Once Worried for Own Death Due to Whitney Houston, Steamy Michael Jordan Photo Comes Back to the Spotlight

Michael Jordan has made more rivals than friends during his NBA career. But his off-the-court friendships always amazed his fans. Whether it’s Tiger Woods or Samuel L. Jackson, fans live to see MJ interacting with other celebrities. Some of his friendships went under the radar but were often the most iconic. Very few people have forgotten that Jordan had a strong admiration for one of his closest friends who happened to be the most beloved singer this world has seen.

His Airness was close to pop goddess, Whitney Houston. Though the world has moved on too quickly from this, the internet revived it with the sweetest throwback.

A glance at the friendship between Michael Jordan and Whitney Houston

When Michael Jordan was at the peak of his career, winning NBA championships in the early ’90s, everyone wanted to be his friend. Even celebrities. The Chicago Bulls legend forged several friendships but none were more iconic than his friendship with Whitney Houston.

The late songstress would’ve been 60 on August 9. At this time, an MJ fan account tweeted a throwback on this duo’s friendship that fans adore. The pictures are from 2007 when both celebrities were in the Bahamas. They were celebrating the grand opening of the Cove Atlantis on Paradise Island.

Both were dressed for a tropical getaway. Clad in white, they looked very cozy with each other while smiling at the cameras. This is a running theme in many of their photographs over the years.

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Jordan and Houston began their friendship around 1990. One of their earliest photographs was after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Houston sang the national anthem at the game before tip-off.

Jordan gifted the sneakers he wore in the game to the singer. They were listed at $10,000 in a 2016 auction.

MJ’s devastation after the loss of his friend

In an old profile, Jordan recalled his early days of arriving in Chicago. One of his guilty pleasures was listening to Houston’s first album on repeat in the comfort of his home. It probably meant a lot to meet the singer he admired and gift her his shoes.

Upon her death, Jordan couldn’t help but feel the passing of time weigh down on him. Losing one of his long-time friends made the NBA legend realize his own mortality.

MJ had his fair share of fallouts with former friends. He’s also known to roast his celebrity friends or vacation with them. But his friendship with Houston withstood the test of time. Fans would speculate they dated in the past. But they’d never confirm those rumors and remained friends long after Jordan retired.

5 years after their trip to the Bahamas, the world was mourning the loss of Whitney Houston on February 11, 2012. Jordan was at a Charlotte Bobcats game when he received the news.

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