Michael Jordan, who the Chicago Tribune refers to as "the greatest basketball player ever," has been a prominent figure in the world of sports from the time he played college ball. His Nike-inspired sneakers have led kids of all ages to don Air Jordans in hopes of emulating the basketball giant. Jordan's positive image and appeal to the public has also led to multi-million dollar deals with other large corporations, including McDonald's and Hanes.
Early Years
Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to North Carolina soon after, and he was raised in the southern state. He began attending the University of North Carolina in 1981 and helped that team win the NCAA Championship in 1982. His game-winning shot garnered his first National Player of the Year honor. In 1984, the Chicago Bulls franchise drafted Jordan and he left college to become a professional basketball player.
Basketball
The 6'6" Jordan made his National Basketball Association debut on October 26, 1984, as a Guard-Forward. He led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championship titles. In addition, Jordan played for the Washington Wizards, a team he was part owner and president of, for two seasons. Michael Jordan also played basketball the United States Olympic teams in 1984 and 1992. The teams earned gold medals both years. Jordan was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2009.
Records & Accolades
Michael Jordan earned an NBA record for the highest scoring average per game with a 30.12. He has earned Most Valuable Player at six NBA finals and received five awards for NBA Most Valuable Player for the season. During the 1986-87 season, Michael Jordan became only the second player -- Wilt Chamberlin was the first -- to score over 3,000 points in one season. Jordan was also on the NBA All-Star team 14 times.
Retirement
In 1993, after his father was murdered, Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first time. He returned to the Chicago Bulls in 1995 and remained there until his second retirement in 1998. The third retirement -- from the Washington Wizards -- was in 2003. Whether or not Michael Jordan continues to play sports, it doesn't look like he will be leaving them any time soon. In 2010 he increased his ownership percentage in the Charlotte Bobcats.
Personal
Michael Jordan returned to college and finished a bachelor's degree in geography in 1985. He also took a turn as an actor when he starred in the 1996 film "Space Jam." Michael Jordan was married for 17 years until he and wife Juanita divorced in 2006.The couple had three children, Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine. Jeffrey has played college basketball, first for the University of Illinois and then at the University of Central Florida.
Interesting Fact
During his first retirement from basketball, Michael Jordan spent a year playing baseball for the minor league team of the Chicago White Sox, the Class AA Birmingham Barons. During his season as a baseball player, the 31 year old had 7 game-winning hits and was responsible for a total of 51 runs. A movie was made on Jordan's experience in baseball and it aired on ESPN. It is called "30 for 30 - Jordan Rides the Bus."
References
- "Chicago Tribune": Michael Jordan News and Photos
- "The New York Times": Michael Jordan News
- "The New York Times": Television Review-"30 for 30 - Jordan Rides the Bus"
- "The New York Times": NBA Board Approves Jordan's Purchase of the Bobcats
- Basketball Reference: Michael Jordan NBA & ABA Statistics
- Biography: Michael Jordan
Member Comments