Career Timeline of Michael Jordan: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Michael Jordan made an impact.

Michael Jordan, also known as MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player widely regarded as the greatest of all time. He played 15 seasons in the NBA, predominantly with the Chicago Bulls, leading them to six NBA championships. Jordan's impact transcended the sport, as he played a pivotal role in popularizing basketball globally and becoming a cultural icon in the 1980s and 1990s.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1975: NBA Game Nielsen Rating

The March 19, 1995 game of Jordan's comeback had the highest Nielsen rating of any regular season NBA game since 1975.

1980: Playoff Berth

In 1985, Michael Jordan helped the Bulls improve and qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 1980-81 season.

1981: Accepts Scholarship to UNC

In 1981, Michael Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in cultural geography.

1981: McDonald's All-American Game

In 1981, Michael Jordan was selected for the McDonald's All-American Game, scoring 30 points.

1982: NCAA Championship Game-Winning Shot

In 1982, Michael Jordan made the game-winning jump shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown.

1982: National Championship

In 1982, Michael Jordan was a freshman member of the North Carolina Tar Heels' national championship team.

1983: Pan American Games Gold Medal

In 1983, Michael Jordan won a gold medal while playing for the United States national team at the Pan American Games.

October 26, 1984: NBA Debut

On October 26, 1984, Michael Jordan made his NBA debut at Chicago Stadium, scoring 16 points.

1984: Jordan joins the NBA

In 1984, Michael Jordan began his 15-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

1984: Jordan Drafted by Bulls

In 1984, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls as the third overall draft pick.

1984: Drafted by Chicago Bulls

In 1984, Michael Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the third overall pick of the NBA draft.

1984: Naismith and Wooden Awards

In 1984, Michael Jordan won the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year awards before leaving North Carolina to enter the NBA draft.

1984: Creation of Air Jordan Shoe

In 1984, Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan called the Air Jordan.

1984: Introduction of Air Jordan sneakers

In 1984, Nike introduced the Air Jordan sneakers, which fueled the success of Michael Jordan's endorsements.

August 26, 1985: Shattered Backboard Dunk

On August 26, 1985, Michael Jordan shattered the glass of the backboard with a dunk during a Nike exhibition game in Trieste, Italy.

1985: Rookie Season Success

During his rookie 1984-85 season, Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game and became a fan favorite, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award, but also encountering controversy at the All-Star Game. The Bulls also made the playoffs for the first time since the 1980-81 season.

1986: Recovery from Injury

Michael Jordan fully recovered for the 1986-87 season, after an injury the previous season.

1987: Scoring Title

In the 1987-88 season, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring.

1988: Jordan's High Scoring Season

In the 1988-89 season, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring.

1989: Bulls Team on the Rise

In the 1989-90 season, the Chicago Bulls entered as a team on the rise.

March 28, 1990: Career-High Scoring Game

On March 28, 1990, Michael Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a road win against the Cavaliers.

1990: Bulls franchise record

In 1990, the Bulls established a new franchise record, setting the stage for their dominance in the upcoming season.

1991: Bulls Dominance and MVP Award

In 1991, Jordan and the Bulls established a 67–15 record and Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award, averaging 30.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, and 6.1 apg.

1991: First NBA Title

In 1991, Michael Jordan won his first NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.

1992: Preparing for Retirement

As early as the summer of 1992, Jordan was preparing for retirement. The added exhaustion due to the "Dream Team" run in the 1992 Summer Olympics solidified Jordan's feelings about the game and his celebrity status.

1992: Second NBA Title

In 1992, Michael Jordan secured his second NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.

1992: Dream Team

In 1992, Michael Jordan was part of the "Dream Team", an exhibit with items from this team was showcased at the Hall of Fame.

1992: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1992, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Tournament of the Americas and the Summer Olympics.

1992: Regular Season Performance

In the 1992 season, Jordan played exceptionally well with 32.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 5.5 apg campaign, including a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting

1992: Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7

Jordan played in a Game 7 since the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals with the New York Knicks.

October 6, 1993: Jordan Announces Retirement

On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, citing a loss of desire to play.

1993: Bulls without Jordan

In 1993 the Bulls went 55–27 without Jordan in the lineup and lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.

1993: Third NBA Championship and Finals MVP

In 1993, Jordan and the Bulls won their third NBA championship, with Jordan averaging a Finals-record 41.0 ppg and becoming the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.

1993: Third NBA Title and First Retirement

In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Bulls secured a three-peat, winning their third consecutive NBA title. Jordan abruptly retired from basketball to play Minor League Baseball.

February 7, 1994: Signing with the Chicago White Sox

On February 7, 1994, Jordan signed a Minor League Baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox.

1994: Bulls Without Jordan

In 1994, the Bulls went 55-27 without Jordan in the lineup and lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.

March 1995: Jordan's Return Game

In March 1995, Jordan returned to the court with the Bulls, scoring 19 points against the Indiana Pacers in a highly-rated game. He wore No. 45.

March 18, 1995: Jordan Announces Comeback

On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his comeback to the NBA with a two-word press release: "I'm back."

March 28, 1995: 55 Points at Madison Square Garden

On March 28, 1995, Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

1995: Aggressive Training

In 1995, Jordan trained aggressively after the playoff defeat.

1996: Boys & Girls Club Dedication

In 1996, Jordan founded a Chicago-area Boys & Girls Club and dedicated it to his father.

1996: Fourth NBA Title

In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Bulls to their fourth NBA championship and a record 72 regular season wins.

1996: Starred in Space Jam

In 1996, Michael Jordan played himself in the comedy film Space Jam, which was a box office success.

