Michael Jordan
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Featured article Template:Pp-move Template:Pp-blp {{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= Template:Ambox }} Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox basketball biography
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ,<ref>Rein, Kotler and Shields, p. 173.</ref> is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association. He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He was integral in popularizing basketball and the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s,<ref name="Markovits">Markovits and Rensman, p. 89.</ref> becoming a global cultural icon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jordan played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982.<ref name="nbah" /> Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick<ref name="nbah" /><ref name="br" /> and quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring while gaining a reputation as one of the best defensive players.<ref name="defensive players">Berkow, Ira (June 15, 1991). "Sports of The Times; Air Jordan And Just Plain Folks". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness".<ref name="nbah" /><ref name="br" /> Jordan won his first NBA title with the Bulls in 1991 and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a three-peat. Citing physical and mental exhaustion from basketball and superstardom, Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization. He returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a then-record 72 regular season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.<ref name="nbah" /> Jordan retired for the second time in January 1999, returning for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.<ref name="nbah" /><ref name="br" /> He was selected to play for the United States national team during his college and NBA careers, winning four gold medals—at the 1983 Pan American Games, 1984 Summer Olympics, 1992 Tournament of the Americas and 1992 Summer Olympics—while also being undefeated.<ref name="UndefeatedTeamUSA" />
Jordan's individual accolades include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, ten NBA scoring titles (both all-time records), five NBA MVP awards, 10 All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections, three NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, three NBA steals titles, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.<ref name="br" /> He holds the NBA records for career regular season scoring average (30.1 points per game) and career playoff scoring average (33.4 points per game).<ref name="weinstein201920"/> He is one of only eight players to achieve the basketball Triple Crown. In 1999, Jordan was named the 20th century's greatest North American athlete by ESPN and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press' list of athletes of the century.<ref name="nbah" /> Jordan was twice inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, once in 2009 for his individual career,<ref name="Sam" /> and again in 2010 as part of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team").<ref name="DT Class of 2010" /> He became a member of the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009,<ref name="DT Class of 2009" /> a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2010,<ref name="NC Class of 2010" /> and an individual member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015 and a "Dream Team" member in 2017.<ref name="FIBA 2015" /><ref name="FIBA 2017" /> Jordan was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.<ref name="75th" /> The trophy for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award is named in his honor.
One of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation, Jordan made many product endorsements.<ref name="Markovits" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1984 and remain popular.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Jordan starred as himself in the live-action/animation hybrid film Space Jam (1996) and was the central focus of the Emmy-winning documentary series The Last Dance (2020). He became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats) in 2006 and bought a controlling interest in 2010, before selling his majority stake in 2023. Jordan is also a co-owner of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. In 2014, he became the first billionaire player in NBA history.<ref>Davis, Adam (March 7, 2016). "Michael Jordan Becomes First Billionaire NBA Player". Template:Webarchive. Fox Business. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> That same year, President Barack Obama awarded Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom.<ref name="Freedom" /> As of 2025, his net worth is estimated at $3.5 billion by Forbes,<ref name="ForbesNetWorth" /> making him one of the richest celebrities.
Early lifeEdit
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born at Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn, New York City, on February 17, 1963,<ref name="Brooklyn">Template:Cite news</ref> to bank employee Deloris (née Peoples) and equipment supervisor James R. Jordan Sr.<ref name="Brooklyn" /><ref>Halberstam, p. 17.</ref> He has two older brothers, James Jr. and Larry, as well as an older sister named Deloris and a younger sister named Roslyn.<ref>Galloway, Paul (April 7, 1999). "Mrs. Jordan's Rules". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Isaacson, Melissa (September 9, 2009). "Portrait of a legend". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan and his siblings were raised Methodist.<ref name="Lazenby43">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1968, the family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina.<ref>Lazenby, p. 43.</ref> Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School, where he played basketball, baseball, and football. He tried out for the basketball varsity team during his sophomore year, but at a height of Template:Convert, he was deemed too short.<ref name="halb">Halberstam, pp. 20–21.</ref><ref name="varsity">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Motivated to prove his worth, Jordan became the star of Laney's junior varsity team and tallied some 40-point games.<ref name=halb /> The following summer, he grew Template:Convert and trained rigorously.<ref name="varsity" /> Upon earning a spot on the varsity roster, Jordan averaged more than 25 points per game (ppg) over his final two seasons of high school play.<ref name="school">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As a senior, he was selected for the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game and scored 30 points,<ref name="McDonald's">Williams, Lena (December 7, 2001). "Plus: Basketball; 'A McDonald's Game For Girls, Too'". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Lazenby, pp. 146–147.</ref> after averaging 26.8 ppg,<ref name="school" /> 11.6 rebounds (rpg), and 10.1 assists per game (apg) for the season.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Jordan was recruited by numerous college basketball programs, including Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia.<ref>Halberstam, pp. 67–68.</ref> In 1981, he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Jordan majored in cultural geography.<ref>LaFeber, p. 32.</ref> He chose this field of study because of its relationship to meteorology, as Jordan was interested in a career as a meteorologist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
College careerEdit
As a freshman under coach Dean Smith’s team-oriented system, Jordan was named ACC Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.4 points per game on 53.4% shooting—ranking 10th in scoring and sixth in field goal percentage in the conference.<ref name="dbb" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, which was led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jordan later described this shot as the major turning point in his basketball career.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During his sophomore and junior seasons, Jordan consistently ranked among the ACC's elite, finishing either 1st or 2nd in both total points and points per game, while also placing in the top 10 in field goal percentage and free throw percentage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his three seasons with the Tar Heels, Jordan averaged 17.7 ppg on 54.0% shooting and added 5.0 rpg and 1.8 apg.<ref name="br">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jordan was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team in both his sophomore (1983) and junior (1984) seasons.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After winning the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year awards in 1984, Jordan left North Carolina a year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA draft. Jordan returned to North Carolina to complete his degree in 1986,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> when he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2002, Jordan was selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team and named the greatest athlete in ACC history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Professional careerEdit
Chicago Bulls (1984–1993; 1995–1998)Edit
Early NBA years (1984–1987)Edit
The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan with the third overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft after Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers). One of the primary reasons why Jordan was not drafted sooner was because the first two teams were in need of a center.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Trail Blazers general manager Stu Inman contended that it was not a matter of drafting a center but more a matter of taking Bowie over Jordan, in part because Portland already had Clyde Drexler, who was a guard with similar skills to Jordan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Citing Bowie's injury-laden college career, ESPN named the Blazers' choice of Bowie as the worst draft pick in North American professional sports history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Jordan made his NBA debut at Chicago Stadium on October 26, 1984, and scored 16 points. In 2021, a ticket stub from the game sold at auction for $264,000, setting a record for a collectible ticket stub.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During his rookie 1984–85 season with the Bulls, Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg on 51.5% shooting.<ref name="dbb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He helped the Bulls improve from 27–55 to 38–44 and qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 1980–81 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jordan quickly became a fan favorite even in opposing arenas.<ref name="Gross">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Garden">Template:Cite news</ref> Roy S. Johnson of The New York Times described Jordan as "the phenomenal rookie of the Bulls" in November,<ref name="Garden" /> and he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the heading "A Star Is Born" in December.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The fans voted in Jordan as an All-Star starter during his rookie season.<ref name="nbah" /> Controversy arose before the 1985 NBA All-Star Game when word surfaced that several veteran players, led by Isiah Thomas, were upset by the amount of attention Jordan was receiving.<ref name="nbah" /> This led to a so-called "freeze-out" on Jordan, where players refused to pass the ball to him.<ref name="nbah" /> The controversy left Jordan relatively unaffected when he returned to regular season play, and he would go on to be voted the NBA Rookie of the Year.<ref name="nba.combio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Bulls lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in four games in the first round of the playoffs.<ref name="nba.combio" />
An often-cited moment was on August 26, 1985,<ref name="school" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> when Jordan shook the arena during a Nike exhibition game in Trieste, Italy, by shattering the glass of the backboard with a dunk.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Vanetti">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The moment was filmed and is often referred to as an important milestone in Jordan's rise.<ref name="Vanetti" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The shoes Jordan wore during the game were auctioned in August 2020 for $615,000, a record for a pair of sneakers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jordan's 1985–86 season was cut short when he broke his foot in the third game of the year, causing him to miss 64 games.<ref>Lazenby, p. 289.</ref> The Bulls made the playoffs despite Jordan's injury and a 30–52 record,<ref name="dbbulls">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at the time the fifth-worst record of any team to qualify for the playoffs in NBA history.<ref>"Worst Records of Playoff Teams". The Sporting News. April 28, 1986. p. 46.</ref> Jordan recovered in time to participate in the postseason and performed well upon his return. On April 20 at the Boston Garden, in Game 2 of the First Round, a 135–131 double overtime loss to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics, Jordan scored a playoff career-high 63 points, breaking Elgin Baylor's single-game playoff scoring record.<ref name="nbadisguised">"God Disguised as Michael Jordan". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 22, 2021.</ref> The Celtics team, though, swept the series in three games.<ref name="nba.combio" /><ref name="nbadisguised"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jordan completely recovered in time for the 1986–87 season,<ref>Porter, p. 34.</ref> and had one of the most prolific scoring seasons in NBA history; he became the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season, averaging a league-high 37.1 ppg on 48.2% shooting.<ref name="dbb" /><ref>"NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for Points". Template:Webarchive. Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> Jordan also demonstrated his defensive prowess, as he became the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocked shots in a season.<ref name="WashingtonPost05-26-1988">Template:Cite news</ref> Despite Jordan's success, Magic Johnson won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.<ref name="Adams">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Bulls reached 40 wins,<ref name="dbbulls" /> and advanced to the playoffs for the third consecutive year but were again swept by the Celtics.<ref name="nba.combio" />
Pistons roadblock (1987–1990)Edit
