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Michael Jordan: A timeline of the NBA legend

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A look at the Hall of Fame career of Michael Jordan :

Feb. 17, 1963: Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to parents James Sr. and Deloris Jordan.

1979: Cut from the varsity team at Laney High in Wilmington N.C.

1981: After two varsity seasons, is selected a McDonald’s All-American and accepts a scholarship to University of North Carolina.

March 29, 1982: Makes game-winning shot in NCAA tournament final against Georgetown.

June 19, 1984: Selected No. 3 by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA draft after centers Hakeem Ojaluwon and Sam Bowie.

Aug. 10, 1984: Scores 20 points in gold-medal game in the L.A. Summer Olympics.

May 16, 1985: Selected rookie of the year after averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

Sept. 15, 1985: Air Jordan 1 basketball shoes released by Nike.

Oct. 29, 1985: Breaks his left foot in a game at the Golden State Warriors, misses the next 61 games before returning in time for end of season and playoffs.

April 20, 1986: Scores an NBA-record 63 points in a playoff game, a 135-131 overtime loss to Boston.

April 16, 1987: Scores 61 points in a loss to Atlanta, capping three-game stretch during which he averages 54.7 points. Wins first of 10 scoring titles.

Feb. 6, 1988: Defeats Dominique Wilkins in the NBA dunk contest in Chicago. It’s the second consecutive dunk contest win for Jordan. One night later, wins his first All-Star game MVP award.

May 25, 1988: Selected NBA most valuable player for first time, beating out Boston’s Larry Bird and the Lakers’ Magic Johnson.

May 7, 1989: Makes a game-winning jumper in a deciding Game 5 first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s simply known as “the Shot.”

Michael Jordan makes “The Shot” to lead the Chicago Bulls to a Game 5 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

July 10, 1989: Days after firing Doug Collins, the Bulls hire Phil Jackson to be their fourth coach of the Jordan era.

June 5, 1991: Playing in his first NBA Finals, Jordan rises up in the paint to dunk, switching hands midair for an acrobatic layup against the Lakers. “The Move” helps propel the Bulls to their first NBA title.

June 3, 1992: Jordan makes six three-point shots in the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, turning to the crowd and shrugging his shoulders. The Bulls win the series in six games.

Aug. 8, 1992: Jordan scores 22 points as the “Dream Team” wins gold at the Barcelona Olympics. On the medal stand, Jordan is draped in the American flag, covering the Reebok logo on his team-issued warmup jacket.

June 20, 1993: Jordan has 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but it’s John Paxson who makes the game-winning three-pointer in the Bulls’ 99-98 win over the Phoenix Suns for title No. 3. Jordan is Finals MVP for the third time in a row.

Aug. 3, 1993: After missing for three weeks, the body of Jordan’s father is found in a South Carolina creek, although positive identification comes 11 days later. Daniel Green and Larry Demery are later charged and convicted of murder.

Oct. 6, 1993: In a room filled with coaches, teammates and NBA Commissioner David Stern, Jordan announces his retirement. He says there’s a possibility he could return.

Oct. 23, 1993: In federal court, Jordan testifies that a $53,000 check he wrote to James (Slim) Bouler was to cover gambling losses. He originally said the check was a loan for Bouler to open a driving range.

Feb. 7, 1994: Jordan signs a contract to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox. He plays for the double-A Birmingham Barons, hitting .202.

March 18, 1995: Jordan rejoins the Bulls with a two-word fax: “I’m back.”

March 28, 1995: Facing the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, Jordan, wearing No. 45, scores 55 points before finding Bill Wennington for the game-winning jumper. It was the record for the most points scored by an opponent at the Garden — a record Kobe Bryant would break.

May 18, 1995: The Bulls are eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic. It’s the first playoff series Jordan has lost since June, 3 1990.

April 21, 1996: Alongside Toni Kukoc, Scottie Pippen and newly acquired Dennis Rodman, the Bulls beat the Washington Bullets 103-93 to win their 72nd game of the season, an NBA record. Jordan is the league’s MVP.

June 16, 1996: The Bulls cap a postseason in which they lost only three times by beating the Seattle SuperSonics 87-75. Jordan wins his fourth Finals MVP.

July 13, 1996: Jordan signs a one-year deal worth $30 million, the biggest single-season contract in American team sports history.

Nov. 15, 1996: Space Jam, a movie starring Jordan alongside Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Toons, is released. The movie grossed $230 million despite mixed reviews.

June 11, 1997: A physically depleted Jordan scores 33 in Game 5 of the Finals in what will be known as “The Flu Game.”

June 13, 1997: Jordan and the Bulls win their fifth title, beating the Utah Jazz in six games. Jordan scores 39 in the clincher, winning another Finals MVP.

July 24, 1997: The Bulls sign Phil Jackson to a one-year deal worth $6 million, but management makes it clear that it will be his last season with the Bulls, setting the stage for “The Last Dance.”

June 14, 1998: Jordan scores 45, including a title-winning jumper after he nudges Utah’s Byron Russell before burying an open shot. Chicago wins its sixth title and Jordan collects a sixth Finals MVP. It’s the last basket he’ll make for the Bulls.

Jan. 13, 1999: Saying he is mentally exhausted, Jordan retires from the NBA for a second time.

Jan. 19, 2000: Jordan becomes part owner and team president of the Washington Wizards. His tenure is defined by the decision to select center Kwame Brown out of high school with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft.

