Michael Jordan "The Warrior" Lithograph

"The Warrior" - 1 of 4 Limited Edition Lithographs from Michael Jordan and Mark Vancil. 

An exceptional addition to the Rare Air Artistic Series of Michael Jordan lithographs from “The Last Dance” season, “The Warrior” depicts MJ in a revealingly contemplative pose that reflects the mental and physical toll of “The Last Dance” season.

One of the world?s greatest sports photographer, Walter Iooss, Jr., took the photo. This shot was taken inside the front door of Michael's estate in Highland Park, Illinois. If you look closely, you can see how beat up Michael's body was at the time, just after his final season with the Bulls.

Though not readily apparent, there are bruises and fingernail scratches, up and down Michael's arms and across his hands. The only problem Michael had with this shot is that we showed his feet. His feet were so badly savaged by the force he placed on them during games that they often looked disfigured.

Michael came up with the question, the one he had been asked a thousand times, and wrote his response on the lithograph.

One side note: Michael's daughter, Jasmine, was five years old at the time. When she heard we were coming to take photographs she raced to her room, got her hair done, then helped into her favorite dress. I (Mark) played catch with her on the stairs, which were just to the right of where Walter stood as he photographed. Michael took a break and headed upstairs and as he did, he admonished his daughter for being disruptive. The ball we were tossing found its way into more than one shot.

A few minutes later, after we had resumed our game of catch, Michael came back down the stairs.

"What did I tell you?," he boomed.

His daughter raised her eyebrows in mock horror and said, "Oh no, it's Michael Jordan!”