Jordan led the league in scoring during the 1987–88 season, averaging 35.0 ppg on 53.5% shooting,<ref name="dbb" /> and won his first league MVP Award. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 1.6 blocks per game (bpg), a league-high 3.1 steals per game (spg),<ref name="MJ">"Michael Jordan statistics". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref>Template:Efn and leading the Bulls defense to the fewest points per game allowed in the league.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Bulls finished 50–32,<ref name="dbbulls" /> and made it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in Jordan's career, as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.<ref>Template:Usurped. Database Basketball. . Retrieved June 9, 2017.</ref> In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Bulls lost in five games to the more experienced Detroit Pistons,<ref name="nba.combio" /> who were led by Isiah Thomas and a group of physical players known as the "Bad Boys".<ref>Halberstam, p. 235.</ref>
In the 1988–89 season, Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the field, along with 8.0 rpg and 8.0 apg.<ref name="dbb" /> During the season, Jordan expressed his frustration over the Bulls' offense with head coach Doug Collins, who then put Jordan at point guard. In his time as a point guard, Jordan had 10 triple-doubles in 11 games, with averages of 33.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg, and 10.8 apg.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Bulls finished with a 47–35 record,<ref name="dbbulls" /> and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the Cavaliers and New York Knicks along the way.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Cavaliers series included a career highlight for Jordan when he hit "The Shot" over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer in the fifth and final game of the series.<ref>"Jordan Hits 'The Shot'". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved July 27, 2019.</ref> In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons again defeated the Bulls, this time in six games,<ref name="nba.combio" /> by utilizing their "Jordan Rules" method of guarding Jordan, which consisted of double and triple teaming him every time he touched the ball.<ref name="nbah" />
The Bulls entered the 1989–90 season as a team on the rise, with their core group of Jordan and young improving players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, and under the guidance of new coach Phil Jackson.<ref>Halberstam, pp. 257–260.</ref> On March 28, 1990, Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a 117–113 road win over the Cavaliers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He averaged a league-leading 33.6 ppg on 52.6% shooting, to go with 6.9 rpg and 6.3 apg,<ref name="dbb" /> in leading the Bulls to a 55–27 record.<ref name="dbbulls" /> They again advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after beating the Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> despite pushing the series to seven games, the Bulls lost to the Pistons for the third consecutive season.<ref name="nba.combio" />
First three-peat (1991–1993)Edit
After the Bulls' previous losses to the Pistons, Phil Jackson, along with assistant coach Tex Winter, focused on implementing the triangle offense to counteract the Pistons' defense and other teams that heavily targeted Jordan. This system, however, required Jordan to adjust his playing style.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="hungry"/> In his book Eleven Rings, Jackson recalled, "I was planning to ask Michael to reduce the number of shots he took so that other members of the team could get more involved in the offense. I knew this would be a challenge for him."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In The Last Dance, Jordan admitted he was initially reluctant to back the system.<ref name="hungry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nevertheless, he eventually embraced the change, which led to success for the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 1990–91 season, Jordan won his second MVP award after averaging 31.5 ppg on 53.9% shooting, 6.0 rpg, and 5.5 apg for the regular season.<ref name="dbb" /> The Bulls finished in first place in their division for the first time in sixteen years and set a franchise record with 61 wins in the regular season.<ref name="dbbulls" /> With Scottie Pippen developing into an All-Star, the Bulls had elevated their play. The Bulls defeated the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening two rounds of the playoffs. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where their rival, the Detroit Pistons, awaited them;<ref name="1990–91">Template:Usurped. Database Basketball. . Retrieved June 9, 2017.</ref> this time, the Bulls beat the Pistons in a four-game sweep.<ref>Brown, Clifton (May 28, 1991). "Basketball; Bulls Brush Aside Pistons for Eastern Title". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
The Bulls advanced to the Finals for the first time in franchise history to face the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls won the series in five games, and compiled a 15–2 playoff record along the way.<ref name="1990–91" /> Perhaps the best-known moment of the series came in Game 2 when, attempting a dunk, Jordan avoided a potential Sam Perkins block by switching the ball from his right hand to his left in mid-air to lay the shot into the basket.<ref>Wilbon, Michael (June 7, 1991). "Great Shot! Jordan's Best Amazingly Goes One Better". Template:Webarchive. The Washington Post. p. D01. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In his first Finals appearance, Jordan had 31.2 ppg on 56% shooting from the field, 11.4 apg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 spg, and 1.4 bpg.<ref>"1991 Finals stats". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> Jordan won his first NBA Finals MVP award<ref name="fnl">"NBA Finals MVP Award Winners". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. October 23, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.</ref> and cried while holding the Finals trophy.<ref name="classicbio">Schwartz, Larry (2002). "Michael Jordan transcends hoops". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
Jordan and the Bulls continued their dominance in the 1991–92 season, establishing a 67–15 record, topping their franchise record from the 1990–91 campaign.<ref name="dbbulls" /> Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award with averages of 30.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, and 6.1 apg on 52% shooting.<ref name="MJ" /> After winning a physical seven-game series over the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs and finishing off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals in six games, the Bulls met Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers in the Finals. The media, hoping to recreate a Magic–Bird rivalry, highlighted the similarities between "Air" Jordan and Clyde "The Glide" during the pre-Finals hype.<ref name="sport-illustrated-cover">"On a Collision Course". Template:Webarchive. Sports Illustrated. May 11, 1992. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
In a Game 1 victory, Jordan scored a Finals-record 35 points in the first half, including a record-setting six three-point field goals.<ref name="NBA1991–92">"Jordan Blazes Away From Long Range". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> After the sixth three-pointer, he jogged down the court shrugging as he looked courtside. Marv Albert, who broadcast the game, later stated that it was as if Jordan was saying: "I can't believe I'm doing this."<ref>"A Stroll Down Memory Lane". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> The Bulls went on to defeat the Blazers in six games. Jordan was named Finals MVP for the second year in a row,<ref name="fnl" /> and finished the series averaging 35.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 6.5 apg, while shooting 52.6% from the floor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In the 1992–93 season, despite a 32.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 5.5 apg campaign, including a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting,<ref name="MJ" /><ref>"1992–93 NBA Awards Voting". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> Jordan's streak of consecutive MVP seasons ended, as he lost the award to his friend Charles Barkley,<ref name="Adams" /> upsetting him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jordan and the Bulls met Barkley and his Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals. The Bulls won their third NBA championship on a game-winning shot by John Paxson and a last-second block by Horace Grant, but Jordan was once again Chicago's leader. He averaged a Finals-record 41.0 ppg during the six-game series,<ref>"Paxson's Trey Propels Bulls Into NBA History". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> and became the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.<ref name="fnl" /> Jordan scored more than 30 points in every game of the series, including 40 or more points in four consecutive games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With his third Finals triumph, Jordan capped off a seven-year run where he attained seven scoring titles and three championships, but there were signs that Jordan was tiring of his massive celebrity and all of the non-basketball hassles in his life.<ref>McCallum, Jack (October 18, 1993). "'The Desire Isn't There'". Template:Webarchive. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
GamblingEdit
During the 1993 NBA playoffs, Jordan was seen gambling in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the night before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.<ref>Anderson, Dave (May 27, 1993). "Sports of The Times; Jordan's Atlantic City Caper". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> The previous year, he admitted that he had to cover $57,000 in gambling losses,<ref>Brubaker, Bill (August 1, 1993). "Jordan's Gambling Undergoes Intense Scrutiny Again". Template:Webarchive. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> and author Richard Esquinas wrote a book in 1993 claiming he had won $1.25 million from Jordan on the golf course.<ref>Halberstam, p. 320.</ref> David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, denied in 1995 and 2006 that Jordan's 1993 retirement was a secret suspension by the league for gambling,<ref name="vecsey19950319">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="simmons20060227">Template:Cite magazine</ref> but the rumor spread widely.<ref name="aroundtown20100823">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2005, Jordan discussed his gambling with Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes and admitted that he made reckless decisions. Jordan stated:
Yeah, I've gotten myself into situations where I would not walk away and I've pushed the envelope. Is that compulsive? Yeah, it depends on how you look at it. If you're willing to jeopardize your livelihood and your family, then yeah.
When Bradley asked him if his gambling ever got to the level where it jeopardized his livelihood or family, Jordan replied: "No."<ref name="EB">Schorn, Daniel (October 19, 2005). "Michael Jordan Still Flying High". Template:Webarchive. CBS News. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In 2010, Ron Shelton, director of Jordan Rides the Bus, said that he began working on the documentary believing that the NBA had suspended him, but that research "convinced [him it] was nonsense".Template:R
First retirement and stint in Minor League Baseball (1993–1995)Edit
Template:Infobox baseball biography On October 6, 1993, Jordan announced his retirement, saying that he lost his desire to play basketball. He later said that the murder of his father three months earlier helped shape his decision.<ref>Berkow, Ira (April 11, 1994). "A Humbled Jordan Learns New Truths". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> James R. Jordan Sr. was murdered on July 23, 1993, at a highway rest area in Lumberton, North Carolina, by two teenagers, Daniel Green and Larry Martin Demery, who carjacked his Lexus.<ref>Martin, Andrew (January 4, 1996). "'I Believe We Killed Jordan's Dad'". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref name="charged">Janofsky, Michael (August 16, 1993). "Two Men Are Charged With Murder Of Jordan". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> His body, dumped in a South Carolina swamp, was not discovered until August 3.<ref name="charged" /> Green and Demery were sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, in The Last Dance, Jordan stated that he retired due to physical and mental exhaustion from basketball and superstardom.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Jordan was close to his father; as a child, Jordan imitated the way his father stuck out his tongue while absorbed in work. Jordan later adopted it as his own signature, often displaying it as he drove to the basket.<ref name="nbah" /> In 1996, Jordan founded a Chicago-area Boys & Girls Club and dedicated it to his father.<ref name="WP">Walsh, Edward (January 14, 1998). "On the City's West Side, Jordan's Legacy Is Hope". Template:Webarchive. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In his 1998 autobiography For the Love of the Game, Jordan wrote that he was preparing for retirement as early as the summer of 1992.<ref>Jordan, p. 100.</ref> The added exhaustion due to the "Dream Team" run in the 1992 Summer Olympics solidified Jordan's feelings about the game and his celebrity status. Jordan's announcement sent shock waves throughout the NBA and appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the world.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Jordan further surprised the sports world by signing a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) contract with the Chicago White Sox on February 7, 1994.<ref>The Sporting News Official NBA Register 1994–95, p. 334.</ref> He reported to spring training in Sarasota, Florida, and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31.<ref name="chronology">"Michael Jordan Chronology". CNN/Sports Illustrated. January 12, 1999. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Jordan said that this decision was made to pursue the dream of his late father, who always envisioned his son as a Major League Baseball (MLB) player.<ref>"Michael Jordan: A Tribute". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> The White Sox were owned by Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who continued to honor Jordan's basketball contract during the years he played baseball.<ref>Araton, Harvey (March 10, 1995). "Basketball; Jordan Keeping the Basketball World in Suspense. Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
