When Michael Jordan's then-wife Juanita Vanoy said she "will be a b**ch" to protect her marriage
While Michael Jordan has been married to American model Yvette Prieto since 2013, the NBA legend had a tumultuous first marriage.
Jordan’s first wife, Juanita Vanoy, filed for divorce back in January 2002 after the pair had been married for 12 years. Vanoy and Jordan first met at a Bennigan's restaurant near Chicago in the late 1980s. At the time, Juanita was working as a loan officer at a bank, and Michael was already an established player for the Chicago Bulls.
The couple married in September 1989 at the Little Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas in a private ceremony.
However, the marriage was fraught with issues that stemmed from Michael Jordan’s playing career, and the lack of time he spent with his family. The situation was also affected due to Jordan’s repeated returns from retirement. Juanita was reportedly against the player returning for a third NBA stint with the Washington Wizards, and even said that she didn't mind acting like a “b***h."
"I have no problem saying no. If someone didn't step up and say no, there would be no time for his family. I know it makes me look like a b***h, but I can't worry about it, because I'm protecting what we have. If that is what I have to be, then I will be a b***h."
How Much DeMar DeRozan Paid For Michael Jordan's Ex-Wife Juanita's Chicago Mansion That She Bought After Getting $168 Million in Divorce (Video) bit.ly/30RcHq7 via @BasketballguruD https://t.co/KiAVMDugQI
Michael Jordan signed a contract with the Washington Wizards in September 2001, months before Juanita filed for divorce.
Michael Jordan could not choose family over passion for basketball
When Michael Jordan first retired from the NBA in 1993, he had said that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and kids.
Jordan and Juanita Vanoy share three kids, Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine. When the Chicago Bulls legend came out of retirement again, it seemed to come at a cost to his marriage. Though he loved his family, he wanted to play basketball too.
Juanita Vanoy filed for divorce in 2002, though the couple divorced in 2006. Vanoy reportedly received $168 million in the divorce settlement and Jordan also paid $2.1 million in legal fees.
Michael Jordan And Juanita Vanoy's $168 Million Divorce Settlement Most Expensive In Sport
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Jordan has since found love with Yvette Prieto and everyone has moved on with their lives.