Sept. 25, 2001: Jordan comes out of retirement (again), this time suiting up for the Wizards. He averages 22.9 points in 60 games in his first season back.

April 16, 2003: Jordan plays in his last game in the NBA, scoring 15 points.

May 7, 2003: Wizards owner Abe Polin fires Jordan from his role as team president after three-plus unsuccessful years.

June 15, 2006: Jordan purchases a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats from BET founder Robert Johnson, becoming the team’s “managing member of basketball operations.”

Sept. 11, 2009: Jordan is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, delivering a scathing speech of the people who doubted him.

March 17, 2010: Jordan buys majority ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats, now known as the Hornets, for $275 million, becoming the first former NBA player to become a majority owner.

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• World Biography

Michael Jordan Biography

Born: February 17, 1963 Brooklyn, New York African American basketball player

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan is one of the most successful, popular, and wealthy athletes in college, Olympic, and professional sports history.

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, one of James and Deloris Jordan's five children. The family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when Michael was very young. His father worked as a General Electric plant supervisor, and his mother worked at a bank. His father taught him to work hard and not to be tempted by street life. His mother taught him to sew, clean, and do laundry. Jordan loved sports but failed to make his high school basketball team as a sophomore. He continued to practice and made the team the next year. After high school he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he played under head coach Dean Smith.

In Jordan's first season at North Carolina he was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year for 1982. The team won the ACC championship, and Jordan made the clutch jump shot that beat Georgetown University for the championship of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Jordan led the ACC in scoring as a sophomore and as a junior. The Sporting News named him college player of the year for both years. He left North Carolina after his junior year and was selected by the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the third pick of the 1984 draft. Before joining the Bulls, Jordan was a member of the Summer 1984 United States Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal in Los Angeles, California.

Early pro years

When Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls they were a losing team, drawing only around six thousand fans to home games. Jordan quickly turned that around. His style of play and fierce spirit of competition reminded sportswriters and fans of Julius Erving (1950–), who had been a superstar player during the 1970s. Jordan's incredible leaping ability and hang time thrilled fans in arenas around the league. In his first season he was named to the All-Star team and was later honored as the league's Rookie of the Year.

By adding such players as Scottie Pippen, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, and John Paxson around Jordan, the Bulls' management created a strong team that won the 1991 NBA title by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. The next year, the Bulls repeated as NBA champions by beating the Portland Trail Blazers. In 1992 Jordan also played on the "Dream Team," which participated in the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. The Olympic Committee had voted to lift the ban on professional athletes participating in the games. The team easily won the gold medal, winning their eight games by an average margin of 43.7 points.

Unexpected retirement

In 1993, after a tough playoff series with the New York Knicks, the Bulls met the Phoenix Suns for the NBA championship. When it was over, Jordan was again playoff MVP, and Chicago had won a third straight title. That summer Jordan's father, James, was murdered by two men during a robbery attempt. Jordan was grief stricken, and his father's death, combined with media reports about his gambling, led him to announce his retirement from professional basketball in October. Jordan had won three straight NBA titles, three regular season MVP awards, three playoff MVP titles, seven consecutive scoring titles, and he was a member of the All-Star team every year that he was in the league. In just nine seasons he had become the Bulls all-time leading scorer.

In 1994–95 Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league baseball team in the Chicago White Sox system. Although the seventeen-month experiment showed that he was not a major league baseball player, the experience and time away from basketball provided a much-needed rest and opportunity to regain his love of basketball.

Return to glory

When Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls during the 1994–95 regular season, people wondered, "Could he do it again?" He played well, but he was obviously rusty. The Bulls were defeated in the playoffs by the Orlando Magic. After a summer of playing basketball during breaks from filming the live-action cartoon movie Space Jam, Jordan returned with a fierce determination to prove that he had the ability to get back on top. The 1995–96 Bulls finished the regular season 72–10, an NBA record for most wins in a season, and Jordan, with his shooting rhythm back, earned his eighth scoring title. He also became the tenth NBA player to score 25,000 career points and second fastest after Chamberlain to reach that mark. The Bulls went on to win their fourth NBA championship, overpowering the Seattle Supersonics in six games. Few who watched will ever forget how Jordan sank to his knees, head bent over the winning ball, in a moment of bittersweet victory and deep sadness. The game had been played on Father's Day, three years after his father's murder.

The defending champions had a tougher time during the 1996–97 season but entered the playoffs as expected. Sheer determination took the Bulls to their fifth NBA championship. Illness, injury, and at times a lack of concentration hurt the team. In the fifth game of the finals Jordan carried the team to victory despite suffering from a stomach virus. In the 1997–98 season the Bulls were again in the playoffs, and again they faced tough competition. As before, they were able to clinch the NBA championship, and Jordan claimed his sixth NBA finals MVP award.

Jordan's other professional life as a businessman was never off track. Profitable endorsements (ads in which he voiced his support for certain products) for companies such as Nike and Wheaties, as well as his own golf company and products such as Michael Jordan cologne (which reportedly sold 1.5 million bottles in its first two months), made Jordan a multimillionaire. In 1997 he was ranked the world's highest paid athlete, with a $30 million contract—the largest one-year salary in sports history—and approximately $40 million a year in endorsement fees.

Retired again

Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, ending his career on a high note just after the official end of a labor dispute between NBA players and team owners. Many people saw him as the greatest basketball player ever, and his retirement was called the end of an era. In 2000 Jordan became part-owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards. This made him only the third African American owner in the NBA. He also gained an ownership stake in the Washington Capitals hockey team. Also in 2000, Jordan celebrated the first year of his $1 million grant program to help teachers make a difference in their schools.