In 1994, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, batting .202 with three home runs, 51 runs batted in, 30 stolen bases, 114 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, and 11 errors.<ref>Zillgitt, Jeff (May 11, 2020). "Day 61 without sports: Revisiting Michael Jordan's baseball career with fresh eyes". Template:Webarchive. USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Shaikin, Bill (May 10, 2020). "That .202 hitter Michael Jordan was a better MLB prospect than, say, Tim Tebow". Template:Webarchive. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> His strikeout total led the team and his games played tied for the team lead. His 30 stolen bases were second on the team only to Doug Brady.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jordan also appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League, batting .252 against the top prospects in baseball.<ref name="chronology" /> On November 1, 1994, his Template:Abbr 23 was retired by the Bulls in a ceremony that included the erection of a permanent sculpture known as The Spirit outside the new United Center.<ref name="MJS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="JTLTL">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Return to the NBA (1995)Edit
The Bulls went 55–27 in 1993–94 without Jordan in the lineup<ref name="dbbulls" /> and lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 1995, Jordan decided to quit baseball because he feared he might become a replacement player during the Major League Baseball strike.<ref>Lazenby, pp. 511–512.</ref> During the 1994–95 season, Jordan returned to the Bulls midway through the season. On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his comeback to the NBA in a two-word press release: "I'm back."<ref>Collier, Jamal (May 10, 2020). "'I'm back.' Everything you need to know about Michael Jordan's 1995 return to the Chicago Bulls—and the famous 2-word fax that preceded it". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> The next day, Jordan took to the court with the Bulls to face the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, scoring 19 points.<ref name="returns">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The game had the highest Nielsen rating of any regular season NBA game since 1975.<ref>Hausman, Jerry A.; Leonard, Gregory K. (1997). "Superstars in the National Basketball Association: Economic Value and Policy". Journal of Labor Economics. 15 (4): 586–624 [587]. {{#invoke:doi|main}}.</ref> Although he could have worn his original number even though the Bulls retired it, Jordan wore No. 45, his baseball number.<ref name="returns" />
Despite his 18-month hiatus from the NBA, Jordan played well, making a game-winning jump shot against Atlanta in his fourth game back. He scored 55 points in his next game, against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 1995.<ref name="nba.combio" /> Boosted by Jordan's comeback, the Bulls went 13–4 to make the playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the end of Game 1, Orlando's Nick Anderson stripped Jordan from behind, leading to the game-winning basket for the Magic; he later commented that Jordan "didn't look like the old Michael Jordan",<ref>Lawrence, Mitch (September 10, 2001). "Memories of MJ's first two acts". [1] Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> and said, "No. 45 doesn't explode like No. 23 used to".<ref name="No23" />
Jordan responded by scoring 38 points in the next game, which Chicago won. Before the game, Jordan decided that he would immediately resume wearing his former No. 23. The Bulls were fined $25,000 for failing to report the impromptu number change to the NBA.<ref name="No23">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jordan was fined an additional $5,000 for opting to wear white sneakers when the rest of the Bulls wore black.<ref>Heisler, Mark (May 12, 1995). "NBA Fines Jordan for Shoes, Bulls for No. 23". Template:Webarchive. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> He averaged 31 ppg in the playoffs, but Orlando won the series in six games.<ref name="1994-95">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Second three-peat (1996–1998)Edit
Jordan was motivated by the playoff defeat, and he trained aggressively for the 1995–96 season.<ref>Kerr, Steve (August 20, 2003). The greatest team in history – day four: Chicago Bulls. Template:Webarchive. BBC. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> The Bulls were strengthened by the addition of rebound specialist Dennis Rodman, and the team dominated the league, starting the season at 41–3.<ref name="1995–96">Template:Usurped. Database Basketball. . Retrieved June 9, 2017.</ref> The Bulls finished with the best regular season record in NBA history, 72–10, a mark broken two decades later by the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors.<ref>"NBA Team Regular Season Records for Wins". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> Jordan led the league in scoring with 30.4 ppg,<ref>"1995–96 Chicago Bulls". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> and he won the league's regular season and All-Star Game MVP awards.<ref name="br" />
In the playoffs, the Bulls lost only three games in four series (Miami Heat 3–0, New York Knicks 4–1, and Orlando Magic 4–0), as they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 4–2 in the NBA Finals to win their fourth championship.<ref name="1995–96" /> The series was one of the tougher ones for Jordan as he had a 41.5% field goal percentage and his scoring average dropped nearly nine points from his average during the rest of the playoffs.<ref>Lazenby, p. 554.</ref> Nevertheless, Jordan was named Finals MVP for a record fourth time;<ref name="fnl" /> he achieved only the second sweep of the MVP awards in the All-Star Game, regular season, and NBA Finals after Willis Reed in the 1969–70 season.<ref name="nba.combio" /> Upon winning the championship, his first since his father's murder, Jordan reacted emotionally, clutching the game ball and crying on the locker room floor.<ref name="nbah" /><ref name="classicbio" />
In the 1996–97 season, the Bulls stood at a 69–11 record but ended the season by losing their final two games to finish the year 69–13, missing out on a second consecutive 70-win season.<ref name="1996–97">Template:Usurped. Database Basketball. . Retrieved June 9, 2017.</ref> The Bulls again advanced to the Finals, where they faced the Utah Jazz.<ref name="remember" /> That team included Karl Malone, who had beaten Jordan for the NBA MVP award in a tight race (986–957).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series against the Jazz featured two of the more memorable clutch moments of Jordan's career. He won Game 1 for the Bulls with a buzzer-beating jump shot. In Game 5, with the series tied 2–2, Jordan played despite being feverish and dehydrated from a stomach virus. In what is known as "The Flu Game", Jordan scored 38 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining.<ref name="remember">Burns, Marty (January 19, 1999). "23 to remember". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> The Bulls won 90–88 and went on to win the series in six games.<ref name="1996–97" /> For the fifth time in as many Finals appearances, Jordan received the Finals MVP award.<ref name="fnl" /> During the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, he posted the first triple-double in All-Star Game history in a victorious effort, but the MVP award went to Glen Rice.<ref>"Glen Rice's 1997 All-Star MVP award remains Hornets' top honor" Template:Webarchive. Spartanburg Herald-Journal. February 10, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.</ref>
The Bulls compiled a 62–20 record in the 1997–98 season.<ref name="dbbulls" /> Jordan led the league with 28.7 ppg,<ref name="MJ" /> securing his fifth regular season MVP award, plus honors for All-NBA First Team, First Defensive Team, and the All-Star Game MVP.<ref name="br" /> The Bulls won the Eastern Conference Championship for a third straight season, including surviving a seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals; it was the first time Jordan had played in a Game 7 since the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals with the New York Knicks.<ref>Porter, p. 119.</ref><ref>Smith, Stephen A. (May 30, 1998). "Still In The Hunt: Pacers Hold Off Bulls To Force Game 7". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 31, 2024.</ref> After winning, they moved on for a rematch with the Jazz in the Finals.<ref>Lazenby, p. 596.</ref>
The Bulls returned to the Delta Center for Game 6 on June 14, 1998, leading the series 3–2. Jordan executed a series of plays, considered to be one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA Finals history.<ref name="clutch1998">"Greatest Finals Moments". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved June 26, 2022.</ref> With 41.9 seconds remaining and the Bulls trailing 86–83, Phil Jackson called a timeout. When play resumed, Jordan received the inbound pass, drove to the basket, and sank a shot over several Jazz defenders, cutting Utah's lead to 86–85.<ref name="clutch1998" /> The Jazz brought the ball upcourt and passed the ball to Malone, who was set up in the low post and was being guarded by Rodman. Malone jostled with Rodman and caught the pass, but Jordan cut behind him and stole the ball out of his hands.<ref name="clutch1998" />
Jordan then dribbled down the court and paused, eyeing his defender, Jazz guard Bryon Russell. With 10 seconds remaining, Jordan started to dribble right, then crossed over to his left, possibly pushing off Russell, although the officials did not call a foul.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With 5.2 seconds left, Jordan made the climactic shot of his Bulls career,<ref>Lee, Michael (June 14, 2018). "Was Michael Jordan's final shot with the Bulls a foul? A retired referee who officiated Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals explains". Template:Webarchive. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> a top-key jumper over a stumbling Russell to give Chicago an 87–86 lead. Afterwards, the Jazz' John Stockton narrowly missed a game-winning three-pointer, and the buzzer sounded as Jordan and the Bulls won their sixth NBA championship,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> achieving a second three-peat in the decade.<ref>McGee, Nicholas (May 29, 2019). "Jordan's Bulls and Kobe's Lakers: The three-peat teams Golden State is trying to emulate". Template:Webarchive. The Sporting News. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Once again, Jordan was voted Finals MVP for a record sixth time,<ref name="fnl" /> having led all scorers by averaging 33.5 ppg, including 45 in the deciding Game 6.<ref>Ryan, Jeff (June 14, 1998). "History of the NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz – 1998". The Sporting News. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> The 1998 Finals holds the highest television rating of any Finals series,<ref>Cohen, Rachel (June 5, 2008). "Lakers-Celtics should grab big TV ratings". Post and Courier. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 14, 2017.</ref> and Game 6 holds the highest television rating of any game in NBA history.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Second retirement (1999–2001)Edit
With Phil Jackson's contract expiring, the pending departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman looming, and being in the latter stages of an owner-induced lockout of NBA players, Jordan retired for the second time on January 13, 1999.<ref>Kruger, pp. 55–56, 59.</ref><ref>Wise, Mike (January 19, 2002). "Pro Basketball; It's Bitter In Chicago For Jordan". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Wise, Mike (January 21, 1999). "Pro Basketball; The Business Of Basketball Now Begins In Earnest". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> On January 19, 2000, Jordan returned to the NBA not as a player but as part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.<ref>Sandomir, Richard (January 20, 2000). "Jordan Sheds Uniform for Suit as a Wizards Owner". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan's responsibilities with the Wizards were comprehensive, as he controlled all aspects of the Wizards' basketball operations, and had the final say in all personnel matters; opinions of Jordan as a basketball executive were mixed.<ref name="Pollin">"Pollin's decision to cut ties leaves Jordan livid". [2]. ESPN. May 9, 2003. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref name="Brady">Brady, Erik (May 7, 2003). "Wizards show Jordan the door". Template:Webarchive. USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> He managed to purge the team of several highly paid, unpopular players (like forward Juwan Howard and point guard Rod Strickland)<ref>Associated Press (February 22, 2001). "Making his move". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Matthews, Marcus (March 1, 2001). "Losing never looked so good for Wizards". Template:Webarchive. USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> but used the first pick in the 2001 NBA draft to select high school student Kwame Brown, who did not live up to expectations and was traded away after four seasons.<ref name="Pollin" /><ref name="Wilbon">Wilbon, Michael (July 16, 2005). "So Long, Kwame, Thanks for Nothing". Template:Webarchive. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
Despite his January 1999 claim that he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game,<ref name="classicbio" /> Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback in the summer of 2001, this time with his new team.<ref name="ha-nytimes">Araton, Harvey (October 2, 2001). "Sports of The Times; Old Coach Rejoins Old Warrior". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref name="jwhite-cbc">White, Joseph (September 23, 2001). "Jordan comeback raises questions". Template:Webarchive. CBC.ca. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Inspired by the NHL comeback of his friend Mario Lemieux the previous winter,<ref>Associated Press (October 2, 2001). "Jordan watched Lemieux's comeback very closely". [3]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan spent much of the spring and summer of 2001 in training, holding several invitation-only camps for NBA players in Chicago.<ref name="comebackcamp">"Penny outshines MJ at 'Comeback Camp'". CNN/Sports Illustrated. August 25, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Jordan hired his old Chicago Bulls head coach, Doug Collins, as Washington's coach for the upcoming season, a decision that many saw as foreshadowing another Jordan return.<ref name="ha-nytimes" /><ref name="jwhite-cbc" />
