michael jordan childhood biography

Michael Jordan

Basketball legend Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and won the MVP Award five times.

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Who Is Michael Jordan?

Quick facts, early life and family, college career, professional basketball career, jordan’s jersey numbers, awards and honors, retirements from basketball, jordan’s business ventures, wives and children, michael jordan in pop culture.

1963–present

Latest News: Michael Jordan Completes Sale of Hornets

Basketball icon Michael Jordan officially sold his majority ownership in the Charlotte Hornets NBA team on August 3. The team was sold for an estimated $3 billion, more than 10 times the $275 million Jordan purchased it for in 2010. The Hornets made the playoffs only three times under Jordan’s leadership. “I’m excited about the future of the team and will continue to support the organization and the community in my new role in the years ahead,” said Jordan, who kept a minority stake in the franchise.

Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player, American Olympic athlete, businessperson, and actor. Considered one of the best basketball players ever, he dominated the sport from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and earned the league’s MVP Award five times. With five regular-season MVPs and three All-Star MVPs, Jordan became the most decorated player in the NBA.

FULL NAME: Michael Jeffrey Jordan BORN: February 17, 1963 BIRTHPLACE: Brooklyn, New York SPOUSES: Juanita Vanoy (1989–2006), Yvette Prieto (2013–present) CHILDREN: Jeffrey, Marcus, Jasmine, Ysabel, and Victoria ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Deloris, was a bank teller who has since written several books. His father, James, was a maintenance worker turned manager at General Electric. Jordan, the fourth child of Deloris and James, has four siblings: James Jr. (known as Ronnie), Deloris, Larry, and Roslyn.

Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, Jordan developed a competitive edge at an early age. It was James who introduced his son Michael to baseball and built a basketball court in their backyard. Michael idolized his brother Larry, and the two would often play one-on-one into the night. Michael wanted to win every game he played.

Jordan attended Laney High School in Wilmington. He was notably assigned to the school’s junior varsity basketball team as a sophomore—he was still under 6 feet tall then—before developing into one of the country’s top recruits.

During a basketball camp in the summer of 1980, Jordan grabbed the attention of legendary University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill head coach Dean Smith and his staff. He signed his letter of intent with the school in 1981.

Jordan enrolled at North Carolina in 1981 and soon became an important member of the university’s basketball team. UNC won the NCAA Division I championship in 1982, with Jordan scoring the final basket needed to defeat Georgetown University. He was also singled out as the NCAA College Player of the Year in 1983 and in 1984.

Jordan left college after his junior year to join the NBA in 1984. In 1986, Jordan finished his bachelor’s degree in geography as he continued to play basketball professionally.

The 6-foot-6 Jordan began his professional basketball career when he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. He was the third overall pick, behind Hakeem Olajuwon, who was selected first by the Houston Rockets, and Sam Bowie, taken by the Portland Trail Blazers; the draft also featured legendary players John Stockton and Charles Barkley.

Jordan soon proved himself on the court. He helped the Bulls make the playoffs and scored an average of 28.2 points per game that season. For his efforts, Jordan received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was selected for the All-Star Game.

Although his second season was marred by injury, he broke new ground on the court during the 1986-87 season. He became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to score more than 3,000 points in a single season. By the late 1980s, the Chicago Bulls were quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, and Jordan was an instrumental part of the team’s success.

The Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1990 and won their first NBA championship the following year by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan was well known by then for his superior athleticism on the court and for his leadership abilities.

In 1992, the Chicago Bulls beat the Portland Trail Blazers to win their second NBA championship. The team took their third championship the following year, dominating in the basketball world.

Following the 1993 death of his father and a short stint in minor league baseball, Jordan returned to the basketball court and the Bulls in March 1995. He came back even stronger the following year, averaging 30.4 points per game to lead the Bulls to a then-record 72 regular-season wins before they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics for the NBA championship.

Chicago nearly matched the previous year’s record with 69 wins in 1996-97, a season that ended with a Game 6 win over the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals. The two teams faced each other again for the championship in 1998, with Jordan sinking the winning shot in Game 6 to claim his sixth and final title. In addition to those six rings, Jordan won each of his five league MVP awards with Chicago.

After his second retirement from basketball in 1999, Jordan joined the Washington Wizards in 2000 as a part owner and as president of basketball operations. In the fall of 2001, Jordan relinquished these roles to return to the court once more. He played for the Wizards for his final two NBA seasons.

Jordan is most famous for donning No. 23 during the majority of his career. He once said the number was a reference to brother Larry, as it was roughly half of his elder sibling’s high school number 45.

Jordan did wear 45 upon his 1995 return to the NBA because 23 was the number his late father knew him by, and he wanted a new beginning. That lasted only a couple months before Jordan switched back to 23 during the 1995 playoffs.

Jordan famously wore No. 12 for one game on February 14, 1990, because his jersey had been stolen. The Bulls didn’t have a backup and tried to locate a 23 jersey in the stands that would fit Jordan but couldn’t. The temporary change didn’t affect his performance, as Jordan scored 49 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic.

During the summer of 1984, Jordan made his first appearance at the Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball team. The team of college amateurs won the gold at the games that year, which were held in Los Angeles.

Jordan later helped the American team bring home the gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games, held in Barcelona, Spain. The U.S. squad featured professional players for the first time that year, including Larry Bird , Magic Johnson , and Jordan, and became known as the “Dream Team.”

In 1988, Jordan received his first MVP Award from the NBA, an honor he would earn four more times, in 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998.

In April 2009, Jordan received one of basketball’s greatest honors: He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Attending the induction ceremony was a bittersweet affair for Jordan because being at the event meant “your basketball career is completely over,” he explained.

In 2016, Jordan was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama .

Here is a rundown of Jordan’s NBA career averages and totals, according to Basketball Reference :

Career Averages

• Minutes: 38.3
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.497
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.327
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.835
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game: 1.6
• Defensive Rebounds Per Game: 4.7
• Assists Per Game: 5.3
• Steals Per Game: 2.3
• Blocks Per Game: 0.8
• Turnovers Per Game: 2.7
• Personal Fouls Per Game: 2.6
• Points Per Game: 30.1

Career Totals

• Games: 1,072
• Games Started: 1,039
• Minutes: 41,011
• Field Goals Made: 12,192 of 24,537 attempts
• 3-Point Field Goals Made: 581 of 1,778 attempts
• Free Throws Made: 7,327 of 8,772 attempts
• Offensive Rebounds: 1,668
• Defensive Rebounds: 5,004
• Total Rebounds: 6,672
• Assists: 5,633
• Steals: 2,514
• Blocks: 893
• Turnovers: 2,924
• Personal Fouls: 2,783
• Points: 32,292

Jordan retired from the sport three times over the span of his 19-year professional career. He first stepped away on October 6, 1993, at age 30 to pursue a career in baseball following the death of his father. In July of that year, James was murdered when two teenagers shot him in his car in an apparent robbery as he was driving from Charlotte to Wilmington, North Carolina. He was missing for 23 days until his body was found in a swamp in McColl, South Carolina. The teens were later tried and convicted of the crime and received life sentences for first-degree murder.

Jordan retired from the Bulls again on January 13, 1999, at age 35 before eventually returning to the court with the Wizards. He finally hung up his jersey for good at age 40 on April 16, 2003.

In a move that shocked many, after the end of the 1992-93 basketball season, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball to pursue baseball. For one year in 1994, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, as an outfielder.

This decision came shortly following the murder of Jordan’s father, who always wanted him to play baseball. He had last played baseball as a high school senior in 1981.

“You tell me I can’t do something, and I’m going to do it,” Jordan said.

During his short career in baseball, which many fans considered a whim, Jordan had a rather dismal .202 batting average. However, many of the people who worked with him at the time said he was an extremely dedicated player with potential.