In September 2001, after months of rumors, Jordan announced that he was ending his three-year retirement to play for the Wizards at age thirty-eight. At a news conference to discuss his comeback, he said, "Physically, I know I'm not twenty-five years old, but I feel I can play the game of basketball on the highest level." The Wizards, who had won only nineteen games the season before, improved with the addition of Jordan. After being voted to play in his thirteenth All-Star game (during which he missed a slam dunk), Jordan had the Wizards in the race for the playoffs until suffering a knee injury and missing the last part of the season. He was also distracted in January 2002 when his wife Juanita, whom he married in 1989, filed for divorce. (They have three children.) The next month the divorce was called off. Jordan said he planned to play one more season for the Wizards.

For More Information

Greene, Bob. Hang Time. New York: Doubleday, 1992.

Gutman, Bill. Michael Jordan: A Biography. New York: Pocket Books, 1991.

Halberstam, David. Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made. New York: Random House, 1999.

Jordan, Michael. For the Love of the Game: My Story. New York: Crown Publishers, 1998.

Naughton, Jim. Taking to the Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan. New York: Warner Books, 1992.

Smith, Sam. The Jordan Rules. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.

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Michael Jordan: 7 Facts About the Basketball Legend

To celebrate the sports superstar, here are seven facts about his life and iconic career.

1. He was technically never cut from his high school basketball team

The story of Jordan being cut from his high school basketball team has long been part of his personal narrative, but like a teenaged Jordan dangling from his chin-up bar to grow taller, the truth has been somewhat stretched. Jordan was never actually "cut" from the team – he tried out for the Laney High School (N.C.) varsity as a sophomore, and wound up on the junior varsity instead. And a big reason for that was that Laney was in dire need of taller players, so they passed on the 5'10" Jordan in favor of his 6'7" friend Leroy Smith. What is true is that Jordan used this perceived slight as motivation to work his butt off to improve, which led to impressive results when a growth spurt shot him up to 6'3" as a junior.

2. His partnership with Nike almost never happened

Jordan's longtime professional association with Nike nearly didn’t come to fruition. He initially wanted to wear Adidas after entering the NBA, and was also heavily pursued to endorse a much smaller brand called Spot-Bilt. But Nike threw out the full-court press to sign the Chicago Bulls rookie, offering a then-outrageous deal of $500 grand per year for five years and the chance to tailor a sneaker to his liking. Jordan still wanted to go with his original choice and went back to Adidas one more time, but the company was in no position to match the ransom offered by Nike. Thus was born a collaboration made in marketing heaven; Nike launched the Air Jordans in May 1985, and by the end of the year the line had generated more than $100 million in revenue.

3. He earned his college degree in cultural geography

Although he left the University of North Carolina a year early to pursue his pro career, Jordan received his degree in cultural geography in 1986. So what exactly does one do in that field, anyway? As he explained in a Q & A session at his basketball camp many years later, cultural geography is an introduction to meteorology. Which means that if Jordan’s preferred career choice of dunking over seven-footers didn't pan out, then his backup plan was to become a weatherman. Gives a whole new meaning to the name "Air Jordan," doesn't it?

4. He is an avid golfer

Jordan's passion for golf began in the summer of 1984, when he first ventured to a course with a group that included future golf pro Davis Love III. He parred one of the holes that day, an experience that led this supremely confident athlete to believe he could par all 18 with a little more practice. The quest for perfection led to his squeezing in as many rounds as possible in his downtime, including a notorious snubbing of President George H.W. Bush 's invitation to the White House with the rest of the NBA champion Chicago Bulls in 1991. He went on to hold the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Pro-Am Golf Tournament in Las Vegas from 2001 to 2014.

5. Jordan's decision to switch to baseball was inspired by his father

The idea behind Jordan's surprising decision to leave basketball for a baseball career in 1993 had taken root a few years earlier. His dad, James, had always loved baseball, and with Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders having some success as two-sport athletes, James suggested his son could do the same. As such, when James was killed in a carjacking incident in July 1993, Jordan sought to honor his dad's wishes by picking up a glove. While he famously struggled in his lone season of minor league baseball, some were impressed by how well he adjusted to a game he hadn't played since high school. Terry Francona, his manager that year, has said he believes Jordan could have made the big leagues had he kept at it.

6. Gambling is one of his hobbies

Another of Jordan's well-known hobbies is his proclivity for gambling. Reports abound of how he goaded teammates into betting on almost every activity, from golf to card games to rock-scissor-paper throwdowns, but his desire to constantly up the stakes occasionally left him on shaky ground. In 1992, Jordan was subpoenaed to testify about a $57,000 check he gave to a suspected drug dealer after a weekend of poker and golf. The following year, he was the subject of a book by businessman Richard Esquinas titled Michael and Me: Our Gambling Addiction. . .My Cry for Help! Jordan never drew any gambling-related punishment, but for years a rumor persisted that his year off to play baseball was the result of a secret suspension imposed by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

7. He has made more than $1 billion through his Nike partnership

For all he accomplished in pro basketball, including six championships, five MVP awards and 10 scoring titles, Jordan was the league's highest paid player in just two of his 15 NBA seasons. Fortunately, endorsement deals with brands like Coca-Cola, Gatorade and Hanes kept him from having to scrounge through the cushions for loose change. His aforementioned relationship with Nike has proven the most profitable — in 2020, it was revealed that Jordan has made more than one billion dollars from Nike. He also benefitted from the appreciation of NBA franchises after purchasing a majority share of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in 2010. Long considered basketball royalty, Jordan now unquestionably gets paid like a king after cracking Forbes ’ list of the world's billionaires in 2015.

