Michael Jordan’s father, James, was murdered in mysterious circumstances in 1993. The murder has been talked about a lot lately because of a documentary series called ‘The Last Dance’. Now, a five-episode documentary series called ‘Moment of Truth’ will re-examine the dubious circumstances in which James Jordan died. James was 56 years old when he was murdered in his home state of North Carolina. Two teenagers were charged and convicted of the crime.
He is the voice of reason that always guided and challenged me. That’s the kind of father I had
Michael Jordan
Many fans were reacquainted with the life of basketball star Michael Jordan with the release of ‘The Last Dance’. The series chronicles several years in the career of the athlete, from college to the glorious era of the Chicago Bulls in the 80s and 90s, and it mentions the murder of his father, which was instrumental in his career path.
The documentary has been one of the most viewed content in recent weeks. According to several reviews, it is the best documentary ever about an NBA team, with unprecedented revelations, behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews. The production team had access to incredible footage captured during that historic period that hadn’t been seen by many fans.
The seventh episode focuses on the story of the death of James Jordan which was to have a major impact on his life. Many people close to Michael say that the two were inseparable, that they had a very close father-son relationship, as if they were best friends, that Michael told his father things he wouldn’t tell anyone else.
“He is the voice of reason that always guided and challenged me. That’s the kind of father I had,” Michael Jordan explained in the seventh episode, while trying to hold back tears. The former basketball player gave the example that when he was a teenager and attending the ninth grade, he was suspended from school three times. It was his father who convinced him to straighten out his life and focus on sports, something Michael fulfilled until he became the best basketball player in the world.
One theory surfaced in which Michael Jordan owed money to the Mafia, who in turn had murdered his father to send a message. Newspapers at the time even hinted that the murder was connected to Michael Jordan’s illegal gambling problems, something that was already being scrutinized immensely at that time. “It hurt me,” Jordan said. “But people kept sending darts. They weren’t people I loved, or people I knew. It was people who were tired of me being on top.”
About two months after his father’s death, Michael Jordan retired from basketball. At the press conference, which was attended by hundreds of journalists and broadcast live to millions of viewers, he said that his early retirement would have the advantage of giving his father the opportunity to see the last game of his career. He was tired, he said, and wanted to follow his dream of playing baseball. A few months later he was playing for the Chicago White Sox.
James Jordan’s murder had a huge impact on his son, and to this day remains muddled in mystery, with an investigation that might have made mistakes, and a family stance that has remained somewhat cryptic.
The trailer of ’Moment of Truth’ was released in March and the production will premiere online, on IMDb TV, on the 2nd of April.