“He had it all: ability, aptitude, work ethic. He was always so respectful of what we were doing and considerate of his teammates. Granted, he had a lot to learn,” former Barons manager Terry Francona said . “I do think with another 1,000 at-bats, he would’ve made it. But there’s something else that people miss about that season. Baseball wasn’t the only thing he picked up. I truly believe that he rediscovered himself, his joy for competition. We made him want to play basketball again.”

After his season with the Barons, Jordan went to the Arizona Fall League to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions. After hitting .252 and naming himself the team’s “worst player,” he returned to the NBA in March 1995 with a two-word press release: “I’m back.”

Outside of his career in basketball, Jordan has been involved in a number of profitable business and commercial ventures, including a longtime partnership with Nike. Jordan signed his first deal with Nike in 1984. The company launched its signature Air Jordan basketball sneakers in 1985. In its initial contract, Nike gave Jordan a generous 25 percent in royalties.

The Air Jordan quickly proved very popular, and it continues to be a best-seller for the apparel maker more than 30 years later. The collaboration mints money for Nike and Jordan, with Nike reporting nearly $2.9 billion in revenue for the Air Jordan line in 2018.

The story of Jordan’s partnership with Nike is the subject of the 2023 biographical drama Air , which stars Ben Affleck as Nike founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon as marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro.

Over the years, Jordan has signed a number of other endorsement deals with brands like Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Chevrolet, and Wheaties. The Gatorade partnership featured a memorable ad campaign encouraging kids and adults to “Be Like Mike.”

In 1998, Jordan launched into the restaurant business as the owner of Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. Designed to reflect Jordan’s tastes and style, this typical steakhouse seated 150 and 60 at the bar, occupying 7,000 square feet in Grand Central Terminal, before closing in late 2018.

As of April 2023, there are four Michael Jordan’s Steak House locations: in Chicago; in Oak Brook, Illinois; at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut; and at the Ilani Casino in Ridgefield, Washington.

Part Owner of the Charlotte Hornets

In 2006, Jordan bought a share of the Charlotte Hornets (formerly known as the Bobcats) and joined the team’s executive ranks as its managing member of basketball operations. In 2010, he became the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets and serves as the team’s chairman.

Improving the team’s less-than-stellar record seemed to be Jordan’s priority. In November 2012, he told ESPN: “I don’t anticipate getting out of this business. My competitive nature is I want to succeed. It’s always been said that when I can’t find a way to do anything, I will find a way to do it.” While the Hornets’ on-court record wasn’t hugely successful—they failed to make the playoffs six straight seasons from 2016 through 2022—the organization grew from a $175 million valuation in 2006 to $1.7 billion by October 2022.

In March 2023, ESPN reported that Jordan was in talks to sell his majority stake in the franchise to a group led by two NBA minority owners. Five months later on August 3, Jordan completed the sale to a group including the team’s minority owner, Gabe Plotkin, as well as music artists J. Cole and Eric Church. Jordan kept a minority stake in the franchise.

Jordan’s NASCAR Team

In 2020, Jordan partnered with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin to form the 23XI Racing team. The name is a reference to Jordan’s basketball number and Hamlin’s No. 11 race car.

Jordan is a longtime NASCAR fan and grew up watching legends of the sport like Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Dale Earnhardt . Hamlin is a Jordan brand athlete and fan of the Charlotte Hornets, so the two were friends before the NASCAR partnership.

The team debuted in the 2021 Daytona 500 with Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 car. Wallace picked up the team’s first NASCAR Cup victory later that season on October 4 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

The team expanded to two cars for the 2022 season, with former champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 car. Busch and Wallace each won a race at Kansas Speedway that year. Tyler Reddick replaced Busch in the 45 for the 2023 season and quickly gave the team a fourth race win at Circuit of the Americas.

Forbes listed Jordan’s net worth at $2 billion as of April 3, 2023. According to Sportico , he is the highest paid athlete of all time.

From 2001 through 2014, Jordan hosted an annual charity golf event known as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, with proceeds benefiting foundations including Make-A-Wish, Cats Care, the James R. Jordan Foundation, Keep Memory Alive, and Opportunity Village.

The four-day tournament and celebration attracted celebrity participants, including Wayne Gretzky , Michael Phelps , Chevy Chase , Samuel L. Jackson , and Mark Wahlberg .

In 2023, Jordan made a $10 million donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation—the largest by an individual in its history—in honor of his 60th birthday.

In 1989, Jordan married Juanita Vanoy. The couple had three children together: Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine. After 17 years of marriage, they divorced in December 2006.

On April 27, 2013, Jordan married 35-year-old Cuban American model Yvette Prieto in Palm Beach, Florida. Tiger Woods , Spike Lee , and Patrick Ewing, among other celebrities, reportedly attended the wedding ceremony. The couple welcomed twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel, in February 2014.

Jordan and Juanita’s two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, both played basketball in college and had dreams of making it to the NBA.

Jeffrey joined the basketball team at the University of Illinois in 2007. Both Jordan and his ex-wife, Juanita, supported their son and tried to help him deal with playing in the shadow of an NBA legend. “The thing that we have tried to tell Jeff is that you set your own expectations. By no means in this world can you ever live up to someone else’s expectations of who you are,” Jordan said during an appearance on the Today show.

Jeffrey played for the University of Illinois for three seasons, from 2007 to 2010. He then played for the University of South Florida for one season, from 2011 to 2012, before retiring from basketball. He later entered a management training program at Nike.

Jordan’s younger son, Marcus, played basketball for the UCF Knights, for three seasons from 2009 to 2012. He went on to open a basketball shoe and apparel store in Florida. “They wanted to be like their dad. What boy doesn’t? But they both got to a point where they said, ‘We’re not going to the NBA,’” Juanita said in 2013.

Jordan made a big splash as the lead actor in the 1996 movie Space Jam . The film mixed live action and animation and paired Jordan with Looney Tunes legends Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck on screen. Jordan did not appear in the 2021 sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy , which features LeBron James .

Jordan and the 1997-98 Bulls were the subject of the 2020 documentary The Last Dance, co-produced by Netflix and ESPN Films. ESPN aired the 10-part series after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the 2019-20 NBA season, and it became a must-watch for basketball fans. Along with featuring archival footage of Jordan and interviews with teammates and opponents, The Last Dance explored the tension between the Bulls front office and its peerless superstar over his final triumphant year with the team.

Jordan has also appeared on the cover of the popular NBA 2K video game franchise four times , including as recently as 2022.

A photograph of Jordan in tears during his 2009 induction into the Hall of Fame turned into a popular internet meme called “Crying Jordan,” in which Jordan’s teary face is superimposed on pictures of other people suffering mishaps.

• You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.
• By no means in this world can you ever live up someone else’s expectations of who you are.
• My competitive nature is I want to succeed. It’s always been said that when I can’t find a way to do anything, I will find a way to do it.
• I’ve reached the pinnacle of my career. I just feel that I don’t have anything else to prove.
• I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.
• Limits, like fear, is often an illusion.
• [A]t the end of the day, the team’s got to go out and play. I think the players win the championship, and the organization has something to do with it, don’t get me wrong. But don’t try to put the organization above the players.
• The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I’ve always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It’s been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. It’s a relationship that has evolved over time, given me the greatest respect and love for the game.
• I try to be a role model for Black kids, white kids, yellow kids, green kids.
• Enjoy every minute of life. Never second-guess life.
• I always thought I would be a professional athlete. I always loved sports. I knew one thing I didn’t want was a job. Me and working were never best friends. I enjoyed playing.

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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 Biography, Childhood, Career, Personal Life

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 15 seasons. During those 15 seasons in the NBA,

Michael Jordan, through sheer hard work and an ironclad determination to succeed, captured 6 NBA championships. Aside from the championships, Michael Jordan’s impressive basketball prowess, which earned him the admiration of fans, and established him as one of the most outstanding personalities in the sport, earned him individual awards.