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Michael Jordan

• Birthdate 2/17/1963
• College North Carolina
• Draft Info 1984: Rd 1, Pk 3 (CHI)
• Birthplace Wilmington, NC

Career History

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Michael JORDAN

Michael Jordan is considered by most experts to be the greatest basketball player of all-time. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, where he helped that team win an NCAA championship in 1982 and also won gold at the Pan American Games in the same year. In 1984, Jordan led the United States to an Olympic gold medal. Turning to professional basketball after his junior year in college, he became the greatest player in the NBA (National Basketball Association). In 1991, Jordan finally achieved his greatest thrill, leading the Chicago Bulls to an NBA Championship, and completing his Triple Crown of titles – NCAA, NBA, and Olympic. Jordan eventually led the Bulls to six NBA titles (1991-1993, 1996-1998). In 1992, Jordan also played on the Dream Team which won the basketball gold medal at Barcelona. He could also have played in 1996 but chose not to do so. Jordan retired briefly at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season, taking a short fling at playing minor league baseball, but returned to basketball at the end of the 1995 season. He retired again after helping the Chicago Bulls win their sixth NBA title in the spring of 1998. However, Jordan came out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards in the 2001-03 NBA seasons.

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Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan

(Mike, Air Jordan, M.J., His Airness, Money, Black Cat, Mr. June, G.O.A.T., Superman, Captain Marvel, Black Jesus)

Position: Shooting Guard and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right

6-6 ,  198lb  (198cm, 89kg)

Born: February 17 , 1963 in Brooklyn,  New York us

College: UNC

High School: Emsley A. Laney in Wilmington, North Carolina

Draft: Chicago Bulls , 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1984 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: October 26, 1984

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2009 ( Full List )

Career Length:  15 years

• Hall of Fame
• 14x All Star
• 10x Scoring Champ
• 3x STL Champ
• 6x NBA Champ
• 11x All-NBA
• 1984-85 All-Rookie
• 1984-85 ROY
• 9x All-Defensive
• 1987-88 Def. POY
• 6x Finals MVP
• NBA 75th Anniv. Team

Michael Jordan Overview

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• Play-by-play data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons. Shot type and location data quality from the 1990s is inconsistent, esp. 1996-97
• Shot location data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons. Shot type and location data quality from the 1990s is inconsistent, esp. 1996-97
• Click Season link for player's season game log Click value for box score or list of games Search Michael Jordan's game log history
• Most similar performance arc through 15 seasons ( Explanation )
• Most similar career performance arc ( Explanation )
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Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors

June 19, 1984 : Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1984 NBA Draft.

October 6, 1993 : Retired from the Chicago Bulls .

January 13, 1999 : Retired from the Chicago Bulls .

September 25, 2001 : Signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards .

April 17, 2003 : Retired from the Washington Wizards .

How old is Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan is 61 years old.

Where was Michael Jordan born?

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York.

When was Michael Jordan born?

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963.

How tall is Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan is 6-6 (198 cm) tall.

How much did Michael Jordan weigh when playing?

Michael Jordan weighed 198 lbs (89 kg) when playing.

Is Michael Jordan in the Hall of Fame?

Michael Jordan was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 2009 ( Full List ) .

When was Michael Jordan drafted?

Michael Jordan was drafted by Chicago Bulls , 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1984 NBA Draft .

What position did Michael Jordan play?

Shooting Guard and Small Forward.

When did Michael Jordan retire?

Michael Jordan last played in 2003.

What is Michael Jordan's net worth?

Michael Jordan made at least $94,022,500 playing professional basketball.

How much did Michael Jordan make?

Michael Jordan made $33,140,000 in 1998.

What did Michael Jordan average?

Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

How many rings does Michael Jordan have?

Michael Jordan won 6 championships.

What schools did Michael Jordan attend?

Michael Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney in Wilmington, North Carolina and UNC .

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• Winning Shots
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• Air Jordans

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. His parents, James and Delores Jordan, moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was still a toddler. Jordan has two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger sister.

Jordan loved to play baseball when he was a child, and also played some basketball and football. His love for basketball began when his older brother, Larry, continuously beat him in one-on-one pickup games. As with any challenge Jordan faces, this determined Michael to become a better player.

Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. Instead of giving up after failing to make the team, Jordan used it to spur himself to greater achievements, practicing hour after hour on the court. "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it," Jordan said, "and that usually got me going again." He eventually made the team and led it to the state championship.

Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, Jordan's ever-growing popularity began when he scored the game-winning basket in the 1982 NCAA championship game against the Georgetown Hoyas. Jordan was selected college player of the year in the 1983-84 season, and led the US Men's Basketball Team to an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics under coach Bobby Knight.

Jordan left college and entered the NBA in 1984, he was selected third in the draft (First pick: Houston--Hakeem Olajuwon; second pick: Portland--Sam Bowie) by the Chicago Bulls, a team that had won only 28 games the previous season. Ironically, Jordan played in his first game as a pro against Washington on Oct. 26, 1984. Jordan became an immediate impact in the league and proved that he belonged among the elite players. He finished his rookie season as one of the top scorers in the league, averaging 28.2 points per game, was named Rookie of the Year, and also made the All-Star team. Jordan led the Bulls into the playoffs in every season, but didn't make the NBA Finals until 1991, where he led the Bulls to their first of three consecutive NBA Championships (1991, 1992, and 1993).

