Legends profile: Michael Jordan

Considered one of the greatest players everMichael Jordan made 11 All-NBA teamswon 5 MVPs6 Finals MVPs and 6 NBA titles and crafted a legendary legacy.

He was an accessible star who managed to maintain an air of mystique. He was visible as “Air Jordan,” as part of a sneaker advertising campaign and endorsing other products as well as the star of the movie“Space Jam”. Howeverhe would vanish into retirement twice only to return until hanging up the sneakers for the last time after the 2002-03 season.

Although Brooklyn bornJordan was bred in the more tranquil North Carolina. The son of Delores and James Jordanhe shared a special bond with his fatherwhich included baseball being both of their first love. Howeverfollowing his older brotherLarrywhom he idolized and was a spectacular athlete in his own rightJordan began to play basketball.

He attended Laney High School in WilmingtonNorth Carolinabut as a 5-foot-11 skinny sophomorehe was cut from the varsity basketball team. The summer before his junior yearhe grew to 6-foot-3 and began his path to superstardom.

A Tar Heel at heartthe high school All-American attended the University of North Carolina. As a freshmanhe played somewhat in the shadows of upperclassmen James Worthy and Sam Perkins. Howeverhe shone in the spotlight of the NCAA championship game against Georgetown and another great freshmanPatrick Ewingwhom Jordan would foil future NBA championships for as well. Jordan scored 16 pointsgrabbed nine rebounds and made the winning basket on a 16-foot jumper with 18 seconds in the game for the 63-62 victory.

As a sophomorehe was named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News. As a juniorhe received that award again as well as the Naismith and Wooden Awards. After his junior year he was chosen with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.

The Houston Rockets selected 7-foot center Hakeem Olajuwon form the University of Houston with the No.1 pickwhich most expected. The Portland Trail Blazershoweverwith the No. 2 pick chose 7-foot-1 center Sam Bowie from Kentuckywhich was not as anticipated. Bowie had suffered several injuries while in college but the Blazers bypassed Jordan because just the year before the team selected another exciting shooting guard in Clyde Drexler. Although Drexler went onto to be a starBowie was an injury prone player with a journeyman pro career.

Jordancoming off a gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympicsprospered in the pro game with a fabulous first seasonearning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He averaged 28.2 ppg(third behind Bernard King and Bird) 6.5 rpg and 5.9 apg. He also was selected to the All-NBA Second Team. Perhaps more importantthe Bulls improved to win 11 more games than in the season prior to his arrival and made it to the playoffs. Jordan averaged 29.3 ppg in the first round seriesbut the Bulls lost in four games to the Milwaukee Bucks.

In his first seasonhe did not have outstanding shooting range and was thought to roam too often on defenseresulting from playing trapping defenses in college according to his first NBA coachKevin Loughery. Yethis medium game — eight- to 15-feet from the basket was impressive as evidenced by his .515 field-goal shooting percentage and his steals tended to compensate for his less than stellar straight-up defense.

Improvement in both areas would come and he would ultimately be regarded as threat from anywhere on the floor and one of the best ever one-on-one defenders.

Even in the exhibition season before his rookie campaignplayers and coaches were sure that the Rockets and Blazers would regret their picks. Kingthe eventual leading scorer for that upcoming seasonseemed sure as well when he spoke to Hoop magazine after a 1984 preseason game.

“All I can say,” King said“is that the people in Chicago are in for a real treat.”

He was right. Jordan’s greatness and likeability was apparent in just his first season. Home attendance at the venerable Chicago Stadium and on the road rose dramatically. Fans of opposing teams were seemingly content to see their team lose if in return Jordan put on show.

Jordan’s personal was equally authentic and unique as his basketball skills. Nike signed him to a major shoe deal because of his anticipated appealbut he surpassed even the loftiest of expectations. One version of the sneakers he wore in his first preseason was an unseen before blend of his team’s red and black colors that the NBA initially considered in violation of the “uniformity of uniform rule.” Subject to fines if he continued to wear themhe occasionally did and the demand for that version and others in the Air Jordan line was unprecedented.