Whenever he won, Michael Jordan does it so brilliantly with such exceptional attitude that it was clear beyond any doubt that he is the best, as evidenced by his NBA Final MVP awards. In the six NBA Finals Michael Jordan won, he stood out and thus was awarded the MVP award.

His excellent disposition, which earned him success on the courts, has been carried into the business world after he retired, and this, in turn, has brought him similar success. In this article, we’ll review Micheal Jordan’s biography facts, childhood/early life, career, and personal life.

RELATED: Michael Jordan’s Net Worth, Career Earnings & Endorsements

Table of Contents

Michael Jordan’s Biography Facts, Age, Quick Info

Here are some quick biography facts that you need to know about the American basketball legend .

• Full Name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan
• Nicknames: His Airness, Black Cat, MJ, Air Jordan, Black Cat
• Born: February 17, 1963
• Age: 61 years old
• Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
• Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
• Weight: 98 kg (216 lb)
• High School: Emsley A. Laney High School 
• College: University of North Carolina
• NBA Draft: 1984 (Round 1; Pick 3) by  Chicago Bulls
• Position: Shooting guard
• League: NBA
• Kit Number: #23, #12, #45
• Playing Career: 1984–1993, 1995–1998, 2001–2003
• Father: James R. Jordan, Sr.
• Mother: Deloris Jordan
• Brothers: Larry Jordan, James Jordan Jr.
• Sisters: Roslyn Jordan, Deloris Jordan
• Wife: Yvette Prieto (married 2013), Juanita Vanoy (married 1989–2006)
• Sons: Jeffrey Michael Jordan, Marcus Jordan
• Daughters: Ysabel Jordan, Victoria Jordan, Jasmine M. Jordan

RELATED: Interesting Michael Jordan Facts You Should Know

Michael Jordan’s Early Life & Childhood

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963, Michael Jeffrey Jordan is one of five children born to his parents — James Jordan and Deloris Jordan. His father, James, worked as a General Electric Supervisor while his mother, Deloris, worked in a bank. As a young boy, his father taught him basic etiquettes such as hard work, while his mother instilled domestic skills such as sewing and laundry.

Jordan, who had an interest in sport from a young age, tried playing basketball at Emsley A. Laney High School in his second year, but Jordan, who stood at the height of 5 feet, 11 inches, was said to be too short and couldn’t play for his high school basketball team.

He, however, went on to play for his school’s junior basketball team, where he recorded several 40 point games. Soon Jordan grew and was given a spot in the maim team where he recorded an average of 25 points in his last two seasons of high school basketball.

In 1981, as a senior in high school, Jordan was invited to the McDonald’s All-American Game, where he performed brilliantly. After completing high school, he received several offers from various universities such as the University of North Carolina, Syracuse University, and the University of Virginia. He, however, chose to play for North Carolina.

Michael Jordan’s College Basketball Career

In his first season of college basketball, Jordan was instrumental in North Carolina’s NCAA Championship win and was awarded the ACC Freshman of the Year award. He continued in a superb form, which saw him earn the NCAA All-American First Team selection in his second and third year in college.

In his junior year, Jordan’s impressive form earned him the Wooden and Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year awards. Following a brilliant junior year, he decided to forgo his final year in college and enlisted in the 1984 NBA Draft, where the Chicago Bulls selected him as the draft’s third overall pick. In 1986, he returned to college, where he bagged his Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.

Michael Jordan’s Professional Basketball Career & Awards

Chicago bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998).

In his first season in the NBA, Jordan’s performance made him a fan favorite, which led him to feature in the All-star game. The All-Star game in the 1984/85 was controversial, as the established stars were pissed about the attention Jordan was receiving from the fans and thus refused to pass to him. Jordan, who seemed not to mind the buzz around him, continued in great form and won the Rookie of the year award after averaging 28.2 points.

Jordan could not perform well in his second season due to a fractured foot, which led him to miss 64 games. He however, recovered fully and went on a scoring spree in his third season. That season saw him emerge as the second of only two players in the history of the NBA to have recorded 3,000 points in a season. He also recorded 100 blocked shots and 200 steals, which made him the first player to record such numbers.

In his fourth season in the NBA, the 1987/88 season, Jordan topped the scoring charts and also won the Defensive Player of the award. In the 1988/89 and 1989/90 seasons, Jordan led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals but was defeated by the Detroit Pistons in both seasons.

The 1990/91 season was the beginning of good times in the NBA for Jordan. His performance during the season earned him a second MVP award after he claimed the first in the 1988 season. He also led the Bulls to defeat LA Lakers, who had the mighty Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals.

For his performance, Jordan was named the Finals MVP. The following season, he and the Bulls maintained their top form and went on to win the NBA Finals while Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP as well as the season’s MVP award for a second successive time.

In the 1992/93 season, Jordan did not win the NBA MVP, but he did win a third consecutive NBA Championship and set the record of being the first player ever to claim three successive NBA Finals MVP award.

First Retirement

In October 1993, Jordan retired from the NBA. He cited the death of his father as a factor which affected his decision but said his desire to play no more was the primary reason for his retirement. It was, however, rumored that Michael Jordan’s retirement was a punishment for his involvement in gambling.

Return to the NBA

In March 1995, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA, saying, ‘I’m back.’ In November 1994, Jordan’s #23 jersey was retired by the Bulls, and though he could use the jersey number, he chose to wear #45. But he later decided to return to his old jersey number, which led to the Bulls being fined due to not reporting the change to NBA officials.

In the 1995/96 season, Jordan was back to his old self. He won the NBA MVP, All-star game MVP, the NBA Championship, and the NBA Finals MVP awards. The championship win that season was emotional for Jordan because it was the first championship he won following his father’s murder and the championship was won on father’s day. Jordan was seen crying after the win.

The following season, Jordan did not win the All-Star MVP and NBA MVP, but went on to win the NBA Championship and also his fourth NBA Finals MVP. In the 1997/98 season, Jordan was once again on an impressive run as he claimed the NBA MVP, All-Star MVP, the NBA Finals MVP, and the NBA Championship.

RELATED: Top-20 Greatest NBA Players Of All-Time (Updated)

Second Retirement

In January 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time. A year later, he returned to the NBA as co-owner of a Basketball franchise, the Washington Wizards. 

Washington Wizards (2001–2003)

In September 2001, he returned as a Washington Wizards player and went on to play until April 2003, where he played his final NBA game against the Philadelphia 76ers in front of 21,257 spectators.

RELATED: Michael Jordan vs LeBron James | NBA GOAT Debate

Michael Jordan Baseball Career

In February 1994, Michael Jordan signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). In March 1995, as a result of the MLB strike, he decided to retire from baseball.

Michael Jordan’s International Career

Michael Jordan’s international career is as glamorous as his NBA career. At the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, Jordan, who was still in college, led the US team in points and picked his first Olympics gold medal. In the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, Jordan, who was part of the star-studded Dream team, won his second Olympics Gold medal. He also won Gold at the 1983 Caracas Pan American games and the 1992 Portland FIBA America’s Championship. 

Michael Jordan’s Wife, Personal Life & Charity

In 1989, Michael Jordan married Juanita Vanoy, who gave birth to three children for him — two sons and a daughter. In January 2002, they filed for divorce as a result of irreconcilable differences but soon reconciled. But in December 2006, they divorced amicably. Juanita Vanoy received a $168 million settlement. In 2013, he got married to Yvette Prieto, a Cuban model. In February 2014, Prieto gave birth to a set of identical twins named, Victoria and Ysabel.

In July 2006, a court declared that Jordan did not owe his ex-lover Karla Knafel, $5 million over breach of contract after it emerged that he paid her $250,000 to keep their affair a secret.

