Michael Jordan

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Lore & Background

Jordan's journey included a dramatic pivot away from basketball due to physical and mental exhaustion. Before the 1993–94 season, he abruptly retired to play Minor League Baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization. His return in 1995 revitalized the franchise, leading them to three more titles in 1996, 1997, and 1998. The 1995–96 season marked a historic peak with a then-record 72 regular-season wins. Following his second retirement in 1999, he returned for two final seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards. His individual accolades include six Finals MVP awards, five regular-season MVPs, and ten All-NBA First Team designations. He holds NBA records for career regular season scoring average at 30.1 points per game and playoff scoring average at 33.4 points per game.

In Their Own Story

On October 26, 1984, Jordan made his NBA debut at Chicago Stadium, scoring 16 points and immediately captivating fans. His rookie season saw him average 28.2 points per game on 51.5% shooting, earning the Rookie of the Year award despite a reported "freeze-out" by veteran players led by Isiah Thomas during the All-Star Game. A defining moment occurred on August 26, 1985, in Trieste, Italy, where Jordan shattered a backboard glass with a dunk during a Nike exhibition game, a feat filmed and cited as a major milestone. The following year, his season was cut short by a broken foot in the third game, causing him to miss 64 games. Despite this, the Bulls qualified for the playoffs with a 30–52 record. Jordan returned in time for the postseason, where he delivered historic performances, including a double-overtime loss to Boston in Game 2 of the First Round on April 20.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Jordan's impact should note his college roots at North Carolina, where he hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship against Georgetown. As a freshman, he averaged 13.4 points per game and was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He left UNC as a junior in 1984 after winning the Naismith and Wooden College Player of the Year awards, returning later to complete his degree in geography in 1986. His international success is equally notable; he won four gold medals with the US national team at the 1983 Pan American Games, 1984 Summer Olympics, and two in 1992 (Tournament of the Americas and Summer Olympics), remaining undefeated throughout. In recognition of his legacy, the NBA Most Valuable Player Award trophy was named in his honor, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice: first in 2009 for his individual career and again in 2010 as part of "The Dream Team."

Did You Know?

• Jordan set a record for a collectible ticket stub when his October 26, 1984 debut game ticket sold at auction for $264,000 in 2021.
• The sneakers Jordan wore during the backboard-shattering dunk in Trieste on August 26, 1985, were auctioned in August 2020 for a record $615,000.
• Jordan was selected to play for the United States national team during both his college and NBA careers, winning four gold medals while remaining undefeated.
• He is one of only eight players to achieve the basketball Triple Crown.