Puffing on a thick cigar and staring out across the Mediterranean, Michael Jordan didn’t have a care in the world as he settled into his Sardinia vacation with his family.
But the NBA great, 62, was taken aback this week when he was interrupted on his Italian trip to be told his name had come up at the trial of disgraced rap mogul Diddy.
Testifying under a pseudonym, ‘Jane’ revealed Diddy’s twisted NBA role play where he casted himself as Jordan, her as Kobe Bryant and the male escort she slept with as Shaquille O’Neal.
‘Michael was made aware of what Diddy may or may have not got himself into with roleplaying as Michael himself,’ a source told Daily Mail.
‘Michael is not going to play with any of that, he is steering clear because he thinks it is weird.’
The source continued that the Chicago Bulls legend won’t let anything interrupt his family time in Europe – a trip he usually takes every summer.
Michael Jordan pictured on a yacht with wife Yvette Prieto on vacation in Sardinia
The NBA icon, 62, was mentioned during the trial of disgraced hip-hop mogul Diddy this week
Diddy and Jordan pictured at the Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao fight in Vegas in 2015
‘We aren’t going to be getting any new crying memes over this revelation,’ the source continued.
‘Michael is looking to live his life, which as people have seen for years is pretty great.
‘To be considered the greatest basketball player ever, having endless amounts of money, a new job with NBC, a wonderful marriage. Things are going OK.
‘Mike has to avoid the noise and live his life. He doesn’t want to be linked with weird stuff Diddy or anyone else does.
‘He is happy and is looking to forget about the revelation just as soon as he was made aware of it.’
Jane described the ‘Freak Offs’ she attended during her relationship with Diddy as filled with extravagant sexual roleplay where participants gave each other nicknames inspired by legendary basketball stars.
The testimony emerged Wednesday during Jane’s cross-examination as his lawyers sought to show how close she was to Diddy, 55, whose real name is Sean Combs.
Lawyers for Diddy are seeking to undermine Jane’s testimony that she felt ‘obligated’ to take part in Freak Offs because he was paying the $10,000 a month rent for her Los Angeles home. Diddy denies all charges.
A source told Daily Mail that Jordan thinks the Diddy roleplay revelations ‘are weird’
The Chicago Bulls great Jordan usually takes a summer vacation in Europe with his family
And a source has said that the NBA icon won’t let the Diddy news overshadow his time away
Later in the day, Jordan, dressed in a blue shirt and sun hat, stepped off his yacht
Jordan, meanwhile, was soaking up the sunshine and posing for pictures with his wife, Yvette Prieto.
They landed in Italy earlier this week with their twin daughters Victoria and Ysabel and some extended members of her family.
The NBA icon was seen with his brother-in-law, Carlos Jr, and father-in-law Carlos Sr.
The Bulls great and his family were seen clambering down from his extravagant $70million private jet at the start of the week – a Gulfstream 650ER, which holds the record for ‘the farthest fastest flight in business aviation history’, according to its website.
The lavish aircraft, distinguishable for its custom $500,000 elephant-print paint job, can accommodate up to 19 passengers and four members of crew.
Jordan, who is worth an estimated $3.6bn, is believed to own an $80m yacht known as ‘Joy’ and even bigger one known as ‘M’BRACE’ that is valued at a staggering $115m. And it is that yacht where he is spending his days at the moment.
The NBA great Jordan has been joined by his father-in-law Carlos, pictured right
His wife Yvette has also taken her brother-in-law, Carlos Jr, on the vacation to Europe
Jordan pictured along with his wife Yvette enjoying an early-morning coffee
Jordan is set to return to the spotlight later this year as part of NBC’s new NBA coverage
Later this year, Jordan will make a dramatic return to the world of basketball – a sport he stepped away from when he sold his stake in the Charlotte Hornets in August 2023 for $3billion.
When the 2025-26 NBA season begins in October, he will join NBC’s coverage as a special contributor.
It’s a stunning move, guaranteed to ignite huge interest in the upcoming season.
‘I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,’ Jordan said when the news was announced in May.
‘The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.’
For all the latest on the case everyone is talking about – search for The Trial of Diddy, available wherever you get your podcasts now.