Washington Wizards (2001–2003)Edit
On September 25, 2001, Jordan announced his return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards, indicating his intention to donate his salary as a player to a relief effort for the victims of the September 11 attacks.<ref>Pollin Establishes Education Fund. Template:Webarchive, NBA, September 9, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>News Summary. Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, September 26, 2001. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In an injury-plagued 2001–02 season, Jordan led the team in scoring (22.9 ppg), assists (5.2 apg), and steals (1.4 spg),<ref name="nbah" /> and was an MVP candidate, as he led the Wizards to a winning record and playoff contention;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jordan would eventually finish 13th in the MVP ballot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After he suffered torn cartilage in his right knee,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and subsequent knee soreness,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Wizards missed the playoffs,<ref name="WizardsIndex">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Jordan's season ended after only 60 games, the fewest he had played in a regular season since playing 17 games after returning from his first retirement during the 1994–95 season.<ref name="dbb" /> Jordan started 53 of his 60 games for the season, averaging 24.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, and 6.0 rpg, and shooting 41.9% from the field in his 53 starts. His last seven appearances were in a reserve role, in which he averaged just over 20 minutes per game.<ref>"Michael Jordan 2001–02 Splits". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> The Wizards finished the season with a 37–45 record, an 18-game improvement.<ref name="WizardsIndex" />
Playing in his 14th and final NBA All-Star Game in 2003, Jordan passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history, a record since broken by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.<ref>"Bryant, West hold on to win NBA All-Star game". NBA.com. February 26, 2012. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref><ref>"NBA All-Star Game Career Leaders". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> That year, Jordan was the only Washington player to play in all 82 games, starting in 67 of them as he came off the bench in 15. Jordan averaged 20.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 spg per game.<ref name="nbah" /> He also shot 45% from the field, and 82% from the free-throw line.<ref name="dbb" /> Although Jordan turned 40 during the season, he scored 20 or more points 42 times, 30 or more points nine times, and 40 or more points three times.<ref name="nba.combio" /> On February 21, 2003, Jordan became the first 40-year-old to tally 43 points in an NBA game.<ref>"Jordan Pours in History-Making 43". NBA.com. February 21, 2003. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref> During his stint with the Wizards, all of Jordan's home games at the MCI Center were sold out and the Wizards were the second most-watched team in the NBA, averaging 20,172 fans a game at home and 19,311 on the road.<ref>NBA Attendance Report – 2003. [4]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan's final two seasons did not result in a playoff appearance for the Wizards, and he was often unsatisfied with the play of those around him.<ref name="Rob">Maaddi, Rob. Collins feels Jordan's pain. Template:Webarchive, Associated Press, USA Today, November 29, 2001. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref name="Chemistry">Associated Press (April 12, 2003). "Bad chemistry left MJ unable to win in Washington". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> At several points, Jordan openly criticized his teammates to the media, citing their lack of focus and intensity, notably that of Kwame Brown, the number-one draft pick in the 2001 NBA draft.<ref name="Rob" /><ref name="Chemistry" />
Final retirement (2003)Edit
With the recognition that 2002–03 would be Jordan's final season, tributes were paid to him throughout the NBA. In his final game at the United Center in Chicago, which was his old home court, Jordan received a four-minute standing ovation.<ref>Johnson, K. C. (January 25, 2003). "Lengthy ovation moves Jordan". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> The Miami Heat retired the No. 23 jersey on April 11, 2003, even though Jordan never played for the team.<ref>"Heat retires first number". CNN/Sports Illustrated. April 11, 2003. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> At the 2003 All-Star Game, Jordan was offered a starting spot from Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson but refused both;<ref>Associated Press (February 8, 2003). "Thanks, but no thanks: Jordan not interested in ceremonial starting role". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> he accepted the spot of Vince Carter.<ref>Zeisberger, Mike (December 18, 2004). "Vince's wild ride". Canoe.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.</ref> Jordan played in his final NBA game on April 16, 2003, in Philadelphia. After scoring 13 points in the game, Jordan went to the bench with 4 minutes and 13 seconds left in the third quarter and his team trailing the Philadelphia 76ers 75–56. Just after the start of the fourth quarter, the First Union Center crowd began chanting "We want Mike!" After much encouragement from coach Doug Collins, Jordan finally rose from the bench and re-entered the game, replacing Larry Hughes with 2:35 remaining. At 1:45, Jordan was intentionally fouled by the 76ers' Eric Snow, and stepped to the line to make both free throws. After the second foul shot, the 76ers in-bounded the ball to rookie John Salmons, who in turn was intentionally fouled by Bobby Simmons one second later, stopping time so that Jordan could return to the bench. He received a three-minute standing ovation from his teammates, his opponents, the officials, and the crowd of 21,257 fans.<ref name="final game">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
National team careerEdit
Jordan made his debut as a college player for the U.S. national basketball team at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela. He led the team in scoring with 17.3 ppg as the U.S., coached by Jack Hartman, won the gold medal.<ref>Lazenby, p. 202.</ref><ref name="usbasket1983">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following year, Jordan won another gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The 1984 U.S. team was coached by Bob Knight and featured young players such as Patrick Ewing, Sam Perkins, Chris Mullin, Steve Alford, and Wayman Tisdale. Jordan led the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 ppg for the tournament.<ref name="usbasket1984">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1992, Jordan, now an NBA player, was a member of the star-studded squad that was dubbed the "Dream Team", which included Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The team won two gold medals: the first in the 1992 Tournament of the Americas,<ref name="usbasket1992a">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the second in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Jordan was the only player to start all eight games in the Olympics. He averaged 14.9 ppg on 45% shooting from the field and 68% from the free-throw line, and was second on the team in scoring.<ref name="usbasket1992b">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was undefeated in the four tournaments he played for the United States national team, and Jordan won all 30 games he took part in.<ref name="UndefeatedTeamUSA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Player profileEdit
Jordan was a shooting guard who could also play as a small forward, the position he would primarily play during his second return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards.<ref name="br" /> Jordan was known throughout his career as a strong clutch performer. With the Bulls, he decided 25 games with field goals or free throws in the last 30 seconds, including two NBA Finals games and five other playoff contests.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His competitiveness was visible in his prolific trash talk and well-known work ethic.<ref name="SBD">Donnelly, Sally B (January 9, 1989). "Great Leapin' Lizards! Michael Jordan Can't Actually Fly, But". Time. Retrieved July 21, 2021.</ref><ref>Jackson, Phil (July 1998). "Michael and Me". Inside Stuff (June/July). Template:Webarchive. Retrieved July 27, 2019.</ref><ref>DeCourcy, Mike (July 21, 2006). "A suspension for talking trash? Mamma mia!". The Sporting News. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Jordan often used perceived slights to fuel his performances. Sportswriter Wright Thompson described him as "a killer, in the Darwinian sense of the word, immediately sensing and attacking someone's weakest spot".<ref name="left">Thompson, Wright (February 22, 2013). "Michael Jordan Has Not Left the Building". Template:Webarchive. ESPN The Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> As the Bulls organization built the franchise around Jordan, management had to trade away players who were not "tough enough" to compete with him in practice. To improve his defense, Jordan spent hours studying film of opponents. On offense, he relied more upon instinct and improvization.<ref>Condor, pp. xviii–xx.</ref> Jordan's fierce competitiveness greatly impacted his teammates, sometimes motivating them but also leading to tension and alienation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Noted as a durable player, Jordan did not miss four or more games while active for a full season from 1986–87 to 2001–02, when he injured his right knee.<ref name="br" /><ref>"Pro Basketball; Jordan's Knee Problems May Force Him to Sideline". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. February 26, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Of the 15 seasons Jordan was in the NBA, he played all 82 regular season games nine times.<ref name="br" /> Jordan has frequently cited David Thompson, Walter Davis, and Jerry West as influences.<ref>Jordan, p. 155. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved April 7, 2022.</ref><ref>DuPree, David (February 9, 2003). "Jordan wears 'greatest' crown". Template:Webarchive. USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Confirmed at the start of his career, and possibly later on, Jordan had a special "Love of the Game Clause" written into his contract, which was unusual at the time, and allowed him to play basketball against anyone at any time, anywhere.<ref>Jordan, p. 5.</ref>
Jordan had a versatile offensive game and was capable of aggressively driving to the basket as well as drawing fouls from his opponents at a high rate. His 8,772 free throw attempts are the 11th-highest total in NBA history.<ref>"NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Free Throw Attempts". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> Early in Jordan's career, he weighed in at around Template:Convert and was more athletic in terms of play style.<ref name=JordanTraining>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As his career progressed, Jordan also developed the ability to post up his opponents and score with his trademark fadeaway jump shot, using his leaping ability to avoid block attempts. According to Hubie Brown, this move alone made Jordan nearly unstoppable.<ref>Brown, Hubie. "Hubie Brown on Jordan". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref> Around this time, he bulked up to Template:Convert in order to adapt to the increased physicality of NBA defenses during the 1990s, sacrificing some athleticism for added strength in the post.<ref name=JordanTraining/> Despite media criticism by some as a selfish player early in his career, Jordan was willing to defer to this teammates, with a career average of 5.3 apg and a season-high of 8.0 apg.<ref name="dbb" /> For a guard, Jordan was also a good rebounder, finishing with 6.2 rpg. Defensively, he averaged 2.3 spg and 0.8 bpg.<ref name="dbb" />
The three-point field goal was not Jordan's strength, especially in his early years. Later on in his career, Jordan improved his three-point shooting, and finished his career with a three-point field goal percentage of 32%.<ref name="dbb" /> His best years shooting from three occurred in the 1989–90 and 1992–93 seasons, where he shot 37% and 35% from three, respectively (Jordan did shoot higher percentages from 1994 to 1997, but in those years, the three-point line was temporarily moved inwards).<ref name="br" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Overall, Jordan's effective field goal percentage was 51%, and he had six seasons with at least 50% shooting, five of which were consecutive (1988–1992). Jordan also shot 51% and 50% from the field, and 30% and 33% from three-point range, throughout his first and second retirements, respectively, finishing his Bulls career with 31.5 points per game on 50.5 FG% shooting and his overall career with 49.7 FG% shooting.<ref name="br" />
In 1988, Jordan was honored with the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. No NBA player had previously won both awards in their career. He also set both seasonal and career records for blocked shots by a guard,<ref>Ladewski, Paul (December 1987). "What Does He Do for an Encore?". Hoop Magazine. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref> and combined this with his ball-thieving ability to become a standout defensive player. Despite his defensive prowess, the 1988 season has come under scrutiny due to the large discrepancy between Jordan's steals' numbers at home versus on the road. Such stat inflation was common, and a 2024 study by Tom Haberstroh found that there were games where Jordan was often credited with steals that could not have happened. For example, in one game, he was credited with more steals than the opposing team had live-ball turnovers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Jordan ranks fourth in NBA history in total steals with 2,514, trailing John Stockton, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul.<ref>"NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Steals". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 16, 2023.</ref> Jerry West often stated that he was more impressed with Jordan's defensive contributions than his offensive ones.<ref name="cnnsi">"Michael Jordan: A tribute: Praise from his peers, NBA's 50 greatest sing MJ's praises". CNN/Sports Illustrated. February 1, 1999. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Doc Rivers declared Jordan "the best superstar defender in the history of the game".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jordan was known to have strong eyesight. Broadcaster Al Michaels said that Jordan was able to read baseball box scores on a Template:Convert television clearly from about Template:Convert away.<ref>Simmons, Bill (June 19, 2014). "B.S. Report: Al Michaels". Template:Webarchive. Grantland. 1:29–2:45. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> During the 2001 NBA Finals, Phil Jackson compared Jordan's dominance to Shaquille O'Neal, stating: "Michael would get fouled on every play and still have to play through it and just clear himself for shots instead and would rise to that occasion."<ref>Drehs, Wayne (June 12, 2001). "Shaq: Play me, Dikembe: Play the game". [5] Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
