael Jordan on TODAY
In an interview conducted last year, Jeffrey said that while his dad was far from demanding or harsh at home, he still encouraged them to work as hard as possible and follow perfectionism wherever possible.
Michael wasn’t the helicopter dad that everyone had imagined: he traveled a lot and didn’t have time to coach his young children. The young sons had to learn basketball themselves, and on the rare occasion they trained with their dad, they were always astounded by their father’s strength and determination.
Michael also cautioned his sons on pursuing basketball too intensely too early. For example, when Iowa State contacted Jeffrey, Michael said no because he didn’t want his son to “get committed at an early age.” He wanted his sons to take it easy and cherish each moment as it occurred.
One of the biggest misconceptions was that he couldn’t turn that [competitiveness] off. He definitely could turn it off and be a dad … But when it was on, it was on.
Marcus Jordan on CNN
What’s lovely is that Michael himself is aware of the stress weighing down on his kids. He even acknowledged it in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009, when he told his adult children, “You guys have a heavy burden. I wouldn’t want to be you guys if I had to.”
Being your own person is what matters to your parents
Michael’s demanding, dominant, and painstakingly perfectionist nature may have pushed him all the way to the top of the success ladder, but it doesn’t mean that he’s going to expect his offspring to be the same. He nurtured them with unconditional love and support and encouraged them to work hard and forge their way, however they wanted to.
Once he realized that basketball wasn’t for them, he didn’t criticize or rebuke them. Michael knew that his kids needed to figure out their lives first before undertaking any serious career. His gentle, respectful, and nurturing style of fatherhood stands in broad contrast to his most resilient qualities as an athlete.
The core lesson that can be taken away from Michael’s dynamic with his children is that you don’t have to follow your parents’ path to show your love for them. You can be your own person and still deserve their love. You can follow your own dreams and still respect their achievements and lessons. This life belongs to you, and your parents are only along for the ride.