He also had a clause in his contract that allowed himunlike most other NBA playersto play basketball anytime in the off-season — known as the “love-of-the-game clause.”

He dangled his tongue out of his mouth — picked up from observing his dad working on mechanical devices — as he levitated toward the basket and it became one of his first trademarks in personal . He continued to wear the shorts of his beloved North Carolina basketball uniform under his Bulls uniform. This may have led him to wear longer game shorts although he has said that the extra length allowed him to bend at the waist and tug at the hem for a good resting position. Either waythe trend toward the baggy shorts was started and the entire league and sport would follow.

The rookie’s mesmerizing effect was even suggested to have extended to referees as it was said that he was getting veteran preferential treatment allowing him to take that additional step on route to the basket rather than being whistle for a travelling violation. Many assessed that he eluded defenders so easily that he had to be travelling. Howevervideo break down established that his first step was just so quick and that he was not in violation of the rulebook.

Despite all the attentionJordan retained a sense of humility. He did not ridicule the Blazers for not taking him. Early on in his first seasonhe told Sports Illustrated“He [Bowie] fits in better than I would. They have an overabundance of big guards and small forwards.” His self-effacement was more apparent when in that same article he said“I’d like to play in at least one All-Star game.”

That goal was quickly accomplished as later that season he was voted a starter to the 1985 All-Star East squad. Therehe probably faced one of his first professional obstacles. The media ran with the idea that Eastern All-Star teammate Detroit Pistons’ Isiah Thomashad led a “freeze-out” of the golden rookie limiting his opportunities to score by not passing him the ball.

Jordan scored seven points in 22 minutes and was left to face questions concerning the alleged conspiracy. The affair grew a life of its own over the yearsbut Thomas refuted such accusations. The whole ordeal would come full circle when Thomasas the coach of the 2003 East All-Star squadpersuaded Toronto Raptors’ Vince Carter to relinquish his starting role to Jordan in his last midseason classic.

Three games into his second seasonhe broke a bone in his left foot. He was voted to the All-Star team but could not play as he was sidelined for 64 games. Howeverhe came back late in the year to score a NBA playoff-record 63 points in a first-round game against the Celtics. The Bulls lost that game 132-131 in double-overtime and the series in a sweepbut Jordan averaged 43.7 ppg in the series. If there were any doubters to that point about Jordan’s abilitysurely there were no more.

Starting with the 1986-87 season he began a career-long onslaught on the NBA record book. That year saw him average 37.1 points in the first of seven consecutive seasons in which he led the league in scoring and topped 30 points per contest. Jordan scored 40 or more points in nine consecutive games and 23 straight in one game to set an NBA record. At the All-Star Weekendhe won the first of two consecutive Slam Dunk competitions. Howeveragainthe Celtics swept the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs

That offseasonthe Bulls began assembling a championship caliber team by drafting power forward Horace Grant and acquiring the versatile small forward Scottie Pippen from tiny Central Arkansas in a draft day trade with the Seattle SuperSonics for former University of Virgina center Olden Polyinice. In 1987-88Jordan won every major award including MVPDefensive Player of the Year and All-Star MVP. With the help of his teammatesJordan led the Bulls to a first-round playoff win over the Cleveland Cavaliers before falling to the Pistons in five games in the conference semifinals.

The Pistonsknown as the “Bad Boys” for their aggressive of playwould defeat Jordan and the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals in the next two seasons as well. Utilizing a defensive scheme developed by head coach Chuck Daly and his staff known as the “Jordan Rules”the Pistons dared Jordan to single-handily win games with constant double and triple teaming. The Bullshoweverwere nudging to a championship as each successive season the team would get closer.

In the 1988-89 seasonperhaps Jordan’s best statistical campaignhe led the league with 32.5 ppgwas 10th in assists with a career high 8.0 apg and had a career high 8.0 rpg. He also ranked third in steals with 2.89 per game. Jordan propelled the Bulls past the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs in the decisive Game 5scoring the memorable buzzer-beater floating jumper over Craig Ehlo for a 101-100 victory.

Prior to the beginning of the 1989-90 season, Sports Illustrated published an article on Jordan’s emerging golf game and his thoughts about joining the PGA Tour after his NBA career was over. Chicago managementhoweverwas making other moves.

