The sports documentary miniseries The Last Dance earned rave reviews and captured every sports fan’s imagination as it wrapped up on Netflix. In this top 10 obscure look at Michael Jordan, we’ll uncover the hidden gems that didn’t make the final cut.
Uncover the top 10 obscure facts about the basketball legend
10 He’s Technically From New York
Most people think of Michael Jordan as a North Carolina native, but the reality is a little more complicated. He actually entered the world at Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, and spent roughly a year and a half in the Big Apple before his family packed up and headed south.
Jordan’s parents, James and Delores, moved the toddler to Wilmington, North Carolina, where his love for basketball truly blossomed. While he never considered New York his hometown, the brief birthplace stint still counts – 18 months of New York life while his dad honed his mechanic skills on the GI Bill, studying airplane hydraulics. After a stellar playing career in Chicago and Washington, MJ bought a stake in the Charlotte Bobcats and later reclaimed a majority share of the Charlotte Hornets, cementing his lifelong bond with North Carolina.
9 He Grew Four Inches in One Summer as a Teenager
During his sophomore year at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball squad but fell short because he measured just 5‑ft‑11‑in (180 cm). With a father standing 5‑ft‑9‑in and a mother at 5‑ft‑6‑in, a growth spurt seemed unlikely.
That summer, however, he shot up four inches to a towering 6‑ft‑2‑in, instantly changing his basketball prospects. The added height, combined with his relentless work ethic, propelled him onto the junior varsity team and soon after onto varsity, where he began posting big numbers. He kept growing, eventually reaching 6‑ft‑3‑in and earning a spot in the 1981 McDonald’s All‑American Game, paving his way to college stardom.
8 He Studied Cultural Geography at College
When Jordan earned his basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina in 1981, most assumed he’d focus solely on hoops. Surprisingly, he enrolled as a Bachelor of Arts major in Geography, diving into courses like Basic Writing, Selected Math, Beginning Tennis, and even Elementary Portuguese during his first semester.
His academic path continued even after his breakout college season and Olympic gold in 1984. Jordan postponed his final year to enter the NBA Draft, but he returned in 2006 to finish his Geography degree, a passion sparked by a 1983 trip to Venezuela with the U.S. Pan‑American team that ignited his interest in cultural geography.
7 Why He Wore 23
Jordan’s iconic number 23 didn’t happen by accident. As a kid, he idolized his older brother Larry, who wore number 45 on the high school varsity team. When Michael finally made the team, he decided to halve his brother’s number, landing on 23 – after all, 22.5 wasn’t an option on the jersey rack.
The number 23 became synonymous with greatness, inspiring countless athletes from David Beckham to LeBron James. Yet Jordan also donned number 45 later in his career, a nod to his brother, especially after his first retirement when he returned to the Bulls.
During the 1994‑95 Eastern Conference semifinals, a heated exchange with Orlando’s Nick Anderson led Jordan to remark that “number 45 doesn’t explode like number 23 used to,” prompting him to revert to his beloved 23 for the remainder of his career.
6 He Once Wore Number 12 in the NBA
In a quirky twist, Jordan sported the number 12 during a 1989‑90 game against the Orlando Magic. The story goes that his beloved 23 jersey vanished from the visitors’ locker room at Amway Arena sometime between the morning shoot‑around and the pre‑game warm‑ups.
Despite the locker room being locked, the jersey somehow disappeared, sparking a frantic arena‑wide search. Rumors even suggest a public address announcement asked fans to donate a Jordan shirt that would fit him. When nothing materialized, the Bulls settled for an unmarked number 12 jersey, and Jordan still dropped 49 points, even though Chicago fell 135‑129.
Recent footage from Orlando claims the jersey theft was a deliberate ploy, with a Bulls staffer allegedly slipping through a ceiling tile to pilfer the 23. The mystery remains part of NBA folklore.
5 He Had a “Love of the Game” Clause in His Contract
Early in his NBA tenure, Jordan secured a unique clause in his first Bulls contract that let him play basketball anywhere, anytime, against anyone. General manager Jerry Krause approved the clause, despite the obvious injury risk, because Jordan’s passion for the sport was undeniable.
The clause covered everything from exhibition matches to impromptu pickup games. Jordan’s love for street hoops was evident from his high‑school days at Wilmington’s Empie Park, where he challenged anyone who dared step onto the court. He carried that same enthusiasm through college and into his pro years, even participating in alumni games after graduation.
The “Love of the Game” provision eventually vanished in the 1990s after a new collective bargaining agreement, but its spirit lived on. During the filming of Space Jam in 1995, Warner Brothers built a private facility for Jordan to showcase his game‑loving skills alongside stars like Reggie Miller, a moment highlighted in The Last Dance.
4 Miami Heat Retired His Number
In an astonishing move, the Miami Heat retired Jordan’s number 23 – despite him never playing a single game for the franchise. This marked the first time the Heat ever retired a jersey, honoring a player who never donned a Heat uniform.
The retirement ceremony took place before Jordan’s final home game at the American Airlines Arena on April 11 2003. A half‑Chicago, half‑Washington jersey was hoisted, and coach Pat Riley proclaimed on the court, “In honor of your greatness and everything you’ve done for basketball worldwide, we’re hanging your number 23 in our rafters. No one will ever wear it for the Heat.”
To date, the Heat remain the only NBA team besides the Chicago Bulls to retire Jordan’s iconic number.
3 His Divorce Was the Largest Celebrity Settlement
Jordan’s first marriage to Juanita Vanoy began in 1989 and ended in a highly publicized split. Their divorce, finalized in 2006, reportedly netted a staggering $168 million settlement, earning the top spot on Forbes’ list of the most expensive celebrity divorces.
While the couple’s lawyers described the split as “mutual and amicable,” rumors of infidelity swirled, and Jordan also shouldered over $2 million in legal fees. Since then, other high‑profile divorces, such as those of Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore, have eclipsed the settlement amount.
2 He Donated a Significant Lawsuit Settlement to Charity
After a six‑year legal battle, Jordan secured a multimillion‑dollar settlement in 2015 over a lawsuit against Dominick’s and Jewel‑Osco for unauthorized use of his name in a 2009 Sports Illustrated ad. Although the exact figure remained confidential, the case followed an earlier $8.9 million jury verdict against Dominick’s.
Jordan pledged to donate the entire settlement—after attorney fees—to charitable causes. He explained, “The 23 charities I’ve chosen support health, education, and well‑being for Chicago’s kids. The city gave me so much; I want to give back to its future.” The settlement underscored his commitment to protecting his image rights while helping the community.
1 Same Wedding Venue as the Trumps
Jordan’s second wife, Cuban‑American model Yvette Prieto, didn’t appear in The Last Dance, nor did his first wife or children. The pair met in a Miami nightclub in 2007, when Jordan was 44, and began dating in 2009.
The couple got engaged during the 2011 Christmas break and tied the knot in 2013 at Bethesda‑by‑the‑Sea, an Episcopal church in Florida. The ceremony featured high‑profile guests like Tiger Woods and Spike Lee, with performances by Robin Thicke and Usher.
Interestingly, the same church hosted the 2005 wedding of future President Donald Trump and Melania Trump, making it a shared venue for two very different public figures.