KNOWING • Part 2: Interpreting Your History
In the quiet rhythm of coastal Wilmington, North Carolina, a young boy named Michael grew up surrounded by the laughter, rivalry, and connection of four siblings. Before the spotlight, before the shoes, before the legacy, there was family. The kind of family whose steady presence and belief laid the foundation for something remarkable.
From early on, Michael was drawn to sports. He loved to move, to compete, to chase the thrill of the game. But more than that, he was seen. His parents did not just encourage him from the sidelines. They built into his passion. The basketball hoop in their backyard was more than a place to practice. It became a symbol. A space where discipline met joy, and where early lessons in perseverance began to take root.
In the documentary The Last Dance, Michael reflects on a pivotal moment. Not making the varsity basketball team. For many, that kind of rejection would cut deep. But his mother, Deloris, met the moment with calm clarity. “If you really want it,” she told him, “you work hard over the summer.” And so he did. Day after day, the ball stayed in his hands. He did not wait to be invited in. He worked until the door opened.
That summer was not just about skill. It was about identity. About becoming someone who does not give up, even when it hurts. And behind every shot, behind every sprint, his family’s belief in him was unwavering.
As his journey continued, from UNC Chapel Hill to the Chicago Bulls, his family remained a constant source of strength. Their cheers were not just about points on a scoreboard. They were about witnessing someone they loved become more fully himself.
In the 2023 film Air, we get another glimpse into that legacy. Before Michael ever stepped onto an NBA court, his mother negotiated a revolutionary deal with Nike, one that ensured her son earned a portion of every Air Jordan sold. It was bold. Visionary. And it changed everything. Not just for Michael, but for athletes around the world. In 2022 alone, the Jordan Brand brought in over five billion dollars. But behind the business was something far more personal: a mother’s fierce belief in her son’s worth.
Of course, the journey was not without heartbreak. In 1993, Michael’s father was tragically murdered. The loss was staggering. And yet, even in grief, the strength of family held him. It did not erase the pain, but it gave him the courage to keep going.
Michael Jordan’s greatness was not just about talent. It was about grounding. It was about the people who reminded him, over and over, of who he was and what he could become. His story is a reminder that none of us rise alone.
When we feel supported, we risk more. When we are believed in, we dare to believe in ourselves. And when we are anchored in love, we have what we need to soar.
Michael’s story calls us to reflect. Who saw you? Who believed in you before you believed in yourself? And more importantly, who in your life might need that kind of belief from you now?
Because the legacy of support is never just one person’s story. It is how we build each other, again and again, into all we are capable of becoming.