That offseasonthe Bulls let go head coach Doug Collins and hired Phil Jackson. Under Jackson’s leadershipthe Bulls instituted the triangle offense — a fluid passing and cutting system that created opportunities for all five players on the floor to score. But when the play broke down and the shot clock wanedJordan had free reign to create his own shot.

The Bulls went 55-27 that seasonthe franchise’s best record since 1971-72. Jordan set his career game-high in points with 69 against the Cavs in a 117-113 overtime win. He also emerged as a 3-point threatposting 37.6% — 100 percentage points above his previous best. Howeverthe Pistons defeated the Bulls in a tough seven-game series in the 1990 Eastern Conference finals.

That third consecutive playoff defeat to the Pistons prompted many to think out loud that a scoring champion like Jordan could not lead his team to a title.

Were they ever wrong. The next yearJordan led the Bulls as the team waltzed through the postseasonlosing only twice en route to the franchise’s first NBA title. The redemptive blow was the sweep of the Pistons in the conference finals. And after losing the first game at home to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finalsthe Bulls stormed back to win four straight to end the last remnants of the “Showtime” Lakers as Magic Johnson would retire before the beginning of the next season. Jordan averaged 31.4 ppg6.4 rpg and 8.4 apgearning the first of six NBA Finals MVP awards.

Jordanwho by now shaved his head completely baldtriggering another trend and making him recognizable by just the dark rounded silhouette of his headwas now known as a champion. He was also known to be ultra-demanding of his teammatesruffling more than a few feathers with his critiques. But winning was the soothing elixir. The Bulls would go on to successfully defend their title for two consecutive seasonsdefeating both Drexler and the Blazers and the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix Suns in six games.

By the end of that three-year runJordan had eclipsed stardom and approached folk hero status. Early into his careerhe drew Peter Pan-like admiration for his gravity defying leaps and belief that he would remain youthful forever. Howeverduring the three-peatplayers and teams seemed to concede that the title was Jordan.

In the 1992 FinalsJordan opened up Game 1 with a record setting 35-point first-half performance to lead the Bulls to a 122-89 rout. Jordan seemed unstoppable as he drained several 3-pointers over Blazer defenders and after one made three he shrugged his shoulders as if to sayI don’t even know what’s going on here. The Blazers bounced back and seemed poised to force a Game 7 as they took a 79-64 lead into the fourth quarter of Game 6. However, the Bulls roared back for a 97-93 series-clinching win.

That summerJordan was the key figure in forming the Dream Team that competed in the 1992 Olympics in BarcelonaSpain. The 12-member rosterfull of the era’s best playerswere respected as basketball royalty by its opponentswhom they outclassed on the way to the gold medal and idolized like pop icons by the world’s fans.

In 1993Jordan led the Bulls past the Patrick Ewing-led Knicks for the fourth time in five postseasons — this time in the Eastern Conference finals in six games without the home court advantage. Jordan scored 54 points in a 105-95 Game 4 win. And in the series’ turning point that was Game 5Jordan recorded a triple-double (29 points10 rebounds and 14 assists). But the crucial play was the Bulls’ successive blocks of putback attempts by the Knicks’ Charles Smith in the final seconds that allowed the Bulls to escape the Garden with a 97-94 win. The Bulls sealed the series with a 96-88 victory in Game 6.

In the FinalsJordan set a Finals record as he posted a 41.0 ppg average in the six-game series victory over the Suns. In the decisive Game 6the Bulls again stormed back to overcome a fourth-quarter deficit. This timeJordan scored nine straight points down the stretch. leading to John Paxson’s game-winning 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds on the clock for a 98-97 victory.

But trouble was brewing. Jordan was under scrutiny for what was thought to be poor decisions with respect to his gambling endeavors. But that paled in comparison to the loss of his father who was murdered during an armed robbery. His father was Jordan’s main confidant whom could be seen with his son on a regular basis as he climbed the ladder of success.

Emotionally drained and seeking new challengesjust one day before the start of training campJordan stunned the basketball world by announcing his retirement.