LegacyEdit
Template:Michael Jordan series Jordan's talent was clear from his first NBA season; by November 1984, he was being compared to Julius Erving.<ref name="Gross" /><ref name="Garden" /> Larry Bird said that rookie Jordan was the best player he ever saw, and that Jordan was "one of a kind", and comparable to Wayne Gretzky as an athlete.<ref name="verdi19850207">Verdi, Bob (February 7, 1985). "Bird Is Sold On Jordan, NBA's Future". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In his first game in Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks, Jordan received a near minute-long standing ovation.<ref name="Garden" /> After Jordan established the single game playoff record of 63 points against the Boston Celtics on April 20, 1986, Bird described him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan".<ref name="nbadisguised" />
Jordan led the NBA in scoring in 10 seasons (NBA record) and tied Wilt Chamberlain's record of seven consecutive scoring titles.<ref name="nbah" /> Jordan was a fixture of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, making the roster nine times (NBA record shared with Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant).<ref>NBA & ABA All-Defensive Teams. Template:Webarchive, Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> He also holds the top career regular season and playoff scoring averages of 30.1 and 33.4 ppg, respectively.<ref name=weinstein201920>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Porter, pp. 151–152.</ref> By 1998, the season of his Finals-winning shot against the Jazz, he was well known throughout the league as a clutch performer. In the regular season, Jordan was the Bulls' primary threat in the final seconds of a close game and in the playoffs; he would always ask for the ball at crunch time.<ref>Sachare, Alex (June 1996). "Go-Two Guys". Hoop Magazine. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref> Jordan's total of 5,987 points in the playoffs is the second-highest among NBA career playoff scoring leaders.<ref>"NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Points". Template:Webarchive. Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> He scored 32,292 points in the regular season,<ref name="ESPN">"NBA History – Points Leaders". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> placing him fifth on the NBA all-time scoring list behind LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Bryant.<ref name="ESPN" />
With five regular season MVPs (tied for second place with Bill Russell—only Abdul-Jabbar has won more, with six), six Finals MVPs (NBA record), and three NBA All-Star Game MVPs, Jordan is among the most decorated players in NBA history.<ref name="br" /><ref>Gaines, Cork (June 20, 2016). "Only 3 players in NBA history have won more trophies than LeBron James". Template:Webarchive. Business Insider. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> He finished among the top three in regular season MVP voting 10 times.<ref name="br" /> Jordan was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.<ref name="75th" /> He is one of only eight players in history to achieve the basketball Triple Crown—winning an NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal (doing so twice with the 1984 and 1992 U.S. men's basketball teams).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Hoops TC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since 1976, the year of the ABA–NBA merger,<ref>Malinowski, Erik (June 17, 2014). "Four decades after NBA merger, ABA's spirit stronger than ever". Template:Webarchive. Fox Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan and Pippen are the only two players to win six NBA Finals playing for one team.<ref>"Most NBA Championships Won". Template:Webarchive. Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> In the All-Star Game fan ballot, Jordan received the most votes nine times.<ref>"Moving Pictures: All-Star Ballot winners". NBA.com. Template:Webarchive. January 21, 2005. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref>
Template:Quote box Many of Jordan's contemporaries have said that he is the greatest basketball player of all time.<ref name="cnnsi" /> In 1999, an ESPN survey of journalists, athletes and other sports figures ranked Jordan the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century.<ref name="century">"Top N. American athletes of the century". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. 1999. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan placed second to Babe Ruth in the Associated Press' December 1999 list of 20th century athletes.<ref>"Ruth, Didrikson Named Top Athletes". Template:Webarchive. Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1999. Retrieved December 7, 2019.</ref> The Associated Press also voted Jordan the greatest basketball player of the 20th century.<ref>"His Airness flies away with century's best award". Associated Press. December 11, 1999. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved March 3, 2018.</ref> He has also appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated a record 50 times.<ref>"Michael Jordan's 50 SI Covers". Template:Webarchive. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In the September 1996 issue of Sport, which was the publication's 50th-anniversary issue, Jordan was named the greatest athlete of the past 50 years.<ref name="Sport">"Final Out: 1996". Sport. 90 (7/July 1999): 96.</ref>
Jordan's athletic leaping ability, highlighted in his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships in 1987 and 1988, is credited by many people with having influenced a generation of young players.<ref name="Hoop">Hubbard, Jan (April 1997). "Jordan on Jordan". Hoops Magazine. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved November 22, 2019.</ref><ref>Fitzpatrick, Curry (November 9, 1987). "In An Orbit All His Own". Template:Webarchive. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Several NBA players, including James and Dwyane Wade, have stated that they considered Jordan as their role model while they were growing up.<ref>"James says he'll decide his future soon". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. April 16, 2003. Retrieved May 19, 2017.</ref><ref>Ginsbrug, Steve (June 21, 2006). "Wade scoffs at Jordan comparisons". Reuters. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Commentators have also dubbed a number of next-generation players "the next Michael Jordan" upon their entry to the NBA, including Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Bryant, Vince Carter, James, and Wade.<ref>Stein, Mark (October 29, 2001). "Kobe, Hill deal with being the next Michael". [6] Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Isidore, Chris (June 23, 2006). "The next 'next Jordan'". Template:Webarchive. CNN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Araton, Harvey (December 28, 2005). "Sports of The Times; Will James Be the Next Jordan or the Next Carter?". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Some analysts, such as The Ringer's Dan Devine, drew parallels between Jordan's experiment at point guard in the 1988–89 season and the modern NBA; for Devine, it "inadvertently foreshadowed the modern game's stylistic shift toward monster-usage primary playmakers", such as Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Luka Dončić, and James.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Don Nelson stated: "I would've been playing him at point guard the day he showed up as a rookie."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Although Jordan was a well-rounded player, his "Air Jordan" image is also often credited with inadvertently decreasing the jump shooting skills, defense, and fundamentals of young players,<ref name="Hoop" /> a fact Jordan himself has lamented, saying: "I think it was the exposure of Michael Jordan; the marketing of Michael Jordan. Everything was marketed towards the things that people wanted to see, which was scoring and dunking. That Michael Jordan still played defense and an all-around game, but it was never really publicized."<ref name="Hoop" /> During his heyday, Jordan did much to increase the status of the game; television ratings increased only during his time in the league.<ref name="cash in">Rovell, Darren (September 23, 2001). "NBA could cash in if TV ratings soar with Jordan". [7]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> The popularity of the NBA in the U.S. declined after his last title.<ref name="cash in" /> As late as 2024, NBA Finals television ratings had not returned to the level reached during his last championship-winning season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In August 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, opened a Michael Jordan exhibit that contained items from his college and NBA careers as well as from the 1992 "Dream Team"; the exhibit also has a batting baseball glove to signify Jordan's short career in the Minor League Baseball.<ref>"Hall opens a Jordan exhibit". The New York Times. August 3, 2009. p. D5.</ref> After Jordan received word of his acceptance into the Hall of Fame, he selected Class of 1996 member David Thompson to present him.<ref>Spears, Marc J. (September 7, 2009). "Thompson to open Hall's doors for Jordan". Template:Webarchive. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> As Jordan would later explain during his induction speech in September 2009, he was not a fan of the Tar Heels when growing up in North Carolina but greatly admired Thompson, who played for the rival NC State Wolfpack. In September, Jordan was inducted into the Hall with several former Bulls teammates in attendance, including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley, Ron Harper, Steve Kerr, and Toni Kukoč.<ref name=Sam>Smith, Sam (September 12, 2009). "Jordan makes a Hall of Fame address". Template:Webarchive. NBA.com. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Dean Smith and Doug Collins, two of Jordan's former coaches, were also among those present. His emotional reaction during his speech when Jordan began to cry was captured by Associated Press photographer Stephan Savoia and would later go viral on social media as the "Crying Jordan" Internet meme.<ref>Germano, Sara (February 4, 2016). "Michael Jordan Surges on Web as 'Crying Jordan'". Template:Webarchive. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Carson, Dan (April 5, 2016). "How Crying Jordan became the most divisive image on the Internet". Template:Webarchive. Fox Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In 2016, President Barack Obama honored Jordan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.<ref name="Freedom">"President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom" Template:Webarchive. The White House. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2025.</ref> In October 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.<ref name="75th" /> In September 2022, Jordan's jersey in which he played the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2022, the NBA unveiled a new MVP trophy, named in Jordan's honor, to be awarded beginning with the 2022–23 season, which replaced the original trophy, named in honor of former NBA commissioner Maurice Podoloff.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ESPNGoldsberry"/>
NBA career statisticsEdit
Template:Further Template:See also Template:NBA player statistics legend
Regular seasonEdit
Template:NBA player statistics start |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nowrap |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||38.3||.515||.173||.845||6.5||5.9||2.4||.8||28.2 |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |18||7||25.1||.457||.167||.840||3.6||2.9||2.1||1.2||22.7 |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||40.0||.482||.182||.857||5.2||4.6||2.9||1.5|| style="background:#cfecec;"| 37.1* |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |82||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 40.4*||.535||.132||.841||5.5||5.9||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 3.2*||1.6|| style="background:#cfecec;"| 35.0* |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |81||81||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 40.2*||.538||.276||.850||8.0||8.0||2.9||.8|| style="background:#cfecec;"| 32.5* |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||39.0||.526||.376||.848||6.9||6.3||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 2.8*||.7|| style="background:#cfecec;"| 33.6* |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|Template:Nbay† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||37.0||.539||.312||.851||6.0||5.5||2.7||1.0|| style="background:#cfecec;"| 31.5* |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|Template:Nbay† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |80||80||38.8||.519||.270||.832||6.4||6.1||2.3||.9|| style="background:#cfecec;" |30.1* |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|Template:Nowrap |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |78||78||39.3||.495||.352||.837||6.7||5.5||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 2.8*||.8|| style="background:#cfecec;" |32.6* |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |17||17||39.3||.411||.500||.801||6.9||5.3||1.8||.8||26.9 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|Template:Nbay† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |82||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||37.7||.495||.427||.834||6.6||4.3||2.2||.5|| style="background:#cfecec;"| 30.4* |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|Template:Nbay† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |82||style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||37.9||.486||.374||.833||5.9||4.3||1.7||.5|| style="background:#cfecec;" | 29.6* |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|Template:Nbay† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |style="background:#cfecec;"|82*|| style="background:#cfecec;"|82*||38.8||.465||.238||.784||5.8||3.5||1.7||.5|| style="background:#cfecec;" | 28.7* |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|[[2001–02 Washington Wizards season|WashTemplate:Shyington]] |60||53||34.9||.416||.189||.790||5.7||5.2||1.4||.4||22.9 |- |style="text-align:left;"|Template:Nbay |style="text-align:left;"|[[2002–03 Washington Wizards season|WashTemplate:Shyington]] |82||67||37.0||.445||.291||.821||6.1||3.8||1.5||.5||20.0 |- class="sortbottom" |style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career |1,072||1,039||38.3||.497||.327||.835||6.2||5.3||2.3||.8||style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em"|30.1Template:Double-dagger |- class="sortbottom" |style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|All-Star |13||13||29.4||.472||.273||.750||4.7||4.2||2.8||.5||20.2 |}
