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“Michael Jordan Confessed It Was for Poker”: Known for Obsessive Gambling, MJ Once Lied to Authorities About a $57,000 Check to a Cocaine Dealer

Adit Pujari
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“Michael Jordan Confessed It Was for Poker”: Known for Obsessive Gambling, Mj Once Lied to Authorities About a $57,000 Check to a Cocaine Dealer

Michael Jordan is easily one of the biggest names in the world of sports. The Bulls legend has built a legacy that will stand tall and proud for ages to come. There was no one like him before the dawn of MJ imitators. Players like Kobe Bryant actually succeeded because they emulated Michael’s game.

However, behind that perfect demeanor and ferociousness on-court, MJ had his own kryptonite off the court. The 6ft 6″ shooting guard developed a penchant for gambling. Michael Jordan could virtually bet money on any and everything.

But his two favorite things to gamble on were poker and golf. In fact, he amassed quite a gambling debt at the peak of his career. Unfortunately, the ‘harmless’ gambling landed the superstar in deep trouble with authorities.

Also read: Retired For 3 Years, 38 Y/o Michael Jordan Drank Cocktails, Smoked, And Then Dropped 51 After A Defender Whined About His Back

Michael Jordan lied about paying a cocaine dealer $57,000

Right after the Dream Team returned from Barcelona, Michael Jordan landed in trouble with the authorities. MJ, who was known for his obsession with gambling, had written a check worth $57,000 to a shady cocaine dealer.

When authorities asked Michael why he had written a check to a criminal by the name of Slim Bouler, Michael lied that it was a personal loan. Later, under an oath, he confessed that the check was written to pay off gambling debt.

In his book Michael Jordan: The Life, Roland Lazenby wrote:

“At home, awaiting Jordan, was his subpoena to testify in Slim Bouler’s criminal trial in North Carolina. He would be asked to explain why Bouler, a convicted cocaine dealer, was in possession of a $57,000 check from His Airness. Jordan had first told authorities the money was a business loan, but under oath on the stand, he confessed it was for poker and gambling losses from one of the weekends at his Hilton Head home. He was not asked about the other three checks found in the briefcase of Eddie Dow, the bail bondsman who had been murdered during a robbery in February.”

Jordan even made Juanita Vanoy write checks to settle debt

Despite such a problematic run-in with the law, Michael’s gambling problem only escalated. He was regularly playing golf and betting on it with Esquinas.

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As per Esquinas, Michael owed him over a million dollars in lost bets. After a lot of pestering, the Bulls legend made his ex-wife Juanita write $50,000 checks to pay Esquinas. Not a good look on a legendary athlete.

Also read: LeBron James Makes it to a Unique Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Held Record Within 10 Days of Turning 38

About the author

Adit Pujari

Adit Pujari

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Adit Pujari is an NBA Journalist and Strategist at The SportsRush. He formerly worked as a debate and writing trainer. An avid fan of Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, Adit began following the league in 2007. With the Lakers and Boston Celtics rivalry ripe, he found himself hooked to the sport immediately. After 15 years of religiously following the league, he decided to use his knowledge base as a sports writer in 2021. Since then, he has worked as an NBA writer, led a team of MLB writers, and has now joined The SportsRush. In his spare time, Adit loves playing pickup games and exploring hidden Himalayan trails.

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