NBA legend Michael Jordan had some fierce rivalries on the court during his basketball career. His battles with stars like Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, John Starks, Gary Payton, and so on are well known. However, there was another NBA legend who aggrieved him like no other. Interestingly, the star dated Jordan’s ex-wife Juanita Vanoy before him. Furthermore, he also played for the Chicago Bulls. The 6x NBA champion was “extra motivated” to beat the star when the two once faced each other in Las Vegas.

Jordan and Juanita started dating during MJ’s early years in the league. The two then tied the knot in front of friends and family in 1989 and had three children together. After over a decade of marriage, the former couple filed for divorce, which was settled in 2006.

Michael Jordan still dropped 50

Michael Jordan was not a fan of Reggie Theus and always went hard whenever he played against him. The two-time NBA All-Star also played for the Bulls from 1978 to 1983, before Jordan’s arrival. During his time in Chicago, the former guard was reportedly in a relationship with Juanita Vanoy. However, it was before MJ entered the league. Interestingly, Jordan’s resentment towards Theus started way before he dated his ex-wife.

Author Sam Smith noted the rivalry between the two in his book There Is No Next. In one instance, Smith revealed a quote by former NBA player Sidney Green. He talked about a game between UNC and UNLV when MJ and Theus locked horns in Las Vegas during the summer. Green noted that he requested Jordan to play in the game to sell tickets so that the money can be used for athletic scholarships.

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MJ agreed to play because Green promised him that he could play golf. Given his love for golf, MJ played a lot despite the hot summer weather. So Green thought he would be tired and wouldn’t be effective on the hardwood.

He said, “When I came to the arena they said that Michael was still on the golf course. So I said, ‘Reggie, he’s gonna be tired. That sun; it was about 100.’ Michael scored 50 on him. They said he was extra motivated against Reggie. He liked to kick Reggie’s a**. I remember Michael would get an angry face when he came out.”

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Notably, Green was Theus’ teammate with UNLV and then the Bulls. He also played with Jordan for a few years in Chicago. His Airness once reportedly said that he hated Reggie Theus’ game and the way he berated the referees. Interestingly, Theus once claimed that the Bulls fans should thank him for the five-time NBA MVP’s arrival in Chicago. He declared the Bulls would not have been able to draft MJ if they weren’t as bad in the 1983 season when he played for them.

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What are your thoughts on MJ playing with extra motivation against Reggie Theus? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.