After much speculation about his plansJordan returned to the spotlight in a baseball uniform. Attempting to fulfill a dream inspired by his fatherthe younger Jordan set his sights on Major League Baseball. He spent the 1994 baseball season playing for the Birmingham Baronsan affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in the Class AA Southern League.

He was a competent if unspectacular performer. But Jordan’s hope of reaching the big leagues seemed dimand with Major League Baseball embroiled in a labor dispute as the 1995 season nearedhe focused his competitive fire back on the NBA. Late in the 1994-95 NBA seasonhe came out of retirement with the succinct statement: “I’m Back.”

He was backalbeit with the unorthodox No. 45 as he wanted to leave No. 23 behindand attempted to carry the Bulls to another title. Jordan averaged 26.9 points in 17 regular-season gameswhich the Bulls played to a record of 13-4.

The most memorable game of the initial comeback occurred six games in when he scored 55 points against the Knicks in the Garden. That gamedubbed “Double Nickel,” was extraordinary in that a new Jordan emerged. Robbed of his youthful bounce at age 32he turned primarily to fadeaway jump shots and spinning layups. And in the waning moments of a tie gamehe drew attention as he dribbled around the perimeter and passed to a wide-open Bill Wennington under the basket for the winning points in a 113-111 victory.

His coachJacksonin the aftermath said“It’s rare that players can live quite up to New York. I’ve seen a lot of them fall flat on their faces because of the pressure to perform there. But he had the whole evening in the palm of his hand. Sometimes the game just seems to gravitate into his grasp.”

In the playoffshe poured in 31.5 ppg. But despite Jordan’s presence in the lineupthe Bulls didn’t have quite enough to get past the Orlando Magic in the conference semifinals. Chicago lost to the Shaquille O’Neal-led Magic in six games.

Jordan’s championship quest was fulfilled the following season with almost a whole new band of players than in his first title runs. He began the season with his old No. 23 uniform but only his sidekick Pippen remaining from the first three championship teams. The Bulls added Dennis Rodmanan enigmatic player but a rebounding and defensive phenom.

The team enjoyed one of the most remarkable years ever posted by any club. Jordan led the NBA with 30.4 ppg as the Bulls charged to a record 72 victories during the regular seasonthen stormed through the playoffs with a 15-3 record ending in a six-game Finals win over the Sonics.

PoignantlyJordan recaptured the title on Father’s Day and cradled the ball after the decisive game in a heap on the floor of the United Centerwhich replaced Chicago Stadium during his retirementunabashedly crying. The emotional impact of the moment was overwhelming.

Along the wayJordan captured the MVP awards for the regular seasonAll-Star Game and Finalsjoining Willis Reed (1970) as the only men to win all three honors in the same season.

Although he had relinquished the MVP award to Karl Malone in 1996-97Jordan was awarded MVP in 1997-98 and again led the Bulls to the NBA championship with a satisfying six-game victory over Malone’s Utah Jazz. Despite a horrible case of stomach flu in a critical Game 5he would not let his team lose. He scored 38 points and the Bulls won the game and then the title at home in Game 6. He was also named the NBA Finals MVP for the fifth time.

At the turn of the 21st centuryESPN conducted an expansive survey of media membersathletes and others associated with the sports world to rank the 20th century’s greatest athletes. Jordan topped the list above Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali — substantiating his link to those earlier cultural icons.

In 2009Jordan was immortalized in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as the headliner of a class that also included NBA legends John StocktonDavid Robinson and Jerry Sloan. One year laterJordan added another accomplishment to his storied career.

Since 2006Jordan held a minority ownership stake in the then-Charlotte Bobcats. In 2010he was approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors as the majority owner of the Bobcatsbuying the team from then-owner Bob Johnson. Under Jordanthe Bobcats were eventually renamed the Hornets (starting in the 2014-15 season) to reunite the city with the nickname of its first NBA franchise.

Jordan has been deeply involved in the Charlotte community from a philanthropic perspectivedonating millions of his dollars to various causes and charities in the community. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemicJordan opened a second Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic to help communities in the North End of Charlotte get the medical help they needed.