Elijah Jordan had always admired his father, Michael Jordan, not just for his legendary basketball skills but for his unwavering character. One evening, after basketball practice, Elijah noticed a classmate sitting alone on the bleachers, looking lost and dejected. His name was Theo Washington, a boy with deep brown skin and a worn backpack. Elijah had heard whispers about Theo’s struggles—his grandmother had suffered a stroke, and he had been living in the school gym.
“Hey, Theo! Want to come over for dinner?” Elijah asked, his heart racing. He knew his father would be surprised, but he couldn’t leave Theo alone.
Theo looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Really? You’d do that for me?”
“Of course! My dad makes the best lasagna,” Elijah replied, trying to sound casual.
When they arrived at the Jordan mansion, Michael was in the kitchen, preparing for dinner. He looked up, surprised to see Elijah with a guest. “Who’s this?” he asked, eyeing Theo curiously.
“This is Theo Washington, Dad. He’s on the basketball team with me. Can he stay for dinner?” Elijah’s voice was hopeful.
Michael hesitated, sensing something was off. “Sure, but I’d like to know where you live, Theo.”
“I live with my grandmother,” Theo replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Michael nodded, but he noticed the way Theo clutched his backpack tightly. Something didn’t add up. As dinner progressed, Michael observed Theo’s behavior. He was polite but reserved, and when Rosa, the family cook, served the lasagna, Theo’s eyes widened at the portion size. He ate quickly, as if afraid the food would disappear.
“Which position do you play?” Michael asked, trying to engage him.
“Small forward, sir,” Theo replied, his gaze fixed on his plate.
Elijah chimed in, “He’s really good, Dad! He has this jump shot that nobody can block!”
Michael smiled but noticed Theo’s discomfort. “What’s your story, Theo?” he asked gently.
Theo hesitated, then said, “I live on the east side of town. My grandmother had a stroke two weeks ago, and I’ve been… staying at school.”
Michael’s heart sank. “Staying at school?”
Elijah interjected, “He’s been sleeping in the gym, Dad. He’s afraid of being put in foster care.”
Michael exchanged a glance with Elijah, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Theo, you can stay here tonight,” he said, his voice firm yet compassionate. “But we need to figure out a plan for you and your grandmother.”
Theo’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, sir. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re not a burden,” Michael reassured him. “You’re a young man who needs help, and we’re here for you.”
That night, as Theo lay in the guest room, he couldn’t shake the feeling of disbelief. He had gone from sleeping under bleachers to having a safe place to stay. The next morning, Michael invited Theo to join him for his morning workout. “You want to shoot some hoops?” he asked, a smile on his face.
Theo’s eyes lit up. “Really? I’d love to!”
As they practiced, Michael noticed Theo’s natural talent. He had quick hands and a smooth jump shot. “You’ve got game, kid,” Michael said, impressed. “But you need to work on your form.”
Theo nodded, eager to learn. “My dad always said the smartest players listen more than they talk.”
Michael paused, surprised. “Your dad sounds like a wise man. Tell me more about him.”
Theo’s expression softened. “He was a teacher and a coach. He loved basketball but died in a car accident three years ago.”
Michael felt a pang of empathy. “I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like he raised a remarkable son.”
As the days turned into weeks, Theo became a part of the Jordan family. He rejoined the basketball team, excelled in school, and even began sketching shoe designs, inspired by his father’s legacy. Michael noticed the boy’s talent and arranged for him to meet Tinker Hatfield, a renowned shoe designer at Nike.
One evening, as they sat around the dinner table, Michael announced, “I’ve arranged for your grandmother to receive the best rehabilitation care. She’ll be transferred to Lakeside Rehabilitation Center.”
Tears filled Theo’s eyes. “But how? I don’t understand.”
“It’s taken care of,” Michael said, his voice steady. “And you’ll be able to stay here with us while she recovers.”
Theo’s heart raced. “You mean… I can stay here?”
“Yes,” Michael replied, smiling. “You’ve earned it with your hard work and character.”
As the weeks passed, Theo flourished. He visited his grandmother regularly, and she began to
Michael Jordan’s shoes auctioned for over half a million dollars
Basketball star Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan 1 shoes sold for $560,000.
On CNN , Sotheby’s auction house said the Air Jordan 1 sold for three times more than expected. The event was held online last weekend with 10 auction houses in six countries, coinciding with the broadcast of the final episode of The Last Dance documentary about the basketball legend.
With the new sale price, the shoes made by Nike for Michael Jordan surpassed the Moon Shoe – another pair of his that held the record price of 437,500 USD at auction last July.
The red and white Air Jordan 1 was worn by Michael Jordan in his first NBA game in 1985. He wore it in every game until he broke his foot on October 29 of that year. After the injury, Jordan missed 64 games. When he returned to play, he wore a different version of the Air Jordan 1. The basketball star’s shoes were identical in size – the left shoe was a size 13 and the right shoe was a size 13.5 (US size) – and his signature was on the collar.
Michael Jordan wanted to work with Adidas instead of Nike but was rejected. Fans call this the biggest mistake in Adidas’ history. This detail has just been revealed in The Last Dance – a documentary about a series of basketball stars of the Chicago Bulls team in the NBA, including Michael Jordan and style icon Dennis Rodman . With 10 parts aired since April, The Last Dance has become the most watched ESPN documentary ever.
Michael Jordan, born in 1963, is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The American star made NBA basketball popular worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s. With a fortune of 1.85 billion USD, Michael Jordan is the highest-earning athlete in the world. In 2015, he became the first athlete in history to become a billionaire.