Jordan, Michael (1963-…), ranks among the greatest and most exciting players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jordan stands 6 feet 6 inches (198 centimeters) tall. He played guard and forward for the Chicago Bulls during the 1980’s and 1990’s and for two seasons with the Washington Wizards, from 2001 to 2003.
Jordan’s accomplishments.
Jordan’s spectacular shooting, scoring, and exciting play made him perhaps the greatest attraction and most popular player in American team sports of his time. He became known as Air Jordan for his gravity-defying leaps. Jordan became a major marketing and cultural force with his product endorsements. Jordan also was a major influence in fashion in sports. He popularized the shaved head look and the practice of wearing long gym shorts. In addition, Jordan starred in the motion picture Space Jam (1996).
Jordan scored 32,292 points during his career, making him the fifth highest scorer in NBA history. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James scored more points. Jordan’s average of 30.12 points a game is the highest in NBA history. Jordan helped lead the Bulls to NBA titles in the 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, and 1997-1998 seasons. He led the NBA in scoring average a record 10 seasons, including 7 consecutive seasons beginning with 1986-1987. Jordan was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 1987-1988, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1995-1996, and 1997-1998 seasons.
Jordan was known for his defensive skills as well as his offensive ability. He was named to the All-Defensive team nine times and was defensive player of the year for the 1987-1988 season.
Jordan played on the United States teams that won the gold medal in men’s basketball at the 1984 and 1992 Summer Olympic Games. In 2009, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Life and career.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on Feb. 17, 1963, in the Brooklyn borough (section) of New York City. He grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. In high school, he was not highly regarded as a basketball player at first. He was only on the junior varsity team as a sophomore. But he later became a star player, beginning with his junior year.
Jordan entered the University of North Carolina in 1981. While a freshman, he made the winning shot in the championship game of the 1982 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament.
Jordan left the University of North Carolina after his junior year to play in the NBA. The Bulls selected him as the third player in the 1984 draft, behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie. Jordan was named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 1984-1985 season. He scored 2,313 points, more than any other player that season.
Jordan retired in 1993. He played professional baseball with a minor league team in 1994. Jordan rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and retired again in 1999.
In 2000, Jordan became part owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards of the NBA. In 2000 and 2001, he was also a part owner of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. In 2001, he left his management post with the Wizards to join the team as a player. He played the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons and then retired for the third and final time. In 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets) of the NBA. From 2010 to 2023, Jordan was the team’s majority owner. He was the first former player to have majority ownership of an NBA team. Jordan’s autobiography was published as Driven from Within (2005).
See also Basketball; Charlotte Hornets; Chicago Bulls; Washington Wizards.
