Not many NBA fans might have heard of James Jordan Jr. He is Michael Jordan’s eldest brother and was a part of the United States Army. As we all know, MJ is considered to be a legend in the world of sports and is most certainly the most famous member of his family.
However, that does not mean we should dismiss his siblings and their careers. Especially when James Jordan Jr in particular has served in the armed forces with the intention of defending the United States. With that being said let us take a closer look at James’ accomplishments and his relationship with Michael Jordan.
James Jordan Jr served in the Army for 31 years
It might interest fans to know that Sergeant Major James Jordan Jr served in the United States Army for a long tenure of 31 years. That is more than twice the amount of seasons that Michael Jordan was able to play in the NBA, which was for 15 seasons.
James was the eldest child among MJ’s siblings and was someone that they all looked up to. This is despite the fact that he is listed as much shorter than the Chicago Bulls legend and stands at 5’7. James completed his full term of duty overseas and even spent a year longer than necessary at his job. That was in order to complete a full year-long deployment to Iraq and train new recruits.
This is truly commendable and James was honored by President Clinton during his retirement ceremony. It will surprise people to find out that Michael and James’ mother didn’t want MJ present at his own brother’s retirement. While that might seem cold, it makes sense considering that Jordan’s presence could potentially upturn the entire event and cause a scene.
Although they are siblings, the Jordan siblings are quite different. As opposed to Michael Jordan, James doesn’t seem to want the spotlight or draw attention to his life. Therefore, he has been quite private about the ongoings of his life post-retirement.
We also know a little about his personal life. James Jordan married a woman named Blanca Jordan and even had a daughter named Jamie Jordan back in 1993. However much of his marital and parental life have been outside the public eye.