PlayoffsEdit
Template:NBA player statistics start |- |style="text-align:left;"|1985 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |4||4||42.8||.436||.125||.828||5.8||8.5||2.8||1.0||29.3 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1986 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |3||3||45.0||.505||1.000||.872||6.3||5.7||2.3||1.3||style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em"|43.7Template:Double-dagger |- |style="text-align:left;"|1987 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |3||3||42.7||.417||.400||.897||7.0||6.0||2.0||2.3||35.7 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1988 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |10||10||42.7||.531||.333||.869||7.1||4.7||2.4||1.1||36.3 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1989 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |17||17||42.2||.510||.286||.799||7.0||7.6||2.5||.8||34.8 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1990 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |16||16||42.1||.514||.320||.836||7.2||6.8||2.8||.9||36.7 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1991† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |17||17||40.5||.524||.385||.845||6.4||8.4||2.4||1.4||31.1 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1992† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |22||22||41.8||.499||.386||.857||6.2||5.8||2.0||.7||34.5 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1993† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |19||19||41.2||.475||.389||.805||6.7||6.0||2.1||.9||35.1 |- |style="text-align:left;"|1995 |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |10||10||42.0||.484||.367||.810||6.5||4.5||2.3||1.4||31.5 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1996† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |18||18||40.7||.459||.403||.818||4.9||4.1||1.8||.3||30.7 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1997† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |19||19||42.3||.456||.194||.831||7.9||4.8||1.6||.9||31.1 |- |style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1998† |style="text-align:left;"|Chicago |21||21||41.5||.462||.302||.812||5.1||3.5||1.5||.6||32.4 |- class="sortbottom" |style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career |179||179||41.8||.487||.332||.828||6.4||5.7||2.1||.8||style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em"|33.4Template:Double-dagger |}
Awards and honorsEdit
NBA
- Six-time NBA champion – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998<ref name="nbah" />
- Six-time NBA Finals MVP – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998<ref name="br" />
- Five-time NBA MVP – 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998<ref name="nbah" />
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year – Template:Nbay<ref name="honors" />
- NBA Rookie of the Year – Template:Nbay<ref name="nbah" />
- 10-time NBA scoring leader – 1987–1993, 1996–1998<ref name="br" />
- Three-time NBA steals leader – 1988, 1990, 1993<ref name="br" />
- 14-time NBA All-Star – 1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003<ref name="br" />
- Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP – 1988, 1996, 1998<ref name="br" />
- 10-time All-NBA First Team – 1987–1993, 1996–1998<ref name="nbah" />
- One-time All-NBA Second Team – 1985<ref name="nbah" />
- Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team – 1988–1993, 1996–1998<ref name="nbah" />
- NBA All-Rookie First Team – 1985<ref name="br" />
- Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion – 1987, 1988<ref name="nbah" />
- Two-time IBM Award winner – 1985, 1989<ref name="honors" />
- Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996<ref name="nbah" />
- Selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021<ref name="75th">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- No. 23 retired by the Chicago Bulls<ref name="numbers">Reisinger, Adam (September 8, 2017). "Inside the numbers on retired numbers around the NBA". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- No. 23 retired by the Miami Heat<ref name="numbers" />
- Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- NBA MVP trophy renamed in Jordan's honor ("Michael Jordan Trophy") in 2022<ref name="ESPNGoldsberry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
USA Basketball
- Two-time Olympic gold medal winner – 1984, 1992<ref name="nbah" />
- Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner – 1992<ref>"Men's Tournament of the Americas – 1992". USA Basketball. Retrieved September 17, 2023.</ref>
- Pan American Games gold medal winner – 1983<ref>"Ninth Pan American Games – 1983". USA Basketball. Retrieved September 17, 2023.</ref>
- Pan American Games Most Outstanding Player – 1983<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Three-time USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year – 1983, 1984, 1992<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
NCAA
- NCAA national championship – 1981–82<ref name="honors">"Michael Jordan's Honors". Template:Webarchive. NBA. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref>
- ACC Rookie of the Year – 1981–82<ref name="ACC">Hamm, Jordan Named ACC's Greatest Athletes. Template:Webarchive, University of North Carolina, March 13, 2003. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- Two-time Consensus NCAA All-American First Team – 1982–83, 1983–84<ref name="ACC" />
- ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year – 1983–84<ref name="ACC" />
- ACC Athlete of the Year – 1984<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Two-time Sporting News National Player of the Year (1983, 1984)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- AP College Player of the Year – 1983–84<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- USBWA College Player of the Year – 1983–84<ref>"Oscar Robertson Trophy". Template:Webarchive. United States Basketball Writers Association. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref>
- Naismith College Player of the Year – 1983–84<ref name="nbah" />
- Adolph Rupp Trophy – 1983–84<ref>"Rupp Trophy Winners". Template:Webarchive. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref>
- John R. Wooden Award – 1983–84<ref name="nbah" />
- UPI College Player of the Year – 1983–84<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- NABC Player of the Year – 1983–84<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- No. 23 retired by the North Carolina Tar Heels<ref>"Jamison's 33 Retired Wednesday Night". Template:Webarchive. University of North Carolina. February 29, 2000. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
High school
- McDonald's All-American – 1981<ref name="McDonald's"/>
- Parade All-American First Team – 1981<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Halls of Fame
- Two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee:
- Class of 2009 – individual<ref name="Sam" />
- Class of 2010 – as a member of the "Dream Team"<ref name="DT Class of 2010">Associated Press (August 14, 2010). "Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone enter Hall" Template:Webarchive. [8] Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- United States Olympic Hall of Fame – Class of 2009 (as a member of the "Dream Team")<ref name="DT Class of 2009">"Dream Team Celebrates 25th Anniversary Of Golden Olympic Run". USA Basketball, July 26, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2023.</ref>
- North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2010<ref name="NC Class of 2010">Associated Press (December 1, 2010). "Jordan to be inducted in NC Sports Hall of Fame". Template:Webarchive. Newsday. Retrieved August 3, 2023.</ref>
- Two-time FIBA Hall of Fame inductee:
- Class of 2015 – individual<ref name="FIBA 2015">"Michael Jordan to be inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. July 17, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- Class of 2017 – as a member of the "Dream Team"<ref name="FIBA 2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Media
- Three-time Associated Press Athlete of the Year – 1991, 1992, 1993<ref>"AP Athletes of the Year". Template:Webarchive. Associated Press. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year – 1991<ref>"Sportsman of the Year". Template:Webarchive. Sports Illustrated. December 23, 1991. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- Sporting News Athlete of the Year – 1991<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Seven-time Sporting News NBA MVP – 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Ranked No. 1 by Slam magazine's "Top 50 Players of All-Time"<ref>"The New Top 50". Slam. June 19, 2009. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved December 12, 2018.</ref>
- Ranked No. 1 by ESPN SportsCenturyTemplate:'s "Top North American Athletes of the 20th Century"<ref name="century" />
- 10-time ESPY Award winner (in various categories)<ref>Snedeker, Lisa (February 13, 2001). "Tiger Woods Wins Record 4 ESPYs". Template:Webarchive. ABC News. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- 1997 Marca Leyenda winner<ref>"Marca Leyenda". Template:Webarchive. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
National
- 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom<ref name="Freedom" />
State/local
- Statue inside the United Center<ref>Rhodes, Steve (November 7, 1994). "Even In Bronze, Jordan Spirit Is A Real Magnet". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
- Section of Madison Street in Chicago renamed Michael Jordan Drive – 1994<ref>Davis, Robert (March 1, 1994). "Jordan to get his own street near stadium". Template:Webarchive. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
Post-retirementEdit
After his third retirement, Jordan assumed that he would be able to return to his front office position as Director of Basketball Operations with the Wizards.<ref>Wise, Mike (May 4, 2003). "Pro Basketball; Jordan's Strained Ties to Wizards May Be Cut". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan's previous tenure had produced mixed results and may have also influenced the trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, although Jordan was not technically Director of Basketball Operations in 2002.<ref name="Pollin" /> On May 7, 2003, Wizards owner Abe Pollin fired Jordan from the role.<ref name="Pollin" /> Jordan later stated that he felt betrayed, and that if he had known he would be fired upon retiring, he never would have come back to play for the Wizards.<ref name="EB" />
Over the next few years, Jordan played golf in celebrity charity tournaments and spent time with his family in Chicago. He also promoted his Jordan Brand clothing line and rode motorcycles.<ref>Grass, Ray (June 22, 2006). "Michael Jordan is now riding superbikes". Deseret News. Retrieved August 31, 2017.</ref> Since 2004, Jordan has owned Michael Jordan Motorsports, a professional closed-course motorcycle road racing team that competed with two Suzukis in the premier Superbike championship sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) until the end of the 2013 season.<ref>"Jordan Suzuki Previews The AMA Superbike Championship Finale At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca". Template:Webarchive. Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology. September 11, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Swarts, David (October 29, 2013). "Michael Jordan Motorsports Suspending AMA Pro Road Racing Operations, Focusing On Move To International Competition". Template:Webarchive. Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
Charlotte Bobcats/HornetsEdit
On June 15, 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats (known as the Hornets since 2013), becoming the team's second-largest shareholder behind majority owner Robert L. Johnson. As part of the deal, Jordan took full control over the basketball side of the operation, with the title Managing Member of Basketball Operations.<ref>"Michael Jordan to Become Part Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats". Template:Webarchive. NBA. June 15, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Associated Press (May 20, 2014). "Hornets all the buzz in Charlotte". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Despite his previous success as an endorser, Jordan made an effort not to be included in Charlotte's marketing campaigns.<ref>Associated Press (June 15, 2006). "Jordan writes state of Bobcats letter to fans" Template:Webarchive. [9]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> A decade earlier, he had made a bid to become part-owner of Charlotte's original NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, but talks collapsed when owner George Shinn refused to give Jordan complete control of basketball operations.<ref>Associated Press (May 10, 1999). "Shinn says others interested in buying piece of Hornets". Template:Webarchive. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
In February 2010, it was reported that Jordan was seeking majority ownership of the Bobcats.<ref>Cox, Marty (February 16, 2010). "Michael Jordan & Charlotte Bobcats – NBA Legend Wants to Buy Team, Report". National Ledger. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 31, 2017.</ref> As February wore on, it became apparent that Jordan and former Houston Rockets president George Postolos were the leading contenders for ownership of the team. On February 27, the Bobcats announced that Johnson had reached an agreement with Jordan and his group, MJ Basketball Holdings, to buy the team from Johnson pending NBA approval.<ref>Associated Press. "MJ to buy controlling stake in Bobcats". Template:Webarchive. ESPN. February 27, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> On March 17, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved Jordan's purchase, making him the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team,<ref>Associated Press (March 17, 2010). "Jordan purchase of Bobcats approved". [10]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> and the league's only African-American majority owner.<ref>Rhoden, William C. "Want to Make an Impact? Join Jordan". Template:Webarchive. The New York Times. April 27, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