Jordan played in the 1992 summer Olympics with the original Dream Team, perhaps the greatest team ever assembled. It was the first time NBA players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. Michael Jordan averaged 12.7 points per game as the USA Dream Team went 6-0 to win the gold medal, Jordan's second in his career.

There were some troubling events that followed his third NBA Championship. Jordan's father, James Jordan, pulled over one night to take a nap on his way home, and was murdered by a couple of armed robbers in North Carolina. The NBA also began an investigation into allegations that Jordan had illegally bet on NBA games. He was eventually cleared. These events eventually caused Jordan to lose his motivation and the sense of having to prove something as a basketball player, and he felt it was time to step away from the court.

Jordan sought a new challenge, to play professional baseball. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He was assigned to the Birmingham Barons, affiliates of the Chicago White Sox, and played an outfielder position. His presence in the minors grew large numbers in attendance, but his batting was uncharacteristic of Jordan's athletic skills. In his first summer with the Barons, he batted .202 with 114 strikeouts in 127 games. Later in the year he batted .252 with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. By November of 1994, the Bulls had retired his number and erected a life-size statue of him in front of the United Center.

On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced "I'm back!" He ended his short-lived career with baseball and rejoined the Bulls near the end of the 1994-1995 regular season,eventually losing to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. "He didn't look like the old Michael Jordan, " said Orlando's Nick Anderson.

Jordan once again had something to prove to the world, that he was still the greatest basketball player to ever play the game, and that he would be even greater in the season to come. Michael Jordan led the Bulls to an astonishing 72-10 record, the best regular season in the history of the NBA. Jordan led the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game, was named the All-Star MVP, the league MVP and the NBA Finals MVP, as they went on to win their fourth NBA championship (1996). He was selected in 1996 as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Jordan and the Bulls continued their dominance into the next two seasons, winning two more consecutive championships (1997 and 1998), becoming the first team in NBA history to repeat-the-threepeat (1991-1993, 1996-1998). Jordan earned All-Star MVP and league MVP honors in 1998, led the league in scoring in all three years of his comeback (1996, 1997, and 1998) and won six NBA Finals MVP awards for every Finals the Bulls have competed in.

The breakup of the Bulls dynasty by Jerry Krause led to Jordan's second retirement. Jordan stated he would not play basketball for anyone else other than Phil Jackson, and mentioned he would like to spend more time with his wife, Juanita, and their three children, Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine.

Michael Jordan later joined the Washington Wizards as President of Basketball Operations and part owner in January 2000. "I'm going to have my imprints and footprints all over this organization," said Jordan. "I look forward to turning this thing around. Right now we're an underachieving team." Jordan disappointedly witnessed his team win 19 games in the 2000-2001 season, his first

full season as President of Basketball Operations, after winning only 29 games the season before. He completely overhauled the roster, hired Doug Collins, a coach Jordan played for once before in his early years with the Bulls, and began the Wizards rebuilding phase. But no one had expected the turn of events that were leading into the 2001-2002 season.

Michael Jordan's competitive desire to win motivated him to return once again as a basketball player, and turn the Wizards franchise around. Jordan began training, informing the media, at first, he was only doing it to lose weight. He worked himself into basketball shape during the summer by holding several invitation-only camps of pickup games with other NBA players at a Chicago gym. Jordan suffered three setbacks during his comeback summer workouts, raising questions as to whether his 38-year old body can endure a NBA 82 game schedule.

On September 25, 2001, Jordan added another chapter to what could have been the perfect ending in his storybook career. He announced that he would return to the NBA and play for the Washington Wizards on a two-year contract. "I am returning as a player to the game I love," said Jordan. "I am especially excited about the Washington Wizards, and I'm convinced we have the foundation on which to build a playoff-contention team." Ironically, Jordan achieved another moment in his spectacular career, scoring his 30,000th career point on January 4, 2002 against his former team, the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, Jordan was never able to lead his Wizards into the postseason as a player. He retired for a third and final time after playing his final game on April 16th, 2003.

There's no question that Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever play the game, he has single-handedly redefined basketball. No player in NBA history has achieved so much in any amount of time. He is a five-time league MVP, a ten-time scoring champion, a six-time Finals MVP, and houses six NBA championships. This time Michael Jordan left the game of basketball on his own terms. His comeback was to scratch an itch, and to teach the younger players how the game is played. He finished his career with 32,292 points, and a career average 30.12 ppg, the best in NBA history. 

Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame on September 11, 2009.  His speech last over 20 minutes, thanking teammates, coaches, and many others that have inspired him throughout the years.  In his closing statement, Jordan had this to say about the game of basketball. "The game of basketball has been everything to me. My refuge. My place I've always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace. It's been a source of intense pain, and a source of most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. And one that no one can even imagine. It's been a relationship that has evolved over time, and given me the greatest respect and love for the game. It has provided me with a platform to share my passion with millions in a way I neither expected nor could have imagined in my career. I hope that it's given the millions of people that I've touched, the optimism and the desire to achieve their goals through hard-work, perseverance, and positive attitude. Although I'm recognized with this tremendous honor of being in the basketball Hall of Fame - I don't look at this moment as a defining end to my relationship with the game of basketball. It's simply a continuation of something that I started a long time ago."

