Michael Jordan was integral in popularizing the basketball sport and the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon.
131 Facts About Michael Jordan
2.
Michael Jordan played college basketball for three seasons under coach Dean Smith with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
3.
Michael Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick and quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring while gaining a reputation as one of the game's best defensive players.
4.
Michael Jordan's leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "Michael Jordan's Airness".
5.
Michael 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.
6.
Michael Jordan retired for the second time in January 1999 but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
7.
Michael Jordan holds the NBA records for career regular season scoring average and career playoff scoring average.
8.
Michael Jordan was twice inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, once in 2009 for his individual career, and again in 2010 as part of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team.
9.
Michael Jordan became a member of the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009, a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, and an individual member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015 and a "Dream Team" member in 2017.
10.
One of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation, Michael Jordan is known for his product endorsements.
11.
Michael Jordan fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1984 and remain popular today.
12.
Michael Jordan became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and bought a controlling interest in 2010.
13.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born at Cumberland Hospital in the Fort Greene neighborhood of New York City's Brooklyn borough on February 17,1963, the son of bank employee Deloris and equipment supervisor James R Jordan Sr.
14.
Michael Jordan has two older brothers, James R Jordan Jr.
15.
In 1968, Michael Jordan moved with his family to Wilmington, North Carolina.
16.
Michael Jordan attended Emsley A Laney High School in Wilmington, where he highlighted his athletic career by playing basketball, baseball, and football.
17.
Michael Jordan was recruited by numerous college basketball programs, including Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia.
18.
Michael Jordan made the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, which was led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing.
19.
Michael Jordan later described this shot as the major turning point in his basketball career.
20.
Michael Jordan was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
21.
Michael Jordan returned to North Carolina to complete his degree in 1986, when he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.
22.
In 2002, Michael Jordan was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the 50 greatest players in ACC history.
23.
One of the primary reasons why Michael Jordan was not drafted sooner was because the first two teams were in need of a center.
24.
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 Michael Jordan, in part because Portland already had Clyde Drexler, who was a guard with similar skills to Michael Jordan.
25.
Michael Jordan made his NBA debut at Chicago Stadium on October 26,1984, and scored 16 points.
26.
Michael Jordan quickly became a fan favorite even in opposing arenas.
27.
An often-cited moment was on August 26,1985, when Michael Jordan shook the arena during a Nike exhibition game in Trieste, Italy, by shattering the glass of the backboard with a dunk.
28.
The shoes Michael Jordan wore during the game were auctioned in August 2020 and sold for $615,000, a record for a pair of sneakers.
29.
Michael Jordan recovered in time to participate in the postseason and performed well upon his return.
30.
Michael Jordan was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, as he averaged 1.6 blocks per game, a league-high 3.1 steals per game, and led the Bulls defense to the fewest points per game allowed in the league.
31.
Michael Jordan won his first NBA Finals MVP award, and he cried while holding the Finals trophy.
32.
The Bulls won their third NBA championship on a game-winning shot by John Paxson and a last-second block by Horace Grant, but Michael Jordan was Chicago's leader.
33.
Michael Jordan averaged a Finals-record 41.0 ppg during the six-game series, and became the first player in NBA history to win three straight Finals MVP awards.
34.
Michael Jordan scored more than 30 points in every game of the series, including 40 or more points in four consecutive games.
35.
David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, denied in 1995 and 2006 that Michael Jordan's 1993 retirement was a secret suspension by the league for gambling, but the rumor spread widely.
36.
In 2005, Michael Jordan discussed his gambling with Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes and admitted that he made reckless decisions.
37.
On October 6,1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement, saying that he lost his desire to play basketball.
38.
Michael Jordan later said that the murder of his father three months earlier helped shape his decision.
39.
Michael Jordan was close to his father; as a child, he imitated the way his father stuck out his tongue while absorbed in work.
40.
Michael Jordan later adopted it as his own signature, often displaying it as he drove to the basket.
41.
Michael Jordan's announcement sent shock waves throughout the NBA and appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the world.
42.
Michael Jordan reported to spring training in Sarasota, Florida, and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31,1994.
43.
Michael 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 player.
44.
In 1994, Michael Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, batting.
45.
