| Key Points |
|---|
| 1. The Last Dance documented the Chicago Bulls’ final championship run in the 1990s. |
| 2. Significant figures in Michael Jordan’s personal and professional life, such as his ex-wife Juanita Vanoy and family, were excluded from the documentary. |
| 3. Despite mixed reactions, the series remains a cultural phenomenon. |
The 2020 ESPN documentary The Last Dance chronicled the final season of the Chicago Bulls dynasty run during the 1990s. This ten-part series captivated audiences worldwide, providing an in-depth look at one of the most iconic teams in basketball history. While the documentary received critical acclaim for its directing, editing, and release timing, it also sparked considerable debate and controversy among viewers and critics alike. The series painted an intimate portrait of the team’s dynamics, their struggles, and their triumphs, yet some notable omissions and narrative choices led to mixed reactions.
Among the primary criticisms was the exclusion of significant figures from Michael Jordan‘s personal and professional life. Notably absent were members of Jordan’s family, particularly his ex-wife Juanita Vanoy, and other key contributors to the Bulls’ success. These omissions left many viewers questioning the completeness and objectivity of the documentary. Despite these criticisms, The Last Dance remains a significant cultural phenomenon, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane for basketball fans and a comprehensive look at the end of an era in sports history.
Here is the table for notable events in the lives of Michael Jordan, Juanita Vanoy, and their children:
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan’s Birth | February 17, 1963 | Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York. |
| Juanita Vanoy’s Birth | June 13, 1959 | Juanita Vanoy was born in Chicago, Illinois. |
| Marriage | September 2, 1989 | Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy got married at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas. |
| Birth of Jeffrey Jordan | November 18, 1988 | Their first child, Jeffrey Michael Jordan, was born. |
| Birth of Marcus Jordan | December 24, 1990 | Their second child, Marcus James Jordan, was born. |
| Birth of Jasmine Jordan | December 7, 1992 | Their third child, Jasmine Mickael Jordan, was born. |
| Divorce Filed | January 4, 2002 | Juanita Vanoy filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, but they reconciled shortly after. |
| Final Divorce | December 29, 2006 | Michael and Juanita Jordan finalized their divorce after 17 years of marriage. |
| Jeffrey Jordan’s College Basketball Career | 2007-2012 | Jeffrey Jordan played college basketball for the University of Illinois and later for the University of Central Florida. |
| Marcus Jordan’s College Basketball Career | 2009-2012 | Marcus Jordan played college basketball for the University of Central Florida. |
| Jasmine Jordan’s Education and Career | Graduated 2014 | Jasmine Jordan graduated from Syracuse University and pursued a career in sports management, working with the Charlotte Hornets. |
| Michael Jordan’s Marriage to Yvette Prieto | April 27, 2013 | Michael Jordan married Yvette Prieto, a Cuban-American model, in Palm Beach, Florida. |
| Birth of Twin Daughters | February 9, 2014 | Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto welcomed twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel Jordan. |
Family omitted from The Last Dance
Some viewers wondered why Michael Jordan’s family, especially his ex-wife Juanita Vanoy, was not mentioned in any of its ten episodes. Shortly after The Last Dance was released, Jasmine Jordan, MJ’s only daughter with Juanita, opened up about the exclusion of the woman who raised Mike’s kids while he was busy winning championships. She expressed her sentiments in the following words:
At the end of the day, if you’d ask my mom, she lived it. There’s no need to go down memory lane and bring up everything that has already happened when the proof is in the pudding
Juanita Vanoy lived through it all
Michael met his first wife at a Chicago restaurant in 1985, shortly after he joined the NBA. They tied the knot in 1989, one year after their eldest son Jeffrey was born. The couple was married for 17 years until 2006, so Juanita was there from the beginning to the end of Jordan’s remarkable basketball career.
While she wasn’t always in the limelight, she was the head of the household while Mike was away focusing on his career. As Jasmine noted, her mom was present during every significant moment of her dad’s career. “No need to talk about her because she was there when everything happened”, she emphasized.
She went on to add:
She was at the championship. She was at the retirement ceremony… We saw her in her glory.
Understanding their father’s career through The Last Dance
The Last Dance provided Jasmine and her siblings a new chance to really understand their father and his famed career. Like many others, they were sad to see the series come to an end.
Luc Longley also left out
It wasn’t just Juanita or their children whom MJ didn’t mention in The Last Dance. The docu-series didn’t mention Chicago Bulls center Luc Longley, who started on the 1996 to 1998 championship teams. Michael Jordan later expressed regret about this exclusion. His exact words were:
I can understand why Australia would say, ‘Well, why wouldn’t we include Luc?’ And we probably should have.
The omission is proof that The Last Dance was more about Mike than just capturing the Bulls’ last title run together.
Follow Us
