1 day Ago By NATE HEAD Lincoln Journal Star
John Cooper, a Lincoln native, poses for a photo at the iconic mansion he purchased from Michael Jordan in Highland Park, Ill. John Cooper will always remember his 42nd birthday as the year he purchased an iconic home from a sports legend. The Lincoln native is enjoying the early days as owner of the home built by Michael Jordan in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.
Cooper purchased the 56,000-square-foot property for $9.5 million earlier this month, ending an 11-year stint of the home being on and off the market. Jordan originally listed the home in 2012 for $29 million.
Since then, the basketball superstar has reduced the price at least five times, according to Zillow. Cooper has lived in the Chicago area for over 10 years. After graduating from Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005, he moved to Omaha and then Washington, D.
C. before settling in the Windy City. Cooper quickly gravitated toward Chicago’s pro sports teams after growing up in a state without a pro franchise in NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL.
John Cooper (center) talks with friends at the home he recently purchased from Michael Jordan at 2700 Point Drive in Highland Park, Illinois. He was drawn to the Bulls — the team Jordan helped build into a dynasty in the 1990s. Chicago won six NBA championships from 1991-98.
Cooper recalls seeing news of Jordan listing the house in 2012, roughly 10 years after his famous Hall of Fame career ended. Now, he has the keys. "I remember seeing the home for sale and thinking how cool it would be for the person that buys the home," Cooper said.
Cooper says the possibility of purchasing the home emerged as a possibility within the past six months. The home features nine bedrooms and 19 baths (15 full), according to Zillow . Amenities include a putting green, tennis court, cigar lounge and, of course, a regulation-sized basketball court.
One of the mansion's signature traits is the gate, adorned with a giant "23," a tribute to Jordan's jersey number. It’s a popular spot for fans and tourists to take photos. Cooper is a partner at real estate company HAN Capital, where he's served as head of operations for over 12 years.
HAN Capital owns properties in niche-related markets, including self-storage company Heartland Storage, according to its website. Cooper graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 2000 and grew up in a home on the corner of 40th and Calvert Streets. An avid sports fan, Cooper couldn't play competitively himself due to an asthma condition.
He played trumpet and chess instead. The first two weeks as the home’s owner have been a whirlwind — the good kind. Cooper has hosted several guests, including for his birthday party, which included games of basketball and golf with a group of close friends.
People mingle at the home Lincoln native John Cooper purchased from basketball legend Michael Jordan earlier this month in Highland Park, Ill. He's also had multiple meetings with contractors to get started on small repairs and upgrades to audio and video systems, among other tune-ups. Cooper, who is married with three kids, doesn't anticipate making the home his full-time residence, but he says he will be there often.
He says he's putting the final touches on plans for the home that he'll share in the new year. Fear not, Jordan fans. Cooper isn't planning on disrupting the space's history.
That includes the picturesque gate. "I'll announce some exciting plans for the property in January," Cooper said. "I do not have any major renovation plans.
I will honor the property's legacy. This place is great just the way it is." After listing the home for sale for $29 million in 2012, Jordan, 61, lowered the price to $16 million one year later.
The house has several nods to the Jordan Brand and, more specifically, the trademark Air Jordan logo which depicts Jordan leaping through the air with a basketball in his outstretched hand, presumably for a dunk. The logos can be found in places obvious and unique, from the center of the indoor basketball court to the home's digital thermostat. Cooper appreciates the home's reminders of its previous owner.
“My favorite player to watch was always Jordan,” Cooper said. “He made shots that seemed impossible, and he got it done on defense too.” Workers pull up the Capitol Christmas tree on Monday at the Capitol.
The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree. Jenni Watson helps to arrange chairs for New Covenant Community Church's first service in their repaired main auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at New Covenant Community Church.
New Covenant Community Church is nearing completion of six months of reconstruction project after a fire in May damages the church. While the building was not fully consumed by fire, there was significant water damage to the main auditorium and the first floor south wing. Jack, the dog, lifts his leg on the Christmas tree that his owners David and Karen Petersen of Hickman chose as Max Novak helps them on Saturday at Prairie Woods tree farm in Hallam.
Iowa's Drew Stevens (18) kicks a game-winning field goal through the arms of Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) and Nash Hutmacher (0) on Friday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Lincoln Northwest senior Kynzee McFadden (top right) works with her teammates as they compete in an identifying game on the Anatomage Table on Tuesday at Lincoln Northwest High School. An Anatomage Table is a digital platform that allows students to perform virtual experiments on a life-size touchscreen.