Michael Jordan's 30 stolen bases were second on the team only to Doug Brady.
46.
Michael Jordan appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League, batting.
47.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan decided to quit baseball because he feared he might become a replacement player during the Major League Baseball strike.
48.
Michael Jordan scored 55 points in his next game, against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 28,1995.
49.
Michael Jordan responded by scoring 38 points in the next game, which Chicago won.
50.
Michael Jordan was fined an additional $5,000 for opting to wear white sneakers when the rest of the Bulls wore black.
51.
Michael Jordan averaged 31 ppg in the playoffs, but Orlando won the series in six games.
52.
Michael Jordan led the league in scoring with 30.4 ppg, and he won the league's regular season and All-Star Game MVP awards.
53.
Michael Jordan won Game 1 for the Bulls with a buzzer-beating jump shot.
54.
In Game 5, with the series tied at 2, Michael Jordan played despite being feverish and dehydrated from a stomach virus.
55.
In what is known as "The Flu Game", Michael Jordan scored 38 points, including the game-deciding 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining.
56.
Michael Jordan led the league with 28.7 ppg, securing his fifth regular season MVP award, plus honors for All-NBA First Team, First Defensive Team, and the All-Star Game MVP.
57.
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 Michael Jordan had played in a Game 7 since the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals with the New York Knicks.
58.
Michael Jordan executed a series of plays, considered to be one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA Finals history.
59.
Malone jostled with Rodman and caught the pass, but Michael Jordan cut behind him and stole the ball out of his hands.
60.
Michael Jordan then dribbled down the court and paused, eyeing his defender, Jazz guard Bryon Russell.
61.
Once again, Michael Jordan was voted Finals MVP, having led all scorers by averaging 33.5 ppg, including 45 in the deciding Game 6.
62.
On January 19,2000, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA not as a player but as part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.
63.
Michael Jordan managed to purge the team of several highly paid, unpopular players but used the first pick in the 2001 NBA draft to select high schooler Kwame Brown, who did not live up to expectations and was traded away after four seasons.
64.
On September 25,2001, Michael 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.
65.
That year, Michael Jordan was the only Washington player to play in all 82 games, starting in 67 of them, and coming from off the bench in 15.
66.
Michael Jordan averaged 20.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 spg per game.
67.
On February 21,2003, Michael Jordan became the first 40-year-old to tally 43 points in an NBA game.
68.
The Miami Heat retired the No 23 jersey on April 11,2003, even though Michael Jordan never played for the team.
69.
At the 2003 All-Star Game, Michael Jordan was offered a starting spot from Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson but refused both; in the end, he accepted the spot of Vince Carter.
70.
Michael Jordan played in his final NBA game on April 16,2003, in Philadelphia.
71.
At 1:45, Michael Jordan was intentionally fouled by the 76ers' Eric Snow, and stepped to the line to make both free throws.
72.
Michael Jordan received a three-minute standing ovation from his teammates, his opponents, the officials, and the crowd of 21,257 fans.
73.
Michael Jordan made his debut for the US national basketball team at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela.
74.
Michael Jordan led the team in scoring with 17.3 ppg as the US, coached by Jack Hartman, won the gold medal in the competition.
75.
Michael Jordan led the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 ppg for the tournament.
76.
In 1992, Michael Jordan was a member of the star-studded squad that was dubbed the "Dream Team", which included Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
77.
Michael Jordan was the only player to start all eight games in the Olympics, averaged 14.9 ppg, and finished second on the team in scoring.
78.
Michael Jordan was undefeated in the four tournaments he played for the United States national team, winning all 30 games he took part in.
79.
Michael Jordan was a shooting guard who could play as a small forward, the position he would primarily play during his second return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards, and as a point guard.
80.
Michael Jordan was known throughout his career as a strong clutch performer.
81.
Michael Jordan's competitiveness was visible in his prolific trash talk and well-known work ethic.
82.
Michael Jordan has frequently cited David Thompson, Walter Davis, and Jerry West as influences.
83.
Michael 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.
84.
Michael Jordan's three-point shooting was better selected, resulting in three-point field goals made in important games during the playoffs and the Finals, such as hitting six consecutive three-point shots in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals.
85.
In 1988, Michael Jordan was honored with the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards, becoming the first NBA player to win both awards in a career let alone season.
