Basketball Player: Michael Jordan
(Michael Jordan during dunk contest. Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
Background
Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association championships and earned the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award five times. Born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, one of James and Deloris Jordan's five children. The family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when Michael was very young. His father worked as a General Electric plant supervisor, and his mother worked at a bank.
Jordan loved sports but failed to make his high school basketball team as a sophomore, continued to practice and made the team the next year. After high school he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he played under head coach Dean Smith.
Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and the Chicago White Sox minor league team.
Signed a number of endorsement deals with brands including Nike, Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Chevrolet and Wheaties.
Star of the 1996 movie Space Jam.
Part-Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
(Michael taking basketball picture for University of North Carolina. Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
(Michael Jordan pulls down a rebound. Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
Accomplishments
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009
- 6× NBA champion: 1991–93, 1996–98
- 5× NBA Most Valuable Player: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998[1][2]
- 6× NBA Finals MVP: 1991–93, 1996–98[3]
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1987–88[4]
- 10× scoring champion: 1987–93, 1996–98[5]
- 3× steals leader: 1988, 1990, 1993
- 3× minutes leader: 1987–89
- 14× NBA All-Star: 1985–93, 1996–98, 2002–03[6]
- 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1988, 1996, 1998[7]
- 2× IBM Award winner: 1985, 1989
- 11× All-NBA selection: First Team: 1987–93, 1996–98 Second Team: 1985
- 9× All-Defensive selection: First Team: 1988–93, 1996–98
- NBA All-Rookie selection: First Team: 1985
- NBA Rookie of the Year: 1985
- 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion: 1987, 1988
- 2× Olympic gold medals: 1984, 1992
- NCAA National Championship – University of North Carolina: 1981–82
- Naismith College Player of the Year: 1984
(1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
(First NBA title of his career in 1991. Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
Quotes about Jordan
"His ability to stay relaxed and focused in the midst of chaos is unsurpassed." - Former Chicago Bulls Head Coach Phill Jackson
Quotes by Jordan
“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” - Michael Jordan
“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
Baseball Career
After the end of the 1992-93 basketball season, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball to pursue baseball. For only one year, Jordan played for a minor league team, the Birmingham Barons, as an outfielder. This came shortly after the loss of his father, James, to an act of violence. Two teenagers shot James Jordan during an apparent robbery and were later convicted of the crime.
(Michael Jordan during spring training with the White Sox. Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)
Additional Information
Michael Jordan pictures from Sports Illustrated
(Researched and written by Taji Owens)