The table is a tool that provides an interactive view of the human body, allowing students to virtually work with different body parts. Dahlia Brandon of Lincoln tickles her 15-month-old daughter, Gema, with a stuffed animal while shopping at HobbyTown on Saturday. The toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (left) and South Dakota's Max Burchill (3) reach for the ball during the first half of the game on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Miami's Flormarie Heredia Colon (left) and Ashley Carr celebrate a point against South Dakota State during an NCAA first-round match, Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Eddie Walters, dressed as the Grinch, leads the pack of runners along the Billy Wolff trail during the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Cicely Wardyn of Lincoln adjusts an outdoor heater next to a Nativity scene during the Hometown Christmas event Sunday at the Governor's Mansion. Nebraska plays against Florida A&M in an NCAA tournament game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Fourth grade student Lulu Kulwick carries her review worksheet to meet with her teacher during computer science class. Each student was asked to analyze how fun, challenging and easy to understand each game was, and discuss what they thought was a good aspect to the game, and what could use some work. Ben Heppner is illuminated by morning light as he waits for the start of the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec.
7, 2024, inside the Fleet Feet store. Nebraska head coach Amy Williams (left) and Callin Hake (14) cheer for their team after a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Members of the Lincoln Journal Star's 2024 Super State volleyball team compete in Dance Dance Revolution and air hockey while at a photo shoot on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at Round 1 Arcade. Lincoln North Star's J'Shawn Afun (10) and Mekhi Wayne-Browne (11) battle Lincoln Southeast's Jaydee Dongrin (21) for a rebound in the first half on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School. Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) scores a layup as Wahoo's Jase Kaminski (13) goes up to defend the basket in the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Wahoo High School.
Ruby Augustine blows out the candles on her birthday cake during her 105th birthday party on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Legacy Retirement Community. Wisconsin's CC Crawford (left) celebrates a kill by Sarah Franklin (13) during the first set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Texas A&M on Friday, Dec.
13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Homeless man "Papa" George arranges his tent at a north Lincoln camp site, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Lincoln.
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (right) pancake-digs a ball during the fourth set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Dayton on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. University of Nebraska - Lincoln sophomore geography major Maxwell Anderson, also known as Jersey Guy, has gone viral for wearing a different jersey to his class every day, Anderson says he has around 100 different jerseys.
Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Nebraska's Brice Williams (left) dances with Juwan Gary after the Huskers' win against Indiana on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Allie Christianson (top right), a senior community organizer with Civic Nebraska, speaks during an event Thursday at NeighborWorks Lincoln's office formally kicking off an initiative to ban source-of-income discrimination for renters.
Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday. Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth unrolls a round bale on Wednesday, Dec.
18, 2024, in Plymouth. Sinclair Hille principal David Quade (left) and senior associate Kjersten Tucker lead a tour of a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln music building on Dec. 16.
With the new building's design, the Lincoln architecture firm has sought to push the boundaries of what musical education looks like in higher education. Sign language interpreters Davida Schejbal (left) and Ashten Schuler pose for a portrait while making the sign "interpreter." The two are mother and daughter.
Volunteers from Raymond Community Church, including Monty Woodward (from left), Wayne Anderson, Linda Feiler, Krista and Chuck Kohles dish out chicken noodle soup into meal boxes on Wednesday at the Gathering Place Soup Kitchen. The Gathering Place has seen an 87.5% increase in free, nightly meals served since the pandemic started.
Nebraska players celebrate after a kill by Andi Jackson (bottom right) during the first set of a NCAA Final Four match on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Lincoln Police Department graduates Kaitlyn Wiersma (from left), Joshua Woolfington, Chase Adams, Shawn Woods, Jillian Boysen, Sebastian Arrubla and Jeremiah McDowell listen during the first mixed LPD & LSO academy graduation on Wednesday, Dec.
18, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast Community College. Lincoln East's Hailey Standish (front) leaps from the starting blocks in the third heat of the Girls 500 Yard Freestyle during the Lincoln Southeast invite on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Dale Strehle, surplus and inventory manager for Lincoln Public Schools, stands with a stack of old chairs in the LPS Distribution Center on Friday. Strehle is retiring after 24 years in the role, helping the district auction off countless bookshelves, cabinets, desks and more. Nate Head is the sports editor of the Journal Star.
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