Between 2001 to 2014, Jordan held the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, a golf tournament, which raised money for charity. Jordan was made The Chief Wish ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2008. As of 2019, Jordan has helped the foundation raise as much as $5 million.

In 1984, Jordan’s Nike Air Jordan shoes were released, and it progressed to become a viral sensation. The brand generated about $1 billion in sales for Nike, as revealed by Forbes. Jordan had various endorsement deals with Gatorade, Nike, McDonald’s, Chevrolet, Wheaties, Coca-Cola, and several others.

RELATED: Top-20 Richest NBA Players Of All-Time

In 2014, following his increased stake in basketball franchise, the Charlotte Hornets, from 80% to 89.5%, Jordan became the first basketball billionaire.

SEE MORE: Biography facts, childhood and personal life of famous basketball stars

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By Mike Greenberg

• May 29, 2014

Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player who ever lived. Of that, there is very little dispute. He was also, at the apex of his career, a global ambassador for the game and for Nike (not necessarily in that order), a veritable A.T.M. for various corporate partners, a hero to millions, if not billions, of fans, and very likely the most famous person in the world. I know this because everyone knows it, and also because I witnessed at least a little bit of it all. I covered Jordan and the Bulls for an all-sports radio station in Chicago for four years while he was at the height of his power and fame.

It was an experience I never cease reliving, in the same way you would never forget being allowed to watch Picasso paint or Mozart tinker at a piano. I have made these analogies before and will defend them to the death. Michael Jordan absolutely was an artist on the basketball court, every bit the equal in his milieu of any of the great masters in theirs. Whatever his flaws away from the game, they were easily overshadowed by the grandeur of his talent. It was, after all, difficult to speak ill of a man when your jaw was agape, having just watched him glide through the air with a combination of grace and strength that could rightly be described as superhuman.

In his thoughtful, extraordinarily well-­researched biography “Michael Jordan: The Life,” Roland Lazenby, the author of books on Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Jerry West, gives us the life and much more. His jaw is as wide open as anyone’s; the exhaustive narrative of Jordan’s basketball career is written with appropriate awe. But what makes this portrayal especially worthwhile is everything else. Lazenby begins before the beginning, in a shotgun shack in rural North Carolina some 70 years before Michael’s birth, with a beautifully written account of the life of his great-grandfather. The long trail Lazenby follows is significant because it offers an explanation of how Michael developed the competitiveness for which he became legendary. And the psychology is worth the investment even if no new ground is broken (Michael’s father, James Sr., loved his older brother Larry more), because with the foundation of Jordan’s personality set, the rest of the life can be better appreciated: Michael Jordan not simply as a superhero, but as a Man in Full.

For me, the book’s most interesting section concerns Michael’s adolescence, first as the skinny kid who was left off the varsity roster his sophomore year in high school, then through a summer spent at an elite basketball camp that Jordan says was “the turning point of my life.” It was during this time that Jordan figured out just how good he really was; previously he had imagined himself as a baseball player as much as anything else. Even Jordan’s most ardent fans will not have heard every story Lazenby tells about these early years — though every basketball fan will recognize the names of many of Jordan’s contemporaries from that period of his life, some of whom were considered greater prospects and all of whose accomplishments he would eventually dwarf.

The true Jordan phenomenon began, of course, with his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, when he was playing for the renowned Dean Smith and made the shot that won the national championship in 1982. Lazenby covers Jordan’s college and pro careers, including his two Olympic gold medals, in great detail, spicing the account with the firsthand recollections of friends and foes alike. All the familiar stories are here: the disappointing losses in his final two N.C.A.A. tournaments before he turned pro after his junior year, the frustration of his early N.B.A. years, the championships he won both before and after his first, premature, retirement. Through it all, Jordan is depicted as restless, driven and often angry. None of this is surprising, but given the full context it reads differently from the way Jordan is often perceived: This is a Michael Jordan who is confused and ­naïve more than conniving. Lazenby’s portrait is not saccharine, but it is certainly more sympathetic than most. He is particularly insightful about the relationships that shaped Jordan’s career: the feud with Isiah Thomas, the grudging respect for his childhood idol Magic Johnson, the disdain for the Bulls’ general manager Jerry Krause, the connection with Phil Jackson that elevated both men to the top of their profession.

Not much time is spent on Jordan’s life after his final retirement from the game, and that is just as well. His tenure as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats has been mostly disastrous and rarely interesting. While there are some — “haters” as they are commonly known — who revel in this failure, I am not among them, and neither is Lazenby. It is painful for those of us who remember Jordan’s genius so fondly to see him diminished in this way. There is little room for it in the mind’s eye, and thus I applaud Lazenby for leaving little room for it in print.

What many will seek from this book are answers to certain questions about Jordan that seem sure to be asked forever. Questions about his enormous gambling debts, the personal check that connected him to a convicted drug dealer, and the murky circumstances surrounding his father’s murder. Those questions are not answered here, which might count as a criticism of Lazenby, except that they most likely never will be answered, and it is unfair to ask an author to do the impossible. Lazenby lays out the facts and allows us to draw our own conclusions. He didn’t set out to write a gossipy tell-all, and he did not. Readers who expect explanations for every mystery will be disappointed.

There is a poignant moment near the beginning of the book in which Jordan, as a young man, asks himself “what it will be like to look back on all of this, whether it will even seem real.” Seeing him today with his new wife, his twin baby girls, in his role as owner of a struggling franchise, heavier than we remember him but still looking every bit the best baller in the room, I wonder what he thinks of his past. He is more guarded today, more private than he was. Does it all seem real to him, or does it seem as far away for him as it does for the rest of us?

If you are one who takes joy in recalling what it was like when he, and we, were younger, you will enjoy this journey. Lazenby navigates both the peaks and valleys with an easy style. Reading “Michael Jordan: The Life,” you are sure to find yourself shaking your head in wonder at some of the memories. After all, there is nothing better than genuinely believing a man can fly.

MICHAEL JORDAN

By Roland Lazenby

Illustrated. 708 pp. Little, Brown & Company. $30.

MIKE GREENBERG, a co-host of the ESPN show “Mike & Mike,” is the author of the novel “All You Could Ask For.”