Michael Jordan Biography

On November 22, 2016, Michael Jordan was invited to the White House by Barack Obama to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.   

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Michael Jordan facts for kids

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ , is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He played fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls . Jordan is the main owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA and of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series . He was an important part of making the NBA popular around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jordan played college basketball for three seasons under coach Dean Smith 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. He became known for his leaping ability. Performing slam dunks from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames " Air Jordan " and " His Airness ." Jordan suddenly retired from basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball but returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and won many more awards as a basketball player.

Companies who sell products paid Jordan to endorse (publicly support or approve of something) their products. The most popular endorsement was Nike 's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1984 and remain popular today.

College career

First retirement and stint in minor league baseball (1993–1995), "i'm back:" chicago bulls (1995-1998), second retirement (1999–2001), washington wizards (2001–2003), final retirement (2003), player profile, charlotte bobcats/hornets, 23xi racing, personal life, endorsements, business ventures, philanthropy, film and television, regular season, awards and honors, michael jordan quotes, interesting facts about michael jordan.

Jordan was born at Cumberland Hospital in Fort Greene, Brooklyn , New York City, on February 17, 1963. He is the son of bank employee Deloris (née Peoples) and equipment supervisor James R. Jordan Sr. In 1968, he moved with his family to Wilmington, North Carolina . Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he played basketball, baseball, and football.

During his sophomore year, he tried out for the varsity (highest level in high school) basketball team but did not make the cut. This motivated him to work and train harder. His hard work paid off when he made the varsity basketball team the next year.

Jordan was recruited by many colleges to play basketball for them. In 1981, he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , where he played for the Tar Heels and majored in cultural geography .

As a freshman in coach Dean Smith 's team-oriented system, Jordan was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He made the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown , which was led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing . Jordan later described this shot as the major turning point in his basketball career.

Jordan left North Carolina one year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA draft. Jordan returned to North Carolina to complete his degree in 1986 when he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural geography. In 2002, Jordan was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the 50 greatest players in ACC history.

Professional career

Chicago bulls (1984–1993).

The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan with the third overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft. In his first game, he played at the Chicago Stadium on October 26, 1984, and scored 16 points. Roy S. Johnson of The New York Times described him as "the phenomenal rookie of the Bulls" in November, and Jordan appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the heading "A Star Is Born" in December.

Another event that helped Jordan rise to fame took place during an exhibition game in Trieste , Italy . Jordan shattered the glass on a backboard during a slam dunk . Shortly afterward, during the third game of the 1985–86 season, he broke his foot, causing him to miss 64 games.

Jordan completely recovered in time for the 1986–87 season and became the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season. The Bulls entered the 1989–90 season as a team on the rise, with their core group of Jordan and young improving players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant , and under the guidance of new coach Phil Jackson .

In the years 1991-1993, Jordan led the Bulls to three straight NBA finals and won them. This is called a "three-peat." Jordan became the first player in NBA history to win three straight NBA Finals MVP awards. Throughout his basketball career, he regularly led the league in scoring, in winning MVP (Most Valuable Player) Awards, and in winning other awards.

During the Bulls' 1993 NBA playoffs, Jordan was seen gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey , the night before a game against the New York Knicks. The previous year, he admitted that he had to cover $57,000 in gambling losses, and author Richard Esquinas wrote a book in 1993 claiming he had won $1.25 million from Jordan on the golf course.

• Birmingham Barons (1994–1995)
• Scottsdale Scorpions (1994)

On October 6, 1993, Jordan announced his retirement, saying that he lost his desire to play basketball. Jordan later said that the murder of his father three months earlier helped shape his decision. James R. Jordan Sr. was murdered on July 23, 1993, at a highway rest area in Lumberton, North Carolina .

Jordan was close to his father; as a child, he imitated the way his father stuck out his tongue while concentrating on his work. He later adopted it as his own signature, often displaying it as he drove to the basket. In 1996, he founded a Chicago-area Boys & Girls Club and dedicated it to his father. In his 1998 autobiography For the Love of the Game , Jordan wrote that he was preparing for retirement as early as the summer of 1992. Being tired from taking part in "Dream Team" during the 1992 Summer Olympics helped Jordan make this decision.

Jordan further surprised the sports world by signing a Minor League Baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox on February 7, 1994. He reported to spring training in Sarasota, Florida , and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31, 1994. Jordan said that he wanted to chase the dream of his late father, who had always seen his son as a Major League Baseball player.

On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his return to the NBA through a two-word press release: "I'm back." The next day, Jordan took to the court with the Bulls. His team did not make it to the playoffs that year.

Jordan worked and trained hard for the 1995–96 season. Dennis Rodman joined the team, and the Bulls began winning again. From 1993 through 1998, Jordan and Rodman led the Bulls to a second "three-peat." Jordan earned his fourth, fifth, and sixth Finals MVP Awards during these years as well. The 1998 Finals holds the highest television rating of any Finals series in history.

Jordan retired from the NBA for the second time on January 13, 1999. On January 19, 2000, he became part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards . Despite his January 1999 claim that he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game, Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback in the summer of 2001, this time with his new team. He spent much of the spring and summer of 2001 in training and hired his old Chicago Bulls head coach, Doug Collins, as Washington's coach for the next season.

