?My Life Was Changing?: Struggling With Balancing Fame and Fatherhood, Michael Jordan Felt Like a Fish in a Bowl in 1992

Coming from modest origins, Michael Jordan‘s parents held working-class positions, with his father as a general electric supervisor and his mother as a bank teller. Through his exceptional achievements in the NBA, Jordan rose to become an unquestionably recognizable figure worldwide. In a past statement, Jordan openly acknowledged the difficulties he encountered in adjusting to his newfound fame during the early stages of his basketball career.

A recently resurfaced interview from 1998 features Michael Jordan engaging in an open and honest conversation with Vanity Fair, discussing the effects of fame on his life.

Fame was not an easy pill to swallow for Michael Jordan

With a staggering six championships and a billion-dollar brand, MJ has maintained his prominence in the public eye for more than four decades. In his interview with Vanity Fair, Jordan reflected, ‘My life was changing, and so was the way people saw me. At home, I was a father and a husband, but outside, I was known as MICHAEL JORDAN. Yet, it felt like everyone else had a clear understanding of what that meant, except for me.’

Talking about his marriage with Juanita Vanoy and subsequently the birth of his children, Jordan added, “That experience of being a husband and a father provided a balance and a focus away from basketball. I could have gotten myself in trouble, I don’t know what kind of trouble, but if I had been single, playing basketball, and making a lot of money, I could have made some wrong decisions.”

READ MORE: Michael Jordan ?Was Afraid to Say Anything? in an Elevator Despite Intense Rivalry With Isiah Thomas, Just to Safeguard His Public Image in the 1980s

Having spent decades being famous, it seems MJ is now looking for a life away from the spotlight. The recent announcement of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame included several notable athletes such as James Worthy and Johnny Dawkins. It was observed that the name of Michael Jordan was notably absent from the list. This is unexpected, as Jordan had quite a successful run during his time at the University of North Carolina.

WATCH THIS STORY: Michael Jordan’s daughter pens an emotional note to mom Juanita.

It has come to light, however, that MJ himself requested that his name be omitted from the list. According to a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, “MJ probably doesn’t want to go through the hassle.” It seems that Jordan is looking to lead a peaceful life in his later years.