From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Michael Jordan made an impact.
Michael Jordan, also known as MJ, is a celebrated American businessman and former professional basketball player. Renowned for his 15 seasons in the NBA (1984-2003), he secured six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan played a pivotal role in globalizing basketball and the NBA during the 1980s and 1990s. His outstanding athletic abilities and iconic status transformed him into a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
In 1975, Michael Jordan's return to the court had the highest Nielsen rating of any regular season NBA game since 1975.
Since 1976, the year of the ABA–NBA merger, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are the only two players to win six NBA Finals playing for one team.
In 1981, Michael Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in cultural geography.
In 1981, Michael Jordan was selected for the McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 30 points.
In 1982, Michael Jordan made the game-winning jump shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, which he later described as a major turning point in his basketball career.
In 1982, Michael Jordan, as a freshman, was a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels' national championship team.
In 1983, Michael Jordan debuted as a college player for the U.S. national basketball team at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, leading the team in scoring with 17.3 ppg and winning the gold medal.
In 1983, Michael Jordan was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team.
In 1984, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls as the third overall draft pick and quickly became a league star.
In 1984, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics, leading the team in scoring with 17.1 ppg.
In 1984, Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan, called the Air Jordan. Hype and demand for the shoes even brought on a spate of "shoe-jackings".
On April 20, 1986, after Michael Jordan established the single game playoff record of 63 points against the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird described him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan".
After recovering from a broken foot, Michael Jordan returned in time for the 1986 postseason. Despite the Bulls' record, Jordan performed well, although the Celtics swept the series.
Starting in 1986-87, Michael Jordan did not miss four or more games in a full season until 2001-02, showcasing his durability.
In 1987, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring and won his first league MVP Award.
In 1987, Michael Jordan won the Slam Dunk Contest championship. His athletic leaping ability influenced a generation of young players.
In 1988, Michael Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg, along with 8.0 rpg and 8.0 apg. He had 10 triple-doubles in 11 games as a point guard.
In 1988, Michael Jordan began a streak of five