Michael Jordan is an American professional basketball player who played with the National Basketball Association (NBA) team. Born on February 17, 1963, this star player is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. And Michael Jordan’s achievements prove this right. During his college career, he made several accomplishments in North Carolina. In addition, he played an integral part in making the NBA famous worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s.
Michael Jordan set a remarkable NBA record for his slam dunks and leaping ability. It led to having nicknames such as ‘Air Jordan’ and ‘His Airness’. Among his notable achievements are six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and records of NBA scoring titles.
College career
Jordan’s college career started at the University of North Carolina. He received the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year award achieving a 53.4% field goal percentage. Jordan was part of the team headed by coach Dean Smith.
As a freshman, Jordan turned a point in his basketball career at the university. He made a winning jump shot during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship game in 1982. The team won against the Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team led by coach Patrick Ewing. Also, Jordan was part of the NCAA All-American First Team in 1983 and 1984. He left North Carolina after receiving two awards. Jordan won the Naismith College Player of the Year award and the Wooden College Player of the Year award.
Professional career
Throughout Jordan’s professional career, he earned several awards and record income in the history of the NBA. As a versatile basketball player, Jordan played as a shooting guard, small forward, or point guard. He is considered a good rebounder, but a three-point-field goal was not his strength in his early years. However, he improved his three-point shooting from a success rate of 35% to 45%.
Jordan’s play with Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan joined the NBA team as he played for the Chicago Bulls team. His NBA debut game was at the Chicago Stadium in 1984, where he scored 16 points. During his play with the Bulls, Jordan demonstrated expertise in basketball. He sets an NBA record of 200 steals and 100 blocked shots in a single season. He also made a record six-time winner of the NBA championship. Jordan still led the league in the 1987 to 1988 season and received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
His First Retirement
In 1993, Jordan decided to retire as an NBA basketball player after his father died. He established the Boys & Girls Club, a national organization providing after-school programs to youth. Jordan dedicated this club to his late father.
In 1994, Jordan decided to sign a Minor League Baseball contract and played for the Chicago White Sox. Jordan’s decision respects the father’s dream for his son to become a Major League Baseball player.
Michael Jordan’s Return to NBA
In 1995, he quit baseball for fear of becoming a replacement player. Finally, Jordan announced his return to the NBA in the same year. ‘I’m back’ is the two-word indicator that the legend has made his comeback. When the Chicago Bulls lost Jordan in the early years, they struggled in several NBA team games.
Jordan returned to the NBA by facing the Indiana Pacers with a score of 19 points. Jordan’s other game back was his play against the New York Knicks in 1995, where he scored 55 points.
Jordan’s Play with Washington Wizards
In 2001, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA and played for the Washington Wizards. The legendary player intends to donate his salary as an NBA player to the victims of the September 11 attacks. Jordan led the Washington Wizards to a winning record. But they missed the playoffs due to a subsequent injury he suffered.
In 2003, he became the all-time leading scorer beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in All-Star Game history. As a result, the Wizards became the second most-watched NBA team, with several fans giving support.
National team career
Jordan made it to the U.S. national basketball team with coach Jack Hartman. He played at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1983. The team scored 17.3 points per game (ppg), which led to winning the gold medal. Jordan also won a gold medal for winning the Summer Olympics in 1984. Coached by Bob Knight, he played with other basketball players such as Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing. In 1992, Michael Jordan joined an all-star team with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The team won gold medals in the 1992 Tournament of the Americas and the 1992 Summer Olympics.
