The summer of 1993 began with Michael Jordan, fresh off watching his Tar Heels win Dean Smith’s first national title in 11 years, capping off a ridiculous twelve months by taking down Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns to win the third NBA title of his career. As he had in the previous two titles, Jordan celebrated in the locker room with his father, James.
The bond between Michael and James has been well-chronicled, and it doesn’t need a repeat here. It’s fair to say that Michael had no problem letting the world see how much his father meant to him, which is why what happened a few weeks later all the more tragic.