During the 2011 NBA lockout, The New York Times wrote that Jordan led a group of 10 to 14 hardline owners who wanted to cap the players' share of basketball-related income at 50 percent and as low as 47. Journalists observed that, during the labor dispute in 1998, Jordan told Washington Wizards then-owner Abe Pollin: "If you can't make a profit, you should sell your team."<ref>Beck, Howard (November 5, 2011). "Hard-Line Factions Threaten Latest N.B.A. Negotiations". The New York Times. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved July 9, 2019.</ref> Jason Whitlock of FoxSports.com called Jordan "a hypocrite sellout who can easily betray the very people who made him a billionaire global icon" for wanting "current players to pay for his incompetence".<ref name=whitlock_11052011>Whitlock, Jason (November 5, 2011). "MJ sells out players with hard-line stance". Fox Sports. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> He cited Jordan's executive decisions to draft disappointing players Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison.<ref name=whitlock_11052011 />
During the 2011–12 NBA season that was shortened to 66 games by the lockout, the Bobcats posted a 7–59 record. The team closed out the season with a 23-game losing streak; their .106 winning percentage was the worst in NBA history.<ref>Sports Network (April 27, 2012). "Knicks earn No. 7, Bobcats set dubious record". Template:Webarchive. Fox News. Retrieved November 10, 2024.</ref> Before the next season, Jordan said: "I'm not real happy about the record book scenario last year. It's very, very frustrating."<ref>Associated Press (November 2, 2012). "Michael Jordan committed to Bobcats". [11]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>
During the 2019 NBA offseason, Jordan sold a minority piece of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim, retaining the majority for himself,<ref>Bonnell, Rick (September 14, 2019). "Michael Jordan selling large chunk of Hornets; won't give up majority control". Template:Webarchive. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> as well as the role of chairman.<ref>"Hornets Executive Bios". Template:Webarchive. NBA. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> In 2023, Jordan finalized the sale of his majority stake to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner, although he kept a minority stake.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The sale was officially completed in August 2023 for approximately $3 billion, more than 10 times the $275 million Jordan had paid for the team.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
23XI RacingEdit
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On September 21, 2020, Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin announced they would be fielding a NASCAR Cup Series team with Bubba Wallace driving, beginning competition in the 2021 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On October 22, the team's name was confirmed to be 23XI Racing (pronounced twenty-three eleven) and the team's entry would bear No. 23.<ref>Albert, Zack (October 22, 2020). "Jordan, Hamlin announce team name and number: 23XI Racing and No. 23". Template:Webarchive. NASCAR. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> After the team's inaugural season, it added a second car with No. 45, driven by Kurt Busch in 2022 and Tyler Reddick in 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ty Gibbs, John Hunter Nemechek, and Daniel Hemric also drove for 23XI as substitute drivers during the 2022 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The team fielded a third car, No. 67, driven by Travis Pastrana in the 2023 Daytona 500.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Reddick won the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship, the first for the team.<ref name="Reddick">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 23XI Racing acquired a third charter from the defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, the No. 35 driven by Riley Herbst beginning in 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Jordan married Juanita Vanoy at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on September 2, 1989.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They had three children: Jeffrey, Marcus, and Jasmine.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Jordans filed for divorce on January 4, 2002, citing irreconcilable differences, but reconciled shortly thereafter. They again filed for divorce and were granted a final decree of dissolution of marriage on December 29, 2006, commenting that the decision was made "mutually and amicably".<ref name="Divorce">Associated Press. "Jordan, wife end marriage 'mutually, amicably'". ESPN.com. December 30, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2007.</ref><ref>"Michael Jordan, Wife to Divorce After 17 Years". People, December 30, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2024.</ref> It is reported that Juanita received a $168 million settlement (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in Template:Inflation-year), making it the largest celebrity divorce settlement on public record at the time.<ref>Associated Press (April 14, 2007). "Forbes: Jordan Divorce Most Costly Ever". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 1, 2013.</ref><ref>Tadena, Nathalie; Zhou, Momo (August 20, 2009). "Divorce Has a Hefty Price Tag for Celebrities, Billionaires". ABC News. Retrieved June 28, 2020.</ref>
In 1991, Jordan purchased a lot in Highland Park, Illinois, where he planned to build a 56,000-square-foot (5,200 m2) mansion. It was completed in 1995. Jordan listed the mansion for sale in 2012.<ref name=mansion>Rodkin, Dennis (February 29, 2012). "Michael Jordan Lists Highland Park Mansion for $29 Million". Chicago Magazine. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved December 16, 2021.</ref> He also owns homes in North Carolina and Jupiter Island, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On July 21, 2006, a judge in Cook County, Illinois, determined that Jordan did not owe his alleged former lover Karla Knafel $5 million in a breach of contract claim.<ref name="KaK">Associated Press (June 12, 2003). "Judge says Jordan not obligated to pay ex-lover". USA Today. Retrieved January 16, 2007.</ref> Jordan had allegedly paid Knafel $250,000 to keep their relationship a secret.<ref name="ap2">Associated Press (July 22, 2006). "Judge: Alleged deal between Jordan, ex-lover invalid". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 3, 2011,</ref><ref name="usatoday1">"Jordan's former girlfriend shouldn't get another cent". USA Today. November 25, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2009.</ref><ref name="whiotv">"Jordan's Ex-Lover Counters With $5 Million Lawsuit". WHIO-TV. November 19, 2002. Template:Webarchive Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Knafel claimed Jordan promised her $5 million for remaining silent and agreeing not to file a paternity suit after Knafel learned she was pregnant in 1991; a DNA test showed that Jordan was not the father of the child.<ref name="KaK" />
Jordan proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto, on Christmas 2011,<ref>Troop, Caleb (December 29, 2011). "Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is engaged". WCNC-TV. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 14, 2017.</ref> and they were married on April 27, 2013, at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.<ref>Garcia, Jennifer (April 27, 2013). "Michael Jordan Marries Model Yvette Prieto". People. Retrieved December 17, 2024.</ref><ref>Reuters (April 27, 2013). "Michael Jordan marries longtime girlfriend". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2013.</ref> It was announced on November 30, 2013, that the two were expecting their first child together.<ref>Golliver, Ben (November 30, 2013). "Reports: Michael Jordan, wife Yvette Prieto expecting first child". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 14, 2017.</ref><ref>Webber, Stephanie (November 30, 2013). "Michael Jordan, Wife Yvette Prieto Expecting First Child Seven Months After Tying the Knot". Us Weekly. Retrieved December 5, 2013.</ref> On February 11, 2014, Prieto gave birth to identical twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel.<ref>"Michael Jordan, Yvette Prieto welcome twin girls". CBS News. February 12, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.</ref> In 2019, Jordan became a grandfather when his daughter Jasmine gave birth to a son, whose father is professional basketball player Rakeem Christmas.<ref>Herbert, Geoff (May 18, 2019). "Rakeem Christmas welcomes baby, making Michael Jordan a grandfather". The Post-Standard. Retrieved May 20, 2019.</ref>
Media figure and business interestsEdit
EndorsementsEdit
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Jordan is one of the most marketed sports figures in history. He has been a major spokesman for such brands as Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald's, Ball Park Franks, Rayovac, Wheaties, Hanes, and MCI.<ref name="rov">Rovell, Darren (February 17, 2003). "Jordan's 10 greatest commercials ever". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2007.</ref> In the early stages of his career, he appeared in an anti-drug PSA sponsored by McDonald's.<ref name="Andrews2002">Template:Cite book</ref> Jordan has had a long relationship with Gatorade, appearing in over 20 commercials for the company since 1991, including the "Be Like Mike" commercials in which a song was sung by children wishing to be like Jordan.<ref name="rov" /><ref>Vancil, Mark (December 1991). "Michael Jordan: Phenomenon". Hoops Magazine. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref>
Nike created a signature shoe for Jordan, called the Air Jordan, in 1984.<ref>Thompson, Phil (August 31, 2016). "'Banned' Air Jordans have slightly different history than Nike's narrative". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 7, 2018.</ref> One of his more popular commercials for the shoe involved Spike Lee playing the part of Mars Blackmon. In the commercials, Lee, as Blackmon, attempted to find the source of Jordan's abilities and became convinced that "it's gotta be the shoes".<ref name="rov" /> The hype and demand for the shoes even brought on a spate of "shoe-jackings", in which people were robbed of their sneakers at gunpoint. Subsequently, Nike spun off the Jordan line into its own division named the "Jordan Brand". The company features a list of athletes and celebrities as endorsers.<ref>"Michael Jordan". Forbes. July 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2007.</ref><ref>"Team Jordan". Nike. Retrieved May 14, 2017.</ref> The brand has also sponsored college sports programs such as those of North Carolina, UCLA, California, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgetown, and Marquette.<ref>"Jordan Brand Gearing Up For March Madness". Nike. Template:Webarchive. March 14, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2022.</ref><ref>"UCLA will be outfitted by Nike, Jordan Brand starting in '21". Associated Press. December 8, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2022.</ref>
Jordan also has been associated with the Looney Tunes cartoon characters. A Nike commercial shown during 1992's Super Bowl XXVI featured Jordan and Bugs Bunny playing basketball.<ref>Horovitz, Bruce (January 28, 1992). "'Hare Jordan' May Give Animation Ads a Lift". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 7, 2019.</ref> The Super Bowl commercial inspired the 1996 live action/animated film Space Jam, which starred Jordan and Bugs in a fictional story set during the former's first retirement from basketball.<ref name="Porter">Porter, p. 96.</ref> They have subsequently appeared together in several commercials for MCI.<ref name="Porter" /> Jordan also made an appearance in the music video for Michael Jackson's "Jam" (1992).<ref>"Michael Jackson's 20 Greatest Videos: The Stories Behind the Vision". Template:Webarchive. Rolling Stone. June 24, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref>
Since 2008, Jordan's yearly income from endorsements is estimated to be over $40 million.<ref>"#18 Michael Jordan" Forbes. June 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2009.</ref><ref name="ausport">Redenbach, Andrew (July 2008). "A Multiple Product Endorser can be a Credible Source". Cyber-Journal of Sport Marketing. Template:Webarchive. {{#if:1327-6816|Template:Catalog lookup link{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-smallTemplate:Main other}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}|Template:Error-small}}. Retrieved May 15, 2017.</ref> In addition, when his power at the ticket gates was at its highest point, the Bulls regularly sold out both their home and road games.<ref>Rovell, Darren (April 15, 2003). "Cashing in on the ultimate cash cow". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2007.</ref> Due to this, Jordan set records in player salary by signing annual contracts worth in excess of US$30 million per season.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> An academic study found that his first NBA comeback resulted in an increase in the market capitalization of his client firms of more than $1 billion.<ref>Mathur, Ike; Mathur, Lynette Knowles; Rangan, Nanda (May–June 1997). "The Wealth Effects Associated with a Celebrity Endorser: The Michael Jordan Phenomenon". Journal of Advertising Research. World Advertising Research Center. 37 (3): 67–73. Retrieved April 7, 2022 – via Gale.</ref>
Most of Jordan's endorsement deals, including his first deal with Nike, were engineered by his agent, David Falk.<ref name="executiveofyear">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Jordan has described Falk as "the best at what he does" and that "marketing-wise, he's great. He's the one who came up with the concept of 'Air Jordan'."<ref>Benes, Alejandro (May 2003). "Fame Jam". Cigar Aficionado. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved October 13, 2017.</ref>
Business venturesEdit
In June 2010, Jordan was ranked by Forbes as the 20th-most-powerful celebrity in the world, with $55 million earned between June 2009 and June 2010. According to Forbes, Jordan Brand generates $1 billion in sales for Nike.<ref>"#20 Michael Jordan". Forbes. June 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.</ref> In June 2014, Jordan was named the first NBA player to become a billionaire, after he increased his stake in the Charlotte Hornets from 80% to 89.5%.<ref>Davis, Adam (June 20, 2014). "Michael Jordan Becomes First Billionaire NBA Player". Fox Business Network. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved March 11, 2018.</ref><ref>Ozanian, Mike (June 12, 2014). "Michael Jordan Is A Billionaire After Increasing Stake In Hornets". Forbes. Retrieved June 25, 2014.</ref> On January 20, 2015, Jordan was honored with the Charlotte Business Journal's Business Person of the Year for 2014.<ref>Spanberg, Eric (January 20, 2015). "Michael Jordan in tears as he accepts Business Person of the Year honors". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved January 21. 2015.</ref> In 2017, he became a part owner of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball.<ref>Jackson, Barry (August 11, 2017). "Loria agrees to sell Miami Marlins to Sherman and Jeter, source says". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2017.</ref>
Forbes designated Jordan as the athlete with the highest career earnings in 2017.<ref>"Michael Jordan named world's highest-paid athlete ever". NBA. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.</ref> From his Jordan Brand income and endorsements, Jordan's 2015 income was an estimated $110 million, the most of any retired athlete.<ref>Neuharth-Keusch, AJ (March 31, 2016). "Michael Jordan tops Forbes' list of highest-paid retired athletes". USA Today. Retrieved December 29, 2017.</ref> Template:As of, his net worth is estimated at $3.5 billion by Forbes,<ref name="ForbesNetWorth">Template:Cite magazine</ref> making him the fourth-richest African-American, behind David Steward, Robert F. Smith, and Alex Karp,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and one of the richest celebrities.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Jordan co-owns an automotive group which bears his name. The company has a Nissan dealership in Durham, North Carolina, acquired in 1990,<ref>Mullaney, Timothy J. (December 13, 1995). "Jordan, partners hope car dealership scores big: Hoops star owns Glen Burnie outlet". Template:Webarchive. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 8, 2022.</ref> and formerly had a Lincoln–Mercury dealership from 1995 until its closure in June 2009.<ref name="dealership">Burkitt, Janet (February 27, 1997). "Michael Jordan Teams With Car Dealership". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref><ref>"Michael Jordan dealership in Durham to close". WRAL-TV. June 17, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2019.</ref> The company also owned a Nissan franchise in Glen Burnie, Maryland.<ref name="dealership" /> The restaurant industry is another business interest of Jordan's. Restaurants he has owned include a steakhouse in New York City's Grand Central Terminal, among others;<ref>Potempa, Philip (December 28, 2011). "Scoring major points: Michael Jordan's Steak House new location a delicious win". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved June 24, 2018.</ref> that restaurant closed in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jordan is the majority investor in a golf course, Grove XXIII in Hobe Sound, Florida.<ref>Porter, Kyle (February 6, 2018). "Michael Jordan is building a golf course in Florida set to open in 2019". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2019.</ref>
In September 2020, Jordan became an investor and advisor for DraftKings.<ref>Goldstein, Steve (September 2, 2020). "DraftKings jumps after addition of NBA legend Michael Jordan as investor and adviser". MarketWatch. Retrieved September 24, 2020.</ref>
In May 2025, Jordan was announced as a special contributor for the NBA on NBC commentary team. <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
PhilanthropyEdit
From 2001 to 2014, Jordan hosted an annual golf tournament, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, that raised money for various charities.<ref name="philanthropic">"Michael Jordan's philanthropic activities". NBA. February 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.</ref> In 2006, Jordan and his wife Juanita pledged $5 million to Chicago's Hales Franciscan High School.<ref>Meyer, Gregory (March 13, 2006). "Jordans to pledge $5M to Hales Franciscan H.S." Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 28, 2008.</ref> The Jordan Brand has made donations to Habitat for Humanity and a Louisiana branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.<ref>"Jordan Brand Donates $500,000 to Boys and Girls Club in Louisiana". Reuters. February 14, 2008. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref>
The Make-A-Wish Foundation named Jordan its Chief Wish Ambassador in 2008.<ref name="philanthropic" /> In 2013, he granted his 200th wish for the organization.<ref>"Celebrating 200 Wishes With Michael Jordan". Make-A-Wish Foundation. Template:Webarchive. June 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2019.</ref> As of 2019, Jordan has raised more than $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.<ref name="philanthropic" /> In 2023, he donated $10 million to the organization for his 60th birthday.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2015, Jordan donated a settlement of undisclosed size from a lawsuit against supermarkets that had used his name without permission to 23 different Chicago charities.<ref>Janssen, Kim (December 15, 2015). "Michael Jordan hands court settlement to 23 Chicago nonprofits". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2019.</ref> In 2017, Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina, by giving $7 million, the biggest donation he had made at the time.<ref>Maloney, Jack (October 9, 2017). "Michael Jordan makes largest philanthropic donation ever to fund clinics in Charlotte". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 16, 2025.</ref> The following year, after Hurricane Florence damaged parts of North Carolina, including his former hometown of Wilmington, Jordan donated $2 million to relief efforts.<ref>Schad, Tom (September 18, 2018). "Michael Jordan donating $2 million to Hurricane Florence relief and recovery efforts". USA Today. Retrieved October 15, 2019.</ref> He gave $1 million to aid the Bahamas' recovery following Hurricane Dorian in 2019.<ref>O'Kane, Caitlin (September 10, 2019). "Michael Jordan donates $1 million to hurricane relief in the Bahamas". CBS News. Retrieved October 3, 2019.</ref>
Amidst the public uproar about the police shootings of two African-American men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and two deadly attacks against police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Jordan made $1 million donations to two organizations, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Institute for Community-Police Relations. Jordan says the goal is to "build trust and respect between communities and law enforcement." He also said "I can no longer stay silent. We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment AND that police officers – who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all – are respected and supported."<ref name="z525">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On June 5, 2020, in the wake of the protests following the murder of George Floyd, Jordan and his brand announced in a joint statement that they would be donating $100 million over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to "ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In February 2021, Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in New Hanover County, North Carolina, by giving $10 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024, he funded the opening of another Novant Health Clinic, this time in Wilmington.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Film and televisionEdit
Jordan played himself in the 1996 comedy film Space Jam. The film received mixed reviews,<ref>Braxton, Greg (May 10, 2020). "'Drove Michael crazy': Space Jam director on ups and downs of Jordan's star turn". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2020.</ref> but it was a box office success, making $230 million worldwide, and earned more than $1 billion through merchandise sales.<ref>Izadi, Elahe (November 15, 2016). "Twenty years later, 'Space Jam' is the movie we never knew we needed'". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2020.</ref>
In 2000, Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary about his career with the Chicago Bulls, especially the 1998 NBA playoffs, titled Michael Jordan to the Max.<ref>Johnson, K. C. (April 30, 2020). "How 'Michael Jordan to the Max' contributed to delaying 'The Last Dance'". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved June 4, 2020.</ref> Two decades later, the same period of Jordan's life was covered in much greater and more personal detail by the Emmy Award-winning The Last Dance, a 10-part TV documentary which debuted on ESPN in April and May 2020. The Last Dance relied heavily on about 500 hours of candid film of Jordan's and his teammates' off-court activities which an NBA Entertainment crew had shot over the course of the 1997–98 NBA season for use in a documentary. The project was delayed for many years because Jordan had not yet given his permission for the footage to be used.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jordan was interviewed at three homes associated with the production and did not want cameras in his home or on his plane, as according to director Jason Hehir "there are certain aspects of his life that he wants to keep private".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jordan granted rapper Travis Scott permission to film a music video for his single "Franchise" at his home in Highland Park, Illinois.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Jordan appeared in the 2022 miniseries The Captain, which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
BooksEdit
Jordan has authored several books focusing on his life, basketball career, and world view.
- Rare Air: Michael on Michael, with Mark Vancil and Walter Iooss (Harper San Francisco, 1993).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- I Can't Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence, with Mark Vancil and Sandro Miller (Harper San Francisco, 1994).<ref name="e323">Template:Cite book</ref>
- For the Love of the Game: My Story, with Mark Vancil (Crown Publishers, 1998).<ref>Kuczynski, Alex (January 11, 1999). "Publishers Root for Michael Jordan's Retirement". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref>
- Driven from Within, with Mark Vancil (Atria Books, 2005).<ref name="e123">Template:Cite book</ref>
See alsoEdit
- Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes
- List of athletes who came out of retirement
- List of most valuable celebrity memorabilia
- List of NBA teams by single season win percentage
- Michael Jordan's Restaurant
- Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City
- Michael Jordan in Flight
- Jordan vs. Bird: One on One
- NBA 2K11
- NBA 2K12
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
- Condor, Bob (1998). Michael Jordan's 50 Greatest Games. Carol Publishing Group. Template:ISBN.
- Halberstam, David (2000). Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made. Broadway Books. Template:ISBN.
- Jordan, Michael (1998). For the Love of the Game: My Story. New York City: Crown Publishers. Template:ISBN.
- Kotler, Philip; Rein, Irving J.; Shields, Ben (2006). The Elusive Fan: Reinventing Sports in a Crowded Marketplace. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Template:ISBN.
- Kruger, Mitchell (2003). One Last Shot: The Story of Michael Jordan's Comeback. New York City: St. Martin's Paperbacks. Template:ISBN.
- Lazenby, Roland (2014). Michael Jordan: The Life. New York City: Little, Brown and Company. Template:ISBN.
- LaFeber, Walter (2002). Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism. W. W. Norton. Template:ISBN.
- Markovits, Andrei S.; Rensman, Lars (June 3, 2010). Gaming the World: How Sports are Reshaping Global Politics and Culture. Princeton University Press. Template:ISBN.
- Porter, David L. (2007). Michael Jordan: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. Template:ISBN.
- The Sporting News Official NBA Register 1994–95 (1994). The Sporting News. Template:ISBN.
Further readingEdit
- Dyson, M. E. (1993). Be like Mike?: Michael Jordan and the pedagogy of desire. Cultural Studies, 7(1), 64–72.
- Template:Cite book
- Mathur, Lynette Knowles, et al. "The wealth effects associated with a celebrity endorser: The Michael Jordan phenomenon." Journal of Advertising Research, vol. 37, no. 3, May–June 1997, pp. 67+. Gale Academic OneFile.
- Template:Cite book
External linksEdit
{{#if:||* }}Career statistics from {{#invoke:String|join|Template:Space·Template:Space|{{#if: | MLB | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata MLB Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}|{{#if: | ESPN | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata ESPN Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}|{{#if: | Baseball Reference | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata.shtml Baseball Reference Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}|{{#if: | Fangraphs | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata Fangraphs Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}|{{#if: jordan001mic | Baseball Reference (Minors) | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata Baseball Reference (Minors) Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}|{{#if: | Retrosheet | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata.htm Retrosheet Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}|{{#if: | Baseball Almanac | {{#if: Template:Wikidata | Template:Wikidata Baseball Almanac Template:EditAtWikidata}} }}}}{{#if: jordan001mic
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| name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0003044|2=^nm}}
| Template:Trim/
| nm0003044/
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
| name/Template:First word/
| find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
}}
}}{{#if: 0003044 {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch:
| award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
}}}} {{#if:
| {{{name}}}
| Template:PAGENAMEBASE
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| Template:EditAtWikidata
| Template:Main other
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| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
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- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }} Template:Sister project links
Template:Michael Jordan Template:NBAOwners Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control