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Michael Jordan

• Born February 17 , 1963 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
• Birth name Michael Jeffrey Jordan
• His Airness
• Roster Guard
• Height 6′ 5½″ (1.97 m)
• Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 17, 1963. He was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris. James Jordan was a mechanic and Deloris Jordan was a bank teller. Soon after Michael's birth, James and Deloris felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe to raise a family, so they moved the family to Wilmington, North Carolina. As a youngster, Michael immediately became interested in sports. However, it was baseball not basketball that was his first love. He would play catch in the yard with his father, who loved baseball. He soon started to play basketball to try and follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized growing up. At Laney High School, as a sophomore, he decided to try out for the varsity team but was cut because he was raw and undersized. The following summer, he grew four inches and practiced tirelessly. The hard work paid off as he averaged 25 points per game in his last two years and was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team as a senior. Following high school, he earned a basketball scholarship from North Carolina University where he would play under legendary coach Dean Smith. In his first year, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He would help lead the Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA Championship, making the game-winning shot. After winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1984, Jordan decided to leave North Carolina to enter the NBA draft. Although he decided to leave college early, he would later return to the university in 1986 to complete his degree in geography. In the 1984 NBA draft, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. As a rookie for the Bulls, he made an immediate impact, averaging an amazing 28.2 points a game, including six games where he scored 40+ points. He was selected to the NBA All-Star Game and named Rookie of the Year. This would just be the beginning of a career filled with awards and accolades. In the upcoming years, he would go on to win five regular season MVP awards, six NBA championships, six NBA finals MVP awards, three All-Star game MVP awards, and a defensive player of the year award. In 1993, tragedy struck Jordan's seemingly perfect life. On July 23, 1993, his father, James, was murdered off Interstate 95 in North Carolina. Two locals had robbed him, shot him in the chest and threw his body in a swamp. Three months later on October 6, 1993, following a run of three consecutive NBA championships, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball citing that "he no longer had the desire to play." Now "retired" at age 33, it was uncertain what Jordan would do next. Would he take a year off out of the public eye to grieve and then come back to the Bulls? Would he go out and look for a white collar job in the field of geography, his college major? Or would he take up a completely different hobby like golf? In early 1994, Jordan decided to take up a new hobby alright. However, it wasn't golf. It was baseball. Despite not playing baseball since high school some 13 years ago, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. He played one unspectacular season for the Double-A Birmingham Barons. On March 18, 1995, Jordan, a man of few words since his retirement, sent two important words to media sources everywhere: "I'm Back". He celebrated his return to the NBA by doing what he always did best: winning. Although the Bulls would lose in the playoffs to the Orlando Magic, it was obvious that Jordan was still the same superstar player. He would go on to lead the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships and etch his place in the history as the "NBA's greatest player of all-time". On January 13, 1999, Jordan re-announced his retirement, saying that "he was 99.9 percent sure that he would never play again". Soon after, Jordan became part owner of the Washington Wizards. Near the start of the 2001-02 season, there were hints that Jordan may try another comeback to the NBA. On September 25, 2001, Jordan confirmed those rumors, announcing that he would once again return to the NBA as a member of the Wizards. His two seasons in Washington were mediocre at best. His statistics were solid and he showed some flashes of his old self but he could not lead the Wizards to the playoffs and missed several games due to injury. He retired for good following the 2002-03 season and was subsequently dismissed as president of the Washington Wizards. In June 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Later that year, he filed for divorce from Juanita, his wife of 17 years. They have three children together. - IMDb Mini Biography By: SteveG
• Michael Jordan is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls . Michael Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten scoring titles (both all-time records), five MVP Awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections, three All-Star Game MVP Awards, three steals titles, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN. He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2014, Jordan became the first billionaire player in NBA history. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tango Papa
• Spouses Yvette Prieto (April 27, 2013 - present) (2 children) Juanita Jordan (September 2, 1989 - December 29, 2006) (divorced, 3 children)
• Children Jeffrey Jordan Marcus Jordan Jasmine Jordan Victoria Jordan Ysabel Jordan
• Number 23 jersey
• Air Jordan sneakers
• Fequently sticks his tongue out when making amazing dunks or layups
• ear ring in left ear
• In a 1988 game against the Utah Jazz, he dunked over John Stockton , who was 6' 1" and 175 pounds. A Jazz fan heckled him, saying, "Why don't you dunk on somebody your own size?" The next trip down the floor, Jordan dunked again, this time on 6' 11", 285-lb. center Melvin Turpin . He then turned to the fan and said, "Was he big enough?".
• In Space Jam (1996) , he tells the Looney Tunes that he used to wear his UNC shorts under his Bulls jersey in every game he played in. He really did do this, as a good luck charm.
• Neither of his parents are more than 5' 9" tall.
• While most are familiar with his obvious #23 and the #45 he wore when he returned from a brief baseball career in 1995, Jordan also wore #12. However, he wore it in only one game--in 1990 after an Orlando Magic Arena employee stole his uniform. It was a back-up jersey and did not even feature a last name. He scored 49 points in the game, leading the Bulls win over the Magic.
• His 1992 playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers, where he had 35 first-half points and nailed six three-pointers in a row, has been claimed by many as "the closest anyone has ever come to playing a perfect game of basketball." Ironically, Jordan was bypassed in the 1984 draft by the Trail Blazers, who picked Sam Bowie instead, a move that has gone down in history as one of the biggest draft-day blunders.
• If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
• You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. -- GQ, March, 1989.
• In my prime I can probably take LeBron but I'm not sure about Kobe
• [from an a 1997 American Prospect article]Republicans buy sneakers, too
• If you put in the work, the results will come.

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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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Michael Jordan timeline: 123 key moments in the life and career

CHICAGO _ The 10-part ESPN documentary series "The Last Dance," which focuses on Michael Jordan's final championship season with the Chicago Bulls, has brought the Hall of Famer's astonishing achievements back into focus.

His accomplishments are numerous and unprecedented: Six-time NBA champion. NCAA title with North Carolina. Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Rookie of the Year. Five-time NBA MVP. Six-time NBA Finals MVP. Ten-time All-NBA First Team. Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team. Defensive Player of the Year. Fourteen-time NBA All-Star. Three-time NBA All-Star MVP. 32,292 points during his 15-year career _ the third-highest total in league history. Ten scoring titles _ an NBA record and seven consecutive matching Wilt Chamberlain. Retired with the NBA's highest scoring average of 30.1ppg. Hall of Fame inductee.

Here's a look back at Jordan's incredible life and career.

Feb. 17, 1963

Michael Jeffery Jordan is born at Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., the fourth of five children of James and Deloris Jordan. The family lives there for 18 months while James Jordan studies airplane hydraulics on the GI Bill, then moves to Wilmington, N.C., before Michael's second birthday.

"I've got to believe one thing. One day, God was sitting around and decided to make the perfect basketball player. He gave him a little hardship early to make him appreciate what he would earn in the end and called him Michael Jordan."

_ James Jordan

As a sophomore at Emsley A. Laney High School, Jordan is deemed too short and cut from the varsity basketball team. Coach Clifton "Pop" Herring selects 6-foot-8 sophomore Leroy Smith instead. Jordan would make the team the following year.

Early November 1980

Commits to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

April 11, 1981

Stars in the McDonald's All-American Game with Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin, setting a record with 30 points.

Nov. 28, 1981

Listed as Mike Jordan in the team's 1981-82 media guide, Jordan scores 12 points against Kansas in his first game as a Tar Heel.

"I don't think Kansas respected my shooting ability. They thought I couldn't shoot."

_ Michael Jordan

March 29, 1982

Hits a game-winning basket for the Tar Heels in the NCAA championship game against Georgetown. Score: 63-62.

Jan. 29, 1983

Scores a career-high 39 points against Georgia Tech.

March 27, 1983

Despite 26 points from Jordan, the No. 2 Tar Heels are upset by Georgia in the Elite Eight.

_ Sporting News College Player of the Year.

_ AP first-team All-American.

_ Sporting News first-team All-American.

March 3, 1984

In a double-overtime game against Duke, Jordan scores 25 points. The victory marks the first time in 10 seasons an ACC team has gone undefeated in conference. In his seven games against the Blue Devils, Jordan scored a total of 159 points _ the most he scored against any college team.

Duke was among the schools Jordan considered attending before committing to North Carolina.

March 22, 1984

Scores just 13 points as the Tar Heels are upset by Indiana in the Sweet 16.

March 30, 1984

Named AP college player of the year. Jordan also is honored with the Naismith and Wooden college player of the year awards.

Before the championships

May 5, 1984

Turns pro following his junior season at North Carolina. He finishes his college career averaging 17.7 points per game and 54% shooting.

Jun. 19, 1984

Selected third behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie in the NBA draft.

"I don't think the Bulls will go undefeated next season."

_ Michael Jordan, June 19, 1984

Aug. 10, 1984

Wins a gold medal _ scoring a game-high 20 points in the final against Spain _ during the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Jordan leads the Bob Knight-coached Team USA in scoring with 137 points in eight games _ a 17.1 average.

Sept. 12, 1984

Arrives in Chicago to sign a contract worth more than $6 million. The first No. 23 jersey Jordan was given by the Bulls recently sold for more than $81,000 during an auction.

"It's good to be in Chicago, an athletic city where all the teams are starting to win. If the Cubs, Bears and White Sox can do it, why not the Bulls?"

_ Michael Jordan, Sept. 12, 1984

Oct. 26, 1984

Wearing a No. 23 Bulls jersey for the first time _ in front of 13,913 fans at Chicago Stadium _ Jordan scores 16 points in his NBA debut, a 109-93 victory against the Washington Bullets.

