Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials Michael Jordan, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.
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| Charlotte Hornets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Minority owner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 17, 1963 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 216 lb (98 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Emsley A. Laney (Wilmington, North Carolina) |
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| College | North Carolina (1981–1984) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1984: 1st round, 3rd overall pick | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1984–1993, 1995–1998, 2001–2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 23, 12, 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1993, 1995–1998 |
Chicago Bulls | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Washington Wizards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 32,292 (30.1 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 6,672 (6.2 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 5,633 (5.3 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basketball Hall of Fame as player | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIBA Hall of Fame as player | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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He was integral in popularizing basketball and the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon. His profile on the NBA website states, “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.”
Jordan played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick and quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring while gaining a reputation as one of the best defensive players.
His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames “Air Jordan” and “His Airness“.
Jordan won his first NBA title with the Bulls in 1991 and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a three-peat. Citing “physical and mental exhaustion” from basketball and superstardom, Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization.
He returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a then-record 72 regular season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.
Jordan retired for the second time in January 1999, returning for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
He was selected to play for the United States national team during his college and NBA careers, winning four gold medals—at the 1983 Pan American Games, 1984 Summer Olympics, 1992 Tournament of the Americas and 1992 Summer Olympics—while also being undefeated.
Education and Olympics
Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. As a freshman, he made the winning basket against Georgetown in the 1982 national championship game.
Jordan was named College Player of the Year in both his sophomore and junior years, leaving North Carolina after his junior year.
He led the U.S. basketball team to Olympic gold medals in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. The players who competed in the latter Games became known as the Dream Team.
NBA: Chicago Bulls
In 1984 Jordan, a guard standing 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters), was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. He quickly became known as an exceptionally talented shooter and passer and a tenacious defender.
In October 1993, after leading the Bulls to their third consecutive championship, Jordan retired briefly and pursued a career in professional baseball.
He returned to basketball in March 1995. In the 1995–96 season Jordan led the Bulls to a 72–10 regular season record, the best in the history of the NBA (broken in 2015–16 by the Golden State Warriors).
From 1996 to 1998 the Jordan-led Bulls again won three championships in a row, and each time Jordan was named MVP of the NBA finals. After the 1997–98 season Jordan retired again.
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Points per game: 30.1
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Total points: 32,292
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Steals per game: 2.3
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Total steals: 2,514
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Total games: 1,072
During this time Jordan earned the nickname “Air Jordan” because of his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers, and his popularity reached heights few athletes (or celebrities of any sort) have known. He accumulated millions of dollars from endorsements, most notably for his Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes.
The Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats (Hornets)
Jordan remained close to the sport, buying a share of the Washington Wizards in January 2000. He was also appointed president of basketball operations for the club.
However, managing rosters and salary caps was not enough for Jordan, and in September 2001 he renounced his ownership and management positions with the Wizards in order to be a player on the team.
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His second return to the NBA was greeted with enthusiasm by the league, which had suffered declining attendance and television ratings since his 1998 retirement. After the 2002–03 season, Jordan announced his final retirement.
He ended his career with 32,292 total points and a 30.1-points-per-game average, which was the best in league history at that time, as well as 2,514 steals, then the second most ever.
In 2006 Jordan became minority owner and general manager of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets). He bought a controlling interest in the team in 2010 and became the first former NBA player to become a majority owner of one of the league’s franchises. Jordan sold his share in 2023.
Other activities
Jordan made a successful film, Space Jam (1996), in which he starred with animated characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In 1996 the NBA named him one of the 50 greatest players of all time, and in 2009 he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