On September 25, 2001, Jordan announced his return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards. He said that he would give his salary as a player to the victims of the September 11 attacks . Although the Wizards finished the season with a better record and in previous years, Jordan's age was catching up with him. He was not able to play as well as he did when he was younger. His season ended after only 60 games.

Playing in his 14th and final NBA All-Star Game in 2003, Jordan passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history, a record since broken by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James . During Jordan's final two seasons, the Wizards did not make the playoffs. Jordan openly said that his teammates did not have enough focus and intensity.

Jordan received a four-minute standing ovation in his final game at the United Center in Chicago, which was his old home court. Jordan played his final NBA game on April 16, 2003, in Philadelphia . Jordan received a three-minute standing ovation from his teammates, his opponents, the officials, and the crowd of 21,257 fans.

Jordan was a shooting guard who could also play as a small forward and a point guard . He had a well-known work ethic. He also looked for weak spots in other players and would play to beat those weak spots. Jordan was known to have strong eyesight.

Of the 15 seasons Jordan was in the NBA, he played all 82 regular season games nine times. He excelled at driving to the basket as well as drawing fouls. Jordan also developed the ability to post up his opponents and score with his trademark fadeaway jump shot, using his leaping ability to keep opponents from blocking his shots. The three-point field goal was not Jordan's strength, especially in his early years. Later in Jordan's career, he improved his three-point shooting.

Jordan is the most decorated player in NBA history. Jordan finished among the top three in regular season MVP voting 10 times. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Jordan is one of only seven players in history to win an NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal (doing so twice with the 1984 and 1992 U.S. men's basketball teams). Since 1976, the year of the ABA–NBA merger, Jordan and Scottie Pippen are the only two players to win six NBA Finals playing for one team. In the All-Star Game fan ballot, Jordan received the most votes nine times, more than any other player.

TV sports channels and magazines have talked and written much about him, saying he is the greatest athlete of all time. They have said that his athletic leaping ability, shown in his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships in 1987 and 1988, has influenced young players. Several NBA players have stated that they considered Jordan as their role model while they were growing up.

In August 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts , opened a Michael Jordan exhibit that contained items from his college and NBA careers as well as from the 1992 "Dream Team." The exhibit also includes a batting baseball glove to represent Jordan's short career in Minor League Baseball .

In 2016, President Barack Obama honored Jordan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom . In October 2021, Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In September 2022, Jordan's jersey in which he played the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.

Post retirement

After his third retirement, Jordan assumed that he would be able to return to his front-office position as Director of Basketball Operations with the Wizards. However, On May 7, 2003, Wizards owner Abe Pollin fired Jordan.

Jordan kept busy over the next few years. He stayed in shape, played golf in celebrity charity tournaments, and spent time with his family in Chicago. He also promoted his clothing brand and rode motorcycles. Since 2004, Jordan has owned Michael Jordan Motorsports.

On June 15, 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats (known as the Hornets since 2013), becoming the team's second-largest shareholder behind majority owner Robert L. Johnson . On March 17, 2010, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved Jordan's purchase of the Bobcats from Johnson, making him the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team. It also made him the league's only African-American majority owner.

During the 2019 NBA offseason, Jordan sold a minority piece of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim. He kept the majority of the team for himself, as well as the role of chairman.

On September 21, 2020, Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin announced they would be fielding a NASCAR team with Bubba Wallace driving, beginning competition in the 2021 season. On October 22, the team's name was confirmed to be 23XI Racing (pronounced twenty-three eleven) and the team's entry would bear No. 23. The team's first race was the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021.

Jordan is the fourth of five children. He has two older brothers, Larry Jordan and James R. Jordan Jr., one older sister, Deloris, and one younger sister, Roslyn.

Jordan married Juanita Vanoy on September 2, 1989, at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas , Nevada . They had two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus , and a daughter, Jasmine. After filing for divorce, getting back together, and filing for divorce again, the couple remained divorced as of December 29, 2006. Juanita received a $168 million settlement (equivalent to $244 million in 2024).

In 1991, Jordan purchased a lot in Highland Park, Illinois , where he planned to build a 56,000 square-foot (5,200 m 2 ) mansion. It was completed in 1995. He listed the mansion for sale in 2012. He also owns homes in North Carolina and Jupiter Island, Florida .

Jordan proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto, on Christmas 2011, and they were married on April 27, 2013, at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. It was announced on November 30, 2013, that the two were expecting their first child together. On February 11, 2014, Prieto gave birth to identical twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel. In 2019, Jordan became a grandfather when his daughter Jasmine gave birth to a son, whose father is professional basketball player Rakeem Christmas .

Media figure and business interests

Jordan is one of the most marketed sports figures in history. He has been a major spokesman for such brands as Nike (who created a signature shoe for Jordan called the Air Jordan ), Coca-Cola , Chevrolet , Gatorade , McDonald's , Ball Park Franks , Rayovac, Wheaties, Hanes, MCI, and Gatorade .

Jordan also has been associated with the Looney Tunes cartoon characters. In a Nike commercial shown during 1992's Super Bowl XXVI, Jordan and Bugs Bunny played basketball. The Super Bowl commercial inspired the 1996 live action/animated film Space Jam . Jordan also made an appearance in the music video for Michael Jackson 's "Jam" (1992).

Since 2008, Jordan's yearly income from the endorsements is estimated to be over $40 million.

In 2017, he became a part owner of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball . As of 2022 [update] , his net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion by Forbes , making him the sixth-richest African-American , behind Robert F. Smith , David Steward , Oprah Winfrey , Kanye West , and Rihanna .

