Nets? Star, Who Dated Michael Jordan?s Ex-Wife Juanita Before Him, Was the Reason Bulls Feared Their Best Player?s Retirement

Despite being one of the greatest athletes to have ever played in the NBA, it took Michael Jordan six years to win his first championship in the league. The six-time NBA champ had to wait until 1991 to win his first championships ring, and he never looked back ever since. But, during the 1990-1991 season, Jordan felt it was his last chance to win a championship for the Chicago Bulls, after losing the Eastern Conference Finals on two previous occasions. Notably, the same year, Michael Jordan warned the Bulls management with retirement claims if they chose to acquire this New Jersey Nets star. Interestingly, the Nets player had reportedly dated Michael Jordan’s ex-wife Juanita Vanoy before him.

As per Sam Smith’s book The Jordan Rules, the Chicago Bulls were in a tough situation with the trade deadline closing in at the time. The Chicago side did great during the 1990-91 season as they finished top of the Eastern Conference. However, Michael Jordan had some concerns moments before the trade deadline when the Bulls GM Jerry Krause was looking for more shooting options off the bench to strengthen the roster.

Michael Jordan did not want former Nets player on the Bulls squad

Smith revealed in his book that Jerry Krause explored various options at the time, including Ricky Pierce from the Milwaukee Bucks and Glenn “Doc” Rivers from the Atlanta Hawks. However, there was another player from the Nets that Krause considered as a possible trade option.

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The book reported, “And they were even exploring the possibility of getting Reggie Theus from the Nets, (Jordan told Jackson when this was brought up that he would retire if the Bulls got Theus.)”

Smith revealed that Jordan was against the acquisition of Reggie Theus on the Bulls team. Apparently, the Nets star had dated his then-wife Juanita Vanoy in the past. The Chicago Bulls legend went to former coach Phil Jackson and his conversation with the latter made the Bulls team fear the retirement of their best player.

Juanita Vanoy dated Reggie Theus? before meeting Jordan

Juanita Vanoy and Michael Jordan first met during the Bulls legend’s rookie year in Chicago. Vanoy worked as a loan officer while pursuing an associate’s degree at the time. A mutual friend introduced her to Jordan and the duo eventually got married in 1984. They were married for 17 years before getting a divorce in 2006.

Meanwhile, several reports claimed that Juanita Vanoy had dated Nets star Reggie Theus when he was with the Chicago Bulls. However, Theus was traded to Sacramento Kings in 1984 when Jordan came to the Bulls.

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Thus, Jordan did not want Theus on the Bulls team during the 1990-91 season. Fortunately for Jordan, the Bulls won their first-ever championship that year.