1996: Bulls Season Record

In the 1996-97 season, the Bulls stood at a 69-11 record but ended the season by losing their final two games to finish the year 69-13.

1997: NBA Finals and Flu Game

In 1997, Jordan played through illness in Game 5 against the Utah Jazz, scoring 38 points in what became known as "The Flu Game".

1997: Fifth NBA Title

In 1997, Michael Jordan secured his fifth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.

1997: NBA Entertainment Crew Filmed Jordan

In 1997, an NBA Entertainment crew filmed Jordan's and his teammates' off-court activities. The project was delayed for many years because Jordan had not yet given his permission for the footage to be used.

1997: MVP Award and Scoring Title

In the 1997-98 season, 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.

June 14, 1998: Game 6 Clutch Performance

On June 14, 1998, Jordan executed a series of plays in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, considered to be one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA Finals history.

1998: Sixth NBA Championship and Finals MVP

In 1998, Jordan led the Bulls to their sixth NBA championship, earning his sixth Finals MVP award and solidifying the highest television rating for any Finals series.

1998: Sixth NBA Title

In 1998, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their sixth NBA championship.

1998: The 1998 NBA Playoffs

In 1998, Michael Jordan participated in the NBA playoffs. This was a period of Jordan's career that was featured in the IMAX documentary titled "Michael Jordan to the Max".

January 13, 1999: Second Retirement

On January 13, 1999, Jordan retired for the second time, citing factors such as Phil Jackson's contract expiring and the looming departures of key teammates.

January 1999: Claim of No Return

In January 1999, Jordan claimed he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game.

January 1999: Jordan's Second Retirement

In January 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time from the NBA.

January 19, 2000: Joins Wizards as Executive

On January 19, 2000, Jordan returned to the NBA as part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.

2000: Subject of IMAX Documentary

In 2000, Michael Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary about his career with the Chicago Bulls, titled Michael Jordan to the Max.

2001: Kwame Brown Draft

In 2001, Jordan used the first pick in the NBA draft to select Kwame Brown, a decision that faced criticism later on.

2001: Jordan Returns with Wizards

In 2001, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for two seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards.

2001: Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Begins

In 2001, Michael Jordan started hosting the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, an annual golf tournament to raise money for various charities.

2001: Interest in Comeback

In the summer of 2001, Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback, inspired by Mario Lemieux.

2002: Possible Influence on Trade

In 2002, Jordan's previous tenure produced mixed results and may have influenced the trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse.

May 7, 2003: Fired by the Wizards

On May 7, 2003, Michael Jordan was fired from his role as Director of Basketball Operations by Wizards owner Abe Pollin.

2003: Jordan's final NBA season

In 2003, Michael Jordan played his final season in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

June 15, 2006: Minority Stake in Charlotte Bobcats

On June 15, 2006, Michael Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the team's second-largest shareholder and taking control of basketball operations.

2006: Jordan Pledges Donation to Hales Franciscan High School

In 2006, Michael Jordan and his wife Juanita pledged $5 million to Chicago's Hales Franciscan High School.

August 2009: Michael Jordan Exhibit Opens at Hall of Fame

In August 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened a Michael Jordan exhibit in Springfield, Massachusetts, showcasing items from his college and NBA careers, as well as the 1992 "Dream Team".

September 2009: Induction into the Hall of Fame

In September 2009, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He selected David Thompson to present him and gave an emotional speech, which was captured by the Associated Press, later becoming the "Crying Jordan" Internet meme.

February 2010: Seeking Majority Ownership of Bobcats

In February 2010, Michael Jordan sought majority ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats and reached an agreement to buy the team.

2013: Granted 200th Wish

In 2013, Michael Jordan granted his 200th wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

2013: Hornets Name Change

In 2013, the Charlotte Bobcats became known as the Hornets.

2014: Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Ends

In 2014, Michael Jordan concluded hosting the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, an annual golf tournament that raised money for various charities since 2001.

2015: Jordan Donates Settlement to Charities

In 2015, Michael Jordan donated an undisclosed settlement from a lawsuit against supermarkets to 23 different Chicago charities.

2017: Jordan Funds Family Clinics

In 2017, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a $7 million donation.

2019: Raised Over $5 Million for Make-A-Wish

As of 2019, Michael Jordan has raised more than $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

2019: Sale of Minority Piece of Hornets

During the 2019 NBA offseason, Michael Jordan sold a minority piece of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim, retaining the majority for himself.

2019: Donated to Hurricane Dorian Relief

In 2019, Michael Jordan gave $1 million to aid the Bahamas' recovery following Hurricane Dorian.

May 2020: The Last Dance Debuts

In May 2020, The Last Dance, a 10-part TV documentary, debuted on ESPN, covering the period of Jordan's life from 1997-98.

June 5, 2020: Jordan Announces Donation for Racial Equality

On June 5, 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Michael Jordan and his brand announced they would donate $100 million over 10 years to organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice, and greater access to education.

February 2021: Jordan Funds Family Clinics in New Hanover County

In February 2021, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in New Hanover County, North Carolina, by giving $10 million.

October 2021: Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In October 2021, Michael Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, honoring his contributions to basketball.

September 2022: Jersey Sold for $10.1 Million

In September 2022, Michael Jordan's jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, becoming the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.

2022: Appeared in The Captain

In 2022, Michael Jordan appeared in the miniseries The Captain, which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter.

August 2023: Sale of Majority Stake in Hornets Finalized

In August 2023, Michael Jordan finalized the sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner.