In the small town of Wilmington, North Carolina, Jimmy Washington lived a quiet, unassuming life. At 65, his hair had turned gray, but his eyes still sparkled with the same energy that made him a beloved teacher and coach at Williston Middle School. Though the years had passed, one thing remained constant: the memories he held close—memories of his time mentoring a young Michael Jordan.
Jimmy’s modest two-bedroom home on Gordon Road was filled with memories of the past. Old photographs lined the walls, some showing Jimmy with former students, but the ones he treasured most featured a young Michael Jordan—photos taken when Michael, a lanky freshman, would come to Jimmy’s backyard to practice basketball on a hoop that Jimmy had installed in 1978. Michael had spent countless hours practicing jump shots and perfecting his fadeaway on that hoop, something Jimmy fondly remembered.
However, life had a way of moving on. Jimmy’s wife, Sarah, had passed away five years ago, and his health was beginning to decline. He didn’t mind the simplicity of his home or the quiet of his days. Every evening, he would sit on his front porch, watching the sunset, reminiscing about the old days when kids would play basketball in the street. It was during these evenings that Jimmy would remember Michael, who had once been a skinny teenager with a dream.
But on one fateful night, everything would change.
At 2 a.m., the old wiring in Jimmy’s home sparked, catching fire. The flames spread quickly, and before Jimmy knew it, his house was engulfed in flames. His loyal dog, Max, woke first and managed to alert Jimmy just in time, but by then, the fire had already consumed most of the house. Jimmy and Max barely escaped with their lives, but everything else—the memories, the photos, the signed basketballs—was gone.
Neighbors rushed to his aid, but there was nothing that could be done. The fire destroyed everything. For Jimmy, the loss was more than just physical. It was the destruction of his life’s work, of the years he spent teaching, coaching, and mentoring a young Michael Jordan.
In the aftermath, Jimmy was left with nothing but a single, charred basketball—his only remaining connection to his lifelong friend. The fire had taken everything else. Yet, amid the heartbreak, a glimmer of hope emerged.
Through a chain of unlikely events, the story of Jimmy’s devastating loss reached Michael Jordan. A man who had long since become a global icon, Michael heard about Jimmy’s situation through a Facebook post, and what he learned stirred something deep within him. Michael had never forgotten Jimmy—the man who had believed in him when no one else did, the man who had given him a place to practice basketball when the courts were crowded, and the man who had shown him the value of character.
Without hesitation, Michael began to act. He assembled a team—financial advisors, real estate specialists, and contractors—to help Jimmy, all while ensuring that his efforts remained private. Michael’s goal was clear: he wanted to help Jimmy rebuild his life without making him feel like he was receiving charity.
The following day, Michael called Jimmy. His voice thick with emotion, Michael explained that he had heard about the fire and wanted to help. Despite Jimmy’s protests that he didn’t want to bother Michael, the basketball legend insisted. “You’re family,” Michael told him, reminding him that family doesn’t just share blood—it shares support, care, and belief.
Jimmy was overwhelmed, unsure of how to accept such help. But Michael wouldn’t take no for an answer. Over the next few days, Jimmy received a series of visits from professionals who outlined options for him—some of which seemed too good to be true. At first, Jimmy was suspicious, but as the details began to fall into place, he realized that Michael had thought of everything.
It wasn’t just about the house; it was about the memories. The new home that Michael arranged for Jimmy was not only practical but filled with thoughtful touches. The backyard had a basketball hoop, just like the one Michael had used for years. Inside, framed photos of Jimmy’s career and Michael’s early days together lined the walls, some of which had been lost in the fire. There was even a display case to house the charred basketball that had survived the flames.
As Jimmy walked through the new house, he was struck by how perfectly it fit him. From the kitchen counters to the recliner in the living room, everything was designed with him in mind. The house wasn’t just a building—it was a home, a place where he could rebuild his life, surrounded by the memories of the past.
One afternoon, Michael himself arrived in Wilmington, unannounced, to visit the new home. Dressed casually in jeans and a polo shirt, Michael looked more like a regular man than the basketball legend he had become. He greeted Jimmy warmly and spent the afternoon chatting with him, reminiscing about the old days.
As they sat in the living room, sipping coffee, Michael revealed a story that Jimmy had never heard before—a story about a summer day when Michael had made a mistake and accidentally set fire to Jimmy’s tool shed. He had panicked and tried to hide it, but Jimmy had never once raised his voice in anger. Instead, he had helped Michael fix the shed and taught him an important lesson about character—that it’s not about avoiding mistakes, but about taking responsibility for them.
That moment, Michael confessed, had shaped him more than anything else in his life. It had taught him about integrity, about doing what’s right even when it’s hard. And now, years later, Michael was returning the favor, offering Jimmy a chance to start over, not out of pity, but out of gratitude for the man who had believed in him when no one else did.
Jimmy, deeply moved, realized that Michael’s gesture wasn’t about charity. It was about a lifelong friendship—a bond forged in the fires of adversity, one that transcended time and success.
In the months that followed, Jimmy settled into his new home. Max recovered from the fire, and Jimmy found comfort in his daily routine, tending to his garden and volunteering at the local school. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was good. It was the kind of life Jimmy had always wanted—simple, fulfilling, and surrounded by the memories that mattered most.
And through it all, Michael remained a steady presence in his life, always checking in, always asking about the house, and always reminding Jimmy of the debt of gratitude he felt. But for Jimmy, the greatest gift wasn’t the house or the memorabilia—it was the knowledge that he had shaped a man’s character, and that same man had returned the favor in the most meaningful way.
Some debts, Jimmy realized, could never be fully repaid—but true friendship, like the one he had with Michael, was priceless. And in the quiet town of Wilmington, two friends, connected by kindness and shared memories, proved that sometimes the greatest acts of character happen far from the spotlight.
Michael Jordan’s favorite NBA player who shaped his career dies at 69
Michael Jordan chose to join North Carolina after watching his favorite player Walter Davis in action before joining the Phoenix Suns and becoming a six-time All-Star and UNC legend
College basketball legend Walter Davis has passed away aged 69
University of North Carolina (UNC) legend and six-time NBA All-Star Walter Davis has died aged 69. The basketball star was Michael Jordan’s favorite player growing up and one of the main reasons behind his choice of college.
Davis died on Thursday morning of natural causes, his nephew, current head coach of UNC Hubert Davis confirmed the news. in a statement released by the school. He died with his family in Charlotte.
He had been UNC’s best-ever player when he starred for them in the 1970’s, leading them to the NCAA’s title game in 1977 where they were defeated by Marquette. He became a first-round pick in the 1977 NBA Draft to the Phoenix Suns, with Jordan wanting to follow in his footsteps.
In fact, Jordan had admitted that watching Davis had been one of the reasons he chose to join UNC, where Jordan created his own legacy and won a national championship in 1982.
Jordan was drafted into the league two years later with the third overall pick, and was asked which player he was looking forward to playing against and who he thought was the difficult player to go one-on-one with.
Many would have expected to Jordan name one of Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, but instead he named Davis.
He said: “To play against? Has to be Walter Davis. I played against Walter Davis in the summertime, and he’s been an outstanding basketball player.”
Michael Jordan poses for a photo with Walter Davis
Reports had emerged that Jordan had played against and defeated Davis at a UNC camp before he had been drafted, when the latter had already been an NBA All-Star.
Jordan would have numerous battles with Davis throughout their time in the NBA, with them regularly speaking after games and posing for photographs.
Fellow UNC legend Phil Ford, who played alongside Davis and is seen as one of the greatest college point guards of all-time remained best friends with Davis for over 50 years after they first met on campus.
In a statement, he said: “He was the best man at my wedding and I was the best man at his. He loved me and I loved him. He was a great, great, great guy that happened to be a great basketball player.”
Davis had grown up and lived in North Carolina throughout his life, and was named to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, while later being named to the ACC’s 50th anniversary team in 2022.
