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Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan's accolades include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, ten NBA scoring titles, and fifteen NBA All-Star Game selections. Jordan's individual style was as unique as his skills on the court. His extraordinary leaping ability earned him the nickname Air Jordan, which became the name of his widely popular Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes. Jordan's influence extended beyond the basketball court, as he appeared in numerous advertising campaigns and even starred in the movie Space Jam. Despite his success, Jordan retired from basketball multiple times, pursuing a brief career in baseball before returning to the NBA and eventually retiring for good after the 2002-03 season.
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What You'll Learn
Michael Jordan's early life and introduction to basketball
Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was introduced to sports at a young age by his father, James, who shared his love for baseball with him. Jordan also developed a passion for basketball, influenced by his older brother, Larry, who was a talented athlete himself.
Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he actively participated in basketball, baseball, and football. Despite his talent, Jordan faced an early setback when he tried out for the varsity basketball team in his sophomore year. Standing at just 5 feet 11 inches, he was deemed too short and was cut from the team. However, this rejection fueled his determination, and Jordan became the star of the junior varsity team, showcasing his skills with impressive 40-point games.
During the summer before his junior year, Jordan experienced a growth spurt, growing four inches, and he began to train rigorously. His hard work paid off, and he earned a spot on the varsity roster. Over his final two seasons of high school basketball, Jordan averaged more than 25 points per game, solidifying his status as a rising star. As a senior, he was selected for the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 30 points, further showcasing his talent.
Jordan's outstanding performance in high school caught the attention of top college basketball programs, and he was recruited by prestigious universities such as Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia. He ultimately chose to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, enrolling in 1981. Jordan quickly made his mark on the university's basketball team, helping them secure a national championship in 1982 with a winning basket against Georgetown.
Jordan's early life and introduction to basketball laid the foundation for his legendary career. His competitive spirit, combined with his exceptional athleticism and unwavering dedication, propelled him to become one of the most celebrated athletes in history.
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Jordan's high school basketball career
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. His high school basketball career began at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he tried out for the basketball varsity team during his sophomore year. Standing at just 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m), Jordan was deemed too short and was cut from the team.
Determined to prove his worth, Jordan joined the junior varsity team, where he excelled and tallied some impressive 40-point games. Over the summer, he grew four inches (10 cm) and continued to train rigorously. He earned a spot on the varsity roster for his junior and senior years, averaging more than 25 points per game (ppg) in his final two seasons of high school play.
As a senior, Jordan was selected for the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game. He scored 30 points in the game, averaging 26.8 ppg, 11.6 rebounds (rpg), and 10.1 assists per game (apg) for the season. Jordan's stellar high school career caught the attention of many college basketball programs, including Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia. He accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981, where he majored in cultural geography.
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Jordan's time in the NBA
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan's individual accolades include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, ten NBA scoring titles, five NBA MVP awards, and 14 NBA All-Star Game selections.
Jordan's talent was evident from his first NBA season, and by November 1984, he was being compared to Julius Erving. After Jordan set the single-game playoff record of 63 points against the Boston Celtics in April 1986, Larry Bird famously described him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan". Jordan led the NBA in scoring in ten seasons and held the top career regular season and playoff scoring averages of 30.1 and 33.4 points per game, respectively.
Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls, who drafted him in the first round (third overall) in the 1984 NBA Draft. He was a shooting guard who could also play small forward, the position he primarily played during his second return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards. Jordan was known for his clutch performances and unique playing style, including his trademark of sticking his tongue out when going for the basket.
Jordan's popularity extended beyond the basketball court, and he became one of the most marketed sports figures in history. He had endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, and McDonald's. He also starred in the 1996 comedy film "Space Jam", which was a box office success and generated over $1 billion in merchandise sales.
In 1992, Jordan was a member of the "Dream Team", a star-studded squad that included Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The team won gold medals in the 1992 Tournament of the Americas and the 1992 Summer Olympics, with Jordan starting all eight games in the Olympics.
Jordan retired from basketball twice before returning for a second time with the Washington Wizards, finally hanging up his sneakers for good after the 2002-03 season.
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Jordan's brief retirement and baseball career
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. However, he did take a break from the sport in 1993, retiring from the Chicago Bulls on October 6, 1993. Jordan was mourning the loss of his father, James Jordan, and it was his father's dream for his son to become a baseball player.
Jordan signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox on February 7, 1994, and reported to spring training in Sarasota, Florida. He was then assigned to the team's minor league system, the Birmingham Barons, on March 31, 1994. Jordan wore the number 45, his old Laney High School number. In his first at-bat, he flew out against Chattanooga starter John Courtright, and went 0-for-3 in a 10-3 loss to the Lookouts.
Jordan's baseball career was short-lived, and he returned to the NBA and the Bulls in March 1995. He led the Bulls to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Despite his hiatus, Jordan proved he had not lost his touch, making a game-winning jump shot against Atlanta in his fourth game back.
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Jordan's return to the NBA and subsequent final retirement
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time. His accolades include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, ten NBA scoring titles, five NBA MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Jordan's individual success, coupled with his unique personal style, made him one of the most marketed sports figures in history.
Jordan first retired from basketball in 1993, and his hiatus lasted until March 1995, when he returned to the Chicago Bulls. The following day, Jordan suited up for the Bulls as they visited Market Square Arena to take on the Indiana Pacers. Despite a less-than-stellar performance, Jordan remarked that it "felt good to be back", and it wasn't long before he was back to his best, scoring 55 points against the New York Knicks in his fifth game back. After his return, Jordan led the Bulls to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a record-breaking 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.
Jordan retired for the second time in January 1999, but he wasn't done yet. He returned to the NBA for two more seasons from 2001 to 2003, this time as a member of the Washington Wizards. During the 2001–02 season, Jordan led the Wizards in scoring, assists, and steals, and was an MVP candidate. However, he suffered an injury that cut his season short, and he retired for the final time after the 2002–03 season.
Jordan's influence extended beyond the court. His endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Coca-Cola, and Gatorade made him a major spokesman, and he appeared in numerous commercials and even the 1996 film "Space Jam". In addition, an academic study found that Jordan's first NBA comeback resulted in a $1 billion increase in the market capitalization of his client firms.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Michael Jordan played basketball from a young age. He played in high school and university before going on to play professionally.
Jordan was a shooting guard and could also play as a small forward.
Michael Jordan's career regular-season scoring average was 30.1 points per game.
Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He won six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, ten NBA scoring titles, five NBA MVP awards, and many more accolades.
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