Jordan co-owns an automotive group which bears his name. The restaurant industry is another business interest of Jordan. He has owned several restaurants and is the majority investor in a Florida golf course, Grove XXIII, which opened in 2019. In September 2020, Jordan became an investor and advisor for DraftKings.

• From 2001 to 2014, Jordan hosted an annual golf tournament, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, that raised money for various charities.
• In 2006, Jordan and his wife Juanita pledged $5 million to Chicago's Hales Franciscan High School. The Jordan Brand has made donations to Habitat for Humanity and a Louisiana branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• In 2015, Jordan won a lawsuit against supermarkets that had used his name without permission. He donated the money he won to 23 different Chicago charities.
• In 2017, Jordan gave $7 million to open two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina .
• In 2018, after Hurricane Florence damaged parts of North Carolina, including his former hometown of Wilmington, Jordan donated $2 million to relief efforts. He gave $1 million to aid the Bahamas' recovery following Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
• As of 2019, he had raised more than $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation .
• On June 5, 2020, Jordan and his brand announced that they would be donating $100 million over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to "ensuring racial equality, social justice, and greater access to education."
• In February 2021, Jordan gave $10 million to open two more Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics.

Jordan played himself in the 1996 comedy film Space Jam . He was the subject of two documentaries: Michael Jordan to the Max in 2000 and The Last Dance in 2020. He also appeared in the 2022 miniseries The Captain , which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter .

Jordan has authored books focusing on his life, basketball career, and worldview.

• Rare Air: Michael on Michael , with Mark Vancil and Walter Iooss (Harper San Francisco, 1993)
• I Can't Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence , with Mark Vancil and Sandro Miller (Harper San Francisco, 1994)
• For the Love of the Game: My Story , with Mark Vancil (Crown Publishers, 1998)
• Driven from Within , with Mark Vancil (Atria Books, 2005)

NBA career statistics

• Six-time NBA champion – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
• Six-time NBA Finals MVP – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
• Five-time NBA MVP – 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year – 1987–88
• NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984–85
• 10-time NBA scoring leader – 1987–1993, 1996–1998
• Three-time NBA steals leader – 1988, 1990, 1993
• 14-time NBA All-Star – 1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003
• Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP – 1988, 1996, 1998
• 10-time All-NBA First Team – 1987–1993, 1996–1998
• One-time All-NBA Second Team – 1985
• Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team – 1988–1993, 1996–1998
• NBA All-Rookie First Team – 1985
• Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion – 1987, 1988
• Two-time IBM Award winner – 1985, 1989
• Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
• Selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021
• No. 23 retired by the Chicago Bulls
• No. 23 retired by the Miami Heat
• Two-time Olympic gold medal winner – 1984, 1992
• Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner – 1992
• Pan American Games gold medal winner – 1983
• NCAA national championship – 1981–82
• ACC Freshman of the Year – 1981–82
• Two-time Consensus NCAA All-American First Team – 1982–83, 1983–84
• ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year – 1983–84
• USBWA College Player of the Year – 1983–84
• Naismith College Player of the Year – 1983–84
• Adolph Rupp Trophy – 1983–84
• John R. Wooden Award – 1983–84
• No. 23 retired by the North Carolina Tar Heels
• McDonald's All-American – 1981
• Parade All-American First Team – 1981
• Class of 2009 – individual
• Class of 2010 – as a member of the "Dream Team"
• United States Olympic Hall of Fame – Class of 2009 (as a member of the "Dream Team")
• North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2010
• Class of 2015 – individual
• Class of 2017 – as a member of the "Dream Team"
• Three-time Associated Press Athlete of the Year – 1991, 1992, 1993
• Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year – 1991
• Ranked No. 1 by Slam magazine's "Top 50 Players of All-Time"
• Ranked No. 1 by ESPN SportsCentury ' s "Top North American Athletes of the 20th Century"
• 10-time ESPY Award winner (in various categories)
• 1997 Marca Leyenda winner
• 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Statue inside the United Center
• Section of Madison Street in Chicago renamed Michael Jordan Drive – 1994
• "The key to success is failure."
• "Failure makes me work even harder."
• "If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life."
• "Heart is what separates the good from the great."
• "If you quit once, it becomes a habit. Never quit!"
• Because Jordan almost drowned at age 11, he has a fear of large bodies of water.
• His childhood idol was Magic Johnson .
• If Jordan did not play in the NBA , his backup plan was to use his degree in cultural geography to become a weatherman .
• He initially wanted to wear Adidas after entering the NBA. Nike offered him more money than other brands to endorse their brand.
• In 2020, it was revealed that Jordan had made more than $1 billion with Nike.
• In 1991, he declined President George H.W. Bush 's invitation to the White House with the rest of the NBA champion Chicago Bulls so he could play golf.
• For every meal before a game, Michael Jordan held a ritual of eating the same thing four hours before the start of the match: a 23-ounce New York steak, a side of mashed potatoes , a salad, and ginger ale .
• He is the only professional basketball player over age 40 with a 20 PPG (points per game) average .
• ESPN ranked Michael Jordan as the 20th century’s greatest North American athlete.
• The highest bidding on a Jordan sneaker was priced at $71 thousand at an auction.
• Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes
• List of athletes who came out of retirement
• List of NBA teams by single season win percentage
• Michael Jordan's Restaurant
• Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City
• Michael Jordan in Flight
• This page was last modified on 9 February 2024, at 09:05. Suggest an edit .