Nov. 17, 1984

Debuts the first of his signature line of sneakers in a game against the 76ers. The red, black and white shoes violate league policy, and Nike pays the fine for Jordan. The Air Jordan I becomes available to the public in 1985.

"I told him I thought he was taller. He told me he thought I was, too."

_ Julius "Dr. J" Erving, on Michael Jordan

Feb. 9, 1985

Runner-up to Atlanta's Dominique Wilkins _ who is coached by Pistons star Isiah Thomas _ in the Slam Dunk Contest. Jordan wins $7,000 for his efforts.

"This being the first time, I didn't know how to prepare my dunks and what the judges were looking for. Hey, $7,000 (second prize) is more money than I came with."

Feb. 10, 1985

Makes his All-Star Game debut. Controversy arises with talk of a "freeze out" supposedly led by Isiah Thomas to keep the ball away from the popular rookie. Thomas later denies this was intentional. Jordan shoots 2 for 9, scoring seven points in 22 minutes.

"I was nervous just about the whole first half. I kept going in and out and couldn't get into the flow."

April 24, 1985

Scores 35 points in his first playoff victory, a 109-107 win in Game 3 of the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. Two days later, however, the Bulls are eliminated by the Bucks three games to one.

May 16, 1985

Named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 28.2 points and playing all 82 games. He receives the award the following month.

"Maybe I'll never have another season like this with all the hype and all the attention on my career."

Oct. 29, 1985

Breaks a bone in his left foot in the third game of his second season and misses 64 games. The Bulls win 30 games despite his absence and snag a playoff berth.

March 15, 1986

Returns to action, scoring 12 points in 13 minutes during a 125-116 loss to the Bucks. His minutes slowly increase through the remainder of the season.

April 20, 1986

In Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, Jordan torches the Celtics for a postseason-record 63 points in a 135-131 double-overtime loss at Boston Garden. Two days later, however, the Bulls are eliminated from the playoffs in three games by the Celtics.

"I think he's God disguised as Michael Jordan. He is the most awesome player in the NBA. Today in Boston Garden, on national TV, in the playoffs, he put on one of the greatest shows of all time."

_ Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Dec. 31, 1986

Receives his bachelor's degree in geography after participating in a graduation ceremony at North Carolina earlier in the year. He was nine credits shy of graduating when he left for the NBA.

Feb. 7, 1987

Soars to his first of back-to-back dunk-contest victories at the All-Star Game in Seattle.

April 16, 1987

After dropping 61 points in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Jordan becomes the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to score more than 3,000 points in a season. He also sets a league record by scoring 23 straight points in the game and becomes the second player (after Chamberlain) to score 50 points or more in three consecutive games.

"I certainly would have traded the 61 points for a win."

April 28, 1987

The Bulls are swept in three games by the Boston Celtics for the second straight season.

Jordan wins the first of his 10 NBA scoring titles (37.1 points per game). He would go on to win the award the next six seasons _ which matched Chamberlain's record.

Feb. 6, 1988

With hometown fans cheering in Chicago Stadium, Jordan and Dominique Wilkins go toe-to-toe in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. Jordan wins, recording a perfect score with a slam that lifted off at the free-throw line.

Feb. 7, 1988

Earns his first MVP award in his fourth All-Star Game, scoring 40 points in the East victory.

May 8, 1988

The Bulls beat the Cavs 107-101 _ with Jordan scoring 39 points _ to claim a first-round series victory, marking the first time Jordan advances to the conference semifinals.

"We were in the judgment seat. Would it be heaven or would it be hell?"

_ Doug Collins, Bulls coach

May 18, 1988

Scores 25 points, but the Bulls' season ends with a 102-95 loss in Game 5 to the Detroit Pistons, who take the series 4-1 and become a roadblock for Jordan over the next few years.

"I told the guys before the game: 'If we're going to go out, let's go out shooting.' "

May 24, 1988

Becomes the first player to be named league MVP and defensive player of the year in the same season after averaging 35 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 3.2 steals.

Sept. 20, 1988

Signs a contract "restructuring" worth about $25 million over eight years.

Nov. 18, 1988

Juanita Vanoy gives birth to Jordan's first child, son Jeffrey. The couple would have two more children, a second son, Marcus, and a daughter, Jasmine.

Jan. 25, 1989

With 33 points in a 120-108 loss to the 76ers, Jordan surpasses 10,000 career points. He would go on to win his third straight scoring title, averaging 32.5 points.

February 1989

Spike Lee's Mars Blackmon character from the movie "She's Gotta Have It" determines in a commercial that "it's gotta be the shoes" that drive Jordan's greatness.

May 7, 1989

Jordan nails what becomes known as "The Shot" for a 101-100 victory over the Cavaliers in the playoffs. The hanging jumper from the foul line over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer in Game 5 clinches the first-round series for the Bulls.

May 19, 1989

Scores 40 points in a 113-111 Game 6 victory against the Knicks and advances to the conference finals for the first time in his five-year career.

June 2, 1989

The Bulls lose grasp of their 2-1 series lead and fall 4-2 to the Pistons in the East finals.

"No one expected us to go anywhere, but here we were, just two games from the finals."

The first three rings

July 10, 1989

Phil Jackson is elevated from assistant to head coach of the Bulls, replacing Doug Collins.

"We have a solid foundation."

_ Phil Jackson

Sept. 2, 1989

After dating four years, Jordan marries Juanita Vanoy at 3:30 a.m. in front of four guests in the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.

Feb. 14, 1990

Wears No. 12 after his No. 23 jersey is believed to be stolen. Scores 49 points in an overtime loss to the Orlando Magic.

March 28, 1990

Scores a career-high 69 points against the Cavs in a 117-113 victory. He hits 23 of 37 field goals, goes 21 for 23 on free throws and grabs 18 rebounds.

"It was my best game ever, by far, especially because we won. I've been in those situations before, like in Boston (63 in the playoffs in 1986, his previous high) when we'd lost, but not tonight."

June 3, 1990

The Bulls fall to the Pistons in the playoffs for a third straight season. The Pistons, who double- and triple-team Jordan, eliminate the Bulls in Game 7 in Detroit, 93-74.

April 21, 1991

Scores 18 points in the regular-season finale against the Pistons, having led the Bulls to a 61-21 season and earning another scoring title by averaging 31.5 points.

May 20, 1991

Named league MVP for the second time.

"I'm happy to receive this award, but I'd much rather be back here in June picking up a ring and having everybody celebrating."

May 27, 1991

Scores 29 points in a deciding Game 4 victory against the Pistons, a sweep of the team that had given the Bulls so much trouble in previous playoffs.

"You see two different styles with us and them. The dirty play and the flagrant fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct. Hopefully, that will be eliminated from the game."

June 5, 1991

NBC play-by-play man Marv Albert announces "Oh! A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!" after he rose for a right-handed layup, encountered the long-armed Sam Perkins, then switched to his left hand and kissed the ball in off the glass on the other side of the rim.

June 12, 1991

In winning his first championship, Jordan scores 30 points with 10 assists and five steals as the Bulls defeat the Lakers, 108-101 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Jordan cries during the locker-room celebration and receives the first of six Finals MVP awards. The team holds a victory celebration in Grant Park two days later.

"It's the most proud day I've ever had."

Aug. 8, 1991

With a catchy jingle, Gatorade's "Be Like Mike" commercial debuts.

Nov. 23, 1991

At the free-throw line, Jordan smiles at Denver Nuggets rookie Dikembe Mutombo and tells him this shot is for him. Jordan closes his eyes and sinks the free throw.

June 3, 1992

Drops six 3-pointers en route to 35 first-half points during Game 1 of the NBA Finals _ known as "The Shrug" game _ versus the Portland Trail Blazers and Clyde Drexler, whom some thought should have won the regular-season MVP award that Jordan captured.

June 14, 1992

Scores 33 points and wins his second championship by defeating the Blazers, 97-93 in Game 6.

Aug. 8, 1992

With 22 points from Jordan, the U.S. "Dream Team" wins a gold medal with a 117-85 victory against Croatia at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. During the medal ceremony, Jordan _ a Nike pitchman _ hides the Reebok logo on his warmups with an American flag.

Oct. 23, 1992

Jordan's name surfaces during the drug and money-laundering trial of convicted cocaine dealer James "Slim" Bouler. Jordan initially says a check to Bouler for $57,000 was a business loan. Under oath, Jordan acknowledges the check was payment for gambling losses.

Jan. 8, 1993

Reaches 20,000 career points, becoming the second-fastest to do so behind Chamberlain.

May 24, 1993

Sparks controversy by gambling in Atlantic City, N.J., casinos, the night before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks. He's criticized the next night for shooting 12 for 32 in a 96-91 loss, but the Bulls win the series 4-2.

"He has sacrificed to try to satisfy everybody, and after doing all of that, people still find a way of knocking him. And what he's doing now is saying, 'How much is enough? How much do I have to give?' "

_ James Jordan, Michael's father

June 16, 1993

Posts an NBA Finals high of 55 points in a 111-105 Game 4 victory against the Phoenix Suns.

June 20, 1993

The Bulls win their third championship. Jordan has 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists against the Phoenix Suns in the clinching 99-98 Game 6 victory. He's named NBA Finals MVP for the third straight year. The team holds a victory celebration in Grant Park two days later.

"Winning this championship is harder than anything I've ever done before in basketball, with all the ups and downs I've gone through this season and the mental approach that I've had to take into each game. We never gave up hope, and now that this team has become part of history, it's a very gratifying feeling for me."

July 12, 1993

Competes in a celebrity home-run derby in Baltimore on the eve of baseball's All-Star Game. He doesn't hit any home runs, but Jordan earns $3,600 for charity _ topping all other celebrity participants.

"Jordan's accomplishment was heralded on the scoreboard with a misspelled message praising Michael J-O-R-D-O-N, proving at least one person in the ballpark was unclear about the exact identity of the lanky slugger."

_ Chicago Tribune, July 13, 1993

Aug. 3, 1993

A decomposed body is found in Gum Swamp, about 60 miles southwest of Fayetteville, N.C. Two days later, a Lexus is found near Fayetteville with the vanity license plate UNC0023 missing.

Aug. 13, 1993

Officials identify the body as that of James Jordan, Michael's father.

Sept. 7, 1993

Daniel Andre Green and Larry Martin Demery are charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery as suspects in the slaying of Jordan's father.

Oct. 5, 1993

Throws out the first pitch at a White Sox game. Later that night, sources confirm he will retire from basketball during a press conference the next day.

"I know some people will be shocked by the news ... I'm at peace with myself."

_ Michael Jordan (in a paraphrased quote)

First retirement

Oct. 6, 1993

Announces his retirement from basketball.

"I have reached the pinnacle of my career ... I just feel I don't have anything else to prove."

Nov. 6, 1993

Receives his championship ring during his first appearance at Chicago Stadium since his retirement. The team wears black patches on their uniforms that season in honor of James Jordan.

Jan. 12, 1994

Makes his intentions clear regarding the White Sox _ he's committed to making the team.

"I want to go to spring training for one reason, and that's to make the team."

Feb. 7, 1994

Agrees to a minor league contract with the White Sox.

March 4, 1994

In his first exhibition game, Jordan taps out in his one at-bat.

March 14, 1994

After an 0-for-14 start to spring training, Jordan notches his first hit, a grounder off the third-baseman's glove. It's also the date of a Sports Illustrated cover with the headline "Bag It, Michael: Jordan and The White Sox Are Embarrassing Baseball."

"Almost like a championship."

_ Michael Jordan, on the excitement of his first hit

April 8, 1994

Just one day after playing for the White Sox against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jordan debuts with the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League and plays right field. He goes hitless in three at-bats.

April 10, 1994

Gets his first hits as a baseball pro, singling twice.

July 30, 1994

Hits the first home run of his pro career, then points to the sky as he crosses home plate in a tribute to his deceased father, who would have celebrated a birthday the next day. For the season, Jordan hits .202 with 51 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and 114 strikeouts in 127 games. His presence boosts attendance throughout the Southern League.

"That's the best birthday present I could give him. It still makes me kind of emotional because I wish he was here to see it. But I know he saw it. It couldn't have happened on a better day."

Sept. 9, 1994

Plays in the Scottie Pippen All-Star Classic _ the final game at Chicago Stadium _ and scores 52 points. He kisses the Bulls logo on the floor at game's end.

September-November 1994

Bats .252 in 35 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.

Nov. 1, 1994

Jordan's No. 23 jersey ascends to the rafters in the United Center _ though it gets momentarily stuck halfway up. A bronze statue of him also is revealed outside the United Center, but it has since been moved inside the arena.

Feb. 18, 1995

Day 1 of White Sox workouts during the players strike. Jordan, who supports the union, says he understands from Sox management that he will not be "put in the predicament" of playing in such games.

"I won't put myself in the middle of players and owners."

March 2, 1995

Stuffs his stuff into a Bulls duffel bag and leaves White Sox spring training camp after the team is split into those who will play exhibition games and those who won't. Jordan had vowed earlier to stay out of the baseball strike.

March 10, 1995

Quits baseball citing the MLB labor dispute's effect on his development.

"As a 32-year-old minor leaguer, who lacks the benefit of valuable baseball experience over the past 15 years, I am no longer comfortable that there is meaningful opportunity to continue my improvement at a satisfactory pace."

_ Michael Jordan, in a statement

The second three rings

March 18, 1995

A two-word fax announces Jordan's return to the Bulls.

"I'm back."

_ Michael Jordan, in a fax

March 19, 1995

Wearing No. 45, the same number he wore for the Barons and as a basketball player in junior high school, Jordan plays 38 minutes, scoring 19 points on 7-for-28 shooting with six rebounds and six assists in an 103-96 overtime loss to Indiana.

March 28, 1995

Scores 55 points _ hence the nickname "Double Nickel" game _ and dishes the game-winning assist in a 113-111 win at Madison Square Garden.

May 10, 1995

Puts No. 23 back on for Game 2 of a playoff series against the Orlando Magic. Jordan scores 38 points in a 104-94 win.

"After his third or fourth foul, I was looking for 45 up on the scoreboard and couldn't see it. Then I noticed 23 up there and I looked at his shirt and said, 'Oh (expletive), he's wearing 23 tonight.' "

_ Brian Hill, Orlando Magic coach

May 18, 1995

Knocked out of the playoffs by the Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It is the first time a Jordan-led Chicago team is bounced from the playoffs since 1990.

That summer, the NBA locks out its players.

"The way some people were praising me it was like I was some religious cult. That was embarrassing. I'm just a human being."

Feb. 11, 1996

Scores 22 points in 20 minutes and earns game MVP honors in his first All-Star Game since 1993, though some believe Orlando Magic center Shaquille O'Neal deserved the award for his impressive slam dunk.

April 21, 1996

The Bulls end the regular season with 72 wins _ an NBA record _ with Jordan scoring 26 points. Jordan (30.4 ppg) leads the NBA in scoring for a record eighth time.

May 20, 1996

Wins his fourth MVP award, getting 96.5% of the first-place votes, the highest percentage since media began voting in 1980-81.

June 16, 1996

On Father's Day, Jordan wins his fourth NBA title with the Bulls _ the first since the death of his father.

"It was Father's Day the last time the Bulls won the world championship, too. But in 1993, Jordan had his father James to help celebrate. It has been almost three years since the tragic death of James Jordan, and his son says not a day goes by that he is not in his thoughts."

_ Chicago Tribune, June 17, 1996

July 12, 1996

Agrees to a one-year contract with the Bulls worth $30 million _ the biggest single-season contract ever in American team sports.

Nov. 15, 1996

"Space Jam" is released and Tribune movie critic Gene Siskel _ a Bulls season ticket holder with courtside seats _ gives the film, starring Michael Jordan, Bill Murray and Looney Tunes characters including Bugs Bunny, 3.5 stars.

Feb. 9, 1997

Posts the first triple-double in All-Star Game history _ 14 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists _ but Glen Rice is named MVP after scoring 26 points.

May 13, 1997

Dunks over Hawks big man Dikembe Mutombo, then displays Mutombo's signature finger wag.

June 11, 1997

In what would become known as the "Flu Game," a vomiting, dehydrated Jordan scores 38 points, grabs seven rebounds, dishes out five assists and hits the go-ahead 3-pointer late in a series-shifting Game 5 win against the Jazz in Utah.

"We wanted it real bad. I had to do what I could. I wanted it really bad."

June 13, 1997

Scores 39, grabs 11 boards, dishes to Steve Kerr for the game-winning jumper and then dances on the scorer's table after the Bulls win their fifth NBA title. Jordan is named Finals MVP for the second straight season.

"There has to be some sense of loyalty. To me, to Phil to Scottie, even to Dennis ... You want to look at this from a business standpoint? Then have some respect for the people who laid the groundwork."

Aug. 28, 1997

Signs a one-year, $36 million deal after coach Phil Jackson signs a one-year contract.

Feb. 8, 1998

Earns All-Star Game MVP honors.

March 8, 1998

In his last game at Madison Square Garden, Jordan wears the original Air Jordan model from 1984. Though the shoes are small, he drops 42 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals on the New York Knicks in the victory.

March 27, 1998

The largest crowd in NBA history _ 62,046 people _ watches Jordan score 34 points in the Bulls' 89-74 win over the Atlanta Hawks at the Georgia Dome.

The ticket demand for the game was so great that the Hawks put an extra 8,000 seats on sale, even though they offered no view of the court.

April 18, 1998

Drops 44 points on the Knicks to seal his 10th NBA scoring title with 28.7 points per game.

May 18, 1998

Wins his fifth regular-season MVP award, tying Bill Russell for second-most in history.

June 14, 1998

With the Bulls down three, Jordan records a steal and two scores in the final 37.1 seconds, including "The Pose" after the shot over Bryon Russell _ a 17-footer (after a bit of a push-off) with 5.2 seconds to go. Jordan scores 45 points in Game 6 against the Jazz, leading the Bulls to their sixth title.

"I think it's bittersweet in the sense that it was the toughest route, the toughest challenge, in the six championships we have won."

Beyond the Bulls

Jan. 13, 1999

Announces his second retirement.

"I never say never, but 99.9 percent. I am very secure with my decision."

Jan. 19, 2000

Joins the Washington Wizards as part owner and president of basketball operations.

"Quite honestly I never was offered this situation in Chicago. That's not to blame Jerry (Reinsdorf). When I retired I wasn't looking for this platform. It just evolved."

April 19, 2001

Hires Doug Collins, his former coach with the Bulls, to coach the Wizards.

Sept. 25, 2001

At 38, Jordan unretires again and joins the Wizards as a player, signing a two-year contract and donating his salary to relief efforts after the 9/11 attacks.

"The opportunity to teach our young players and help them elevate their game to a higher level ... strongly influenced my decision."

Jan. 4, 2002

Juanita Jordan files for divorce the same day Michael scores his 30,000th career point against the Bulls. One month later, the Jordans jointly withdraw the divorce case.

April 2, 2002

Scores two points _ the lowest scoring game of his career _ in 12 minutes in a loss to the Lakers. The next day he's placed on the injured list, ending his season.

Nov. 28, 2002

Announces he will retire for a third time after the 2002-03 season, saying there is "zero" chance of another return.

Jan. 24, 2003

In his final professional game in Chicago, Jordan receives a four-minute standing ovation during player introductions. He tells the crowd "I love you all very much" before scoring 11 points for the Wizards in a 104-97 loss to the Bulls.

"I wish, in all honesty, that things don't have to come to an end. But they do."

Feb. 9, 2003

Scores 20 points in his final All-Star Game, becoming the all-time leading All-Star scorer. He takes Vince Carter's starting spot after Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady offered theirs.

April 11, 2003

The Miami Heat retire Jordan's No. 23 even though he never played for the team.

April 16, 2003

In the final NBA game of his career, Jordan scores 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting in a 107-87 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He leaves the floor with 1 minute, 45 seconds left after a fourth-quarter curtain call.

"I have given everything I could to the game. It's time. I know it. I feel it."

May 7, 2003

Fired by the Wizards as president of basketball operations.

June 15, 2006

Becomes part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats and becomes, according to the team, "managing member of basketball operations."

Dec. 29, 2006

Jordan and wife, Juanita, divorce after 17 years of marriage. Juanita reportedly receives a $168 million settlement.

Sept. 11, 2009

Takes shots _ mostly good-natured ones _ at everyone from Dean Smith to Jerry Reinsdorf during his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech.

An image of Jordan becoming emotional during his speech is soon turned into a "Crying Jordan" meme.

"Jerry's (Krause) not here. I don't know who'd invite him. I didn't."

March 17, 2010

Jordan is the first former player to become a majority owner in the NBA when the league's Board of Governors approves his $275 million purchase of the Charlotte Bobcats. Today, the team is known as the Hornets.

"I am especially pleased to have the opportunity to build a winning team in my home state of North Carolina."

April 27, 2013

Marries Yvette Prieto. He becomes the father to twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel, the following year.

Nov. 23, 2015

Reaches a settlement with supermarkets Jewel-Osco and Dominick's over a pair of ads in a 2009 commemorative edition of Sports Illustrated that allegedly contained unauthorized use of his name, according to spokespeople for both sides.

Jordan donates the net proceeds of the multimillion-dollar settlement to 23 charities.

Feb. 24, 2020

Says _ with tears streaming down his face _ Kobe Bryant was 'like a little brother' during a memorial for the Lakers star, who was among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles in January 2020.

"I told my wife I wasn't gonna (cry), because I didn't want to see (another crying meme) for the next three to four years."

April 19, 2020

"The Last Dance," a 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls, premieres.

The series was scheduled to launch in June, but its release was hastened due to the cancellation of games as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The final episode will be completed shortly before it airs Sunday.

www.chicagotribune.com

• Winning Shots
• Achievements
• 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

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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Short Bio » Basketball Player » Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is an retired American basketball player. He is regarded by many as the greatest basketball player in history. He nicknamed Air Jordan and His Airness because of his playing style. He played 15 season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. He has won five Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards. He was a member of the USA Dream Team in 1992 Olympics.

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was a baby. Jordan is the fourth of five children. He has two older brothers, Larry Jordan and James R. Jordan, Jr. , one older sister, Deloris , and a younger sister, Roslyn . Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he anchored his athletic career by playing baseball, football, and basketball. In 1981, Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship to North Carolina.

In 1984 NBA draft. The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan with the third overall pick, after Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers). In 1993 he retired from basketball and pursued a baseball career. He returned in 1995 to Basketball. He won the NBA Championship 6 times with Chicago Bull which include 2 Three-Peats. He again retired in 1999 but later came back again in 2001 with Washington Wizards. He permanently retired in 2003. He retired as one of the greates in NBA History. He is 4th highest scorer in NBA History behin only Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant. He has the highest career scoring average.

Michael Jordan  married Juanita Vanoy in September 1989. They have two sons, Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James , and a daughter, Jasmine . They dicvorced in 2006. He is currently married to Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto. The couple have identical twins born to them.

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