86.
Michael Jordan's talent was clear from his first NBA season; by November 1984, he was being compared to Julius Erving.
87.
Larry Bird said that rookie Michael Jordan was the best player he ever saw, and that he was "one of a kind", and comparable to Wayne Gretzky as an athlete.
88.
Michael Jordan led the NBA in scoring in 10 seasons and tied Wilt Chamberlain's record of seven consecutive scoring titles.
89.
Michael Jordan was a fixture of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, making the roster nine times.
90.
Michael Jordan holds the top career regular season and playoff scoring averages of 30.1 and 33.4 ppg, respectively.
91.
Michael Jordan scored 32,292 points in the regular season, placing him fifth on the NBA all-time scoring list behind LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Bryant.
92.
Michael Jordan finished among the top three in regular season MVP voting 10 times.
93.
Michael Jordan was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
94.
Michael Jordan is one of only seven players in history to win an NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal.
95.
Many of Michael Jordan's contemporaries have said that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
96.
Michael Jordan placed second to Ruth in the Associated Press' December 1999 list of 20th century athletes.
97.
Michael Jordan has appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated a record 50 times.
98.
Michael 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.
99.
That Michael Jordan still played defense and an all-around game, but it was never really publicized.
100.
In October 2021, Michael Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
101.
Michael 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.
102.
Michael Jordan stayed in shape, played golf in celebrity charity tournaments, and spent time with his family in Chicago.
103.
Michael Jordan promoted his Jordan Brand clothing line and rode motorcycles.
104.
On June 15,2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the team's second-largest shareholder behind majority owner Robert L Johnson.
105.
In February 2010, it was reported that Michael Jordan was seeking majority ownership of the Bobcats.
106.
Michael Jordan cited Jordan's executive decisions to draft disappointing players Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison.
107.
Michael Jordan's nephew through his brother Larry, Justin Michael Jordan, played NCAA Division I basketball for the UNC Greensboro Spartans and is a scout for the Charlotte Hornets.
108.
Michael Jordan married Juanita Vanoy at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on September 2,1989.
109.
In 1991, Michael Jordan purchased a lot in Highland Park, Illinois, where he planned to build a 56,000 square-foot mansion.
110.
Michael Jordan owns homes in North Carolina and Jupiter Island, Florida.
111.
Michael Jordan had allegedly paid Knafel $250,000 to keep their relationship a secret.
112.
Michael Jordan proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto, on Christmas 2011, and they were married on April 27,2013, at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
113.
In 2019, Michael Jordan became a grandfather when his daughter Jasmine gave birth to a son, whose father is professional basketball player Rakeem Christmas.
114.
Michael Jordan is one of the most marketed sports figures in history.
115.
Michael Jordan has been a major spokesman for such brands as Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald's, Ball Park Franks, Rayovac, Wheaties, Hanes, and MCI.
116.
Michael 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 Michael Jordan.
117.
Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan, called the Air Michael Jordan, in 1984.
118.
Michael Jordan has been associated with the Looney Tunes cartoon characters.
119.
On January 20,2015, Michael Jordan was honored with the Charlotte Business Journal's Business Person of the Year for 2014.
120.
Michael Jordan owned a Nissan franchise in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
121.
Michael Jordan is the majority investor in a golf course, Grove XXIII, under construction in Hobe Sound, Florida.
122.
In September 2020, Michael Jordan became an investor and advisor for DraftKings.
123.
In 2023, Michael Jordan donated $10 million to the organization for his 60th birthday.
124.
In 2015, Michael Jordan donated a settlement of undisclosed size from a lawsuit against supermarkets that had used his name without permission to 23 different Chicago charities.
125.
Michael Jordan played himself in the 1996 comedy film Space Jam.
126.
Two decades later, the same period of Michael 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.
127.
The project was delayed for many years because Michael Jordan had not yet given his permission for the footage to be used.
128.
Michael 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".
129.
Michael Jordan granted rapper Travis Scott permission to film a music video for his single "Franchise" at his home in Highland Park, Illinois.
130.
Michael Jordan appeared in the 2022 miniseries The Captain, which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter.
131.
Michael Jordan has authored several books focusing on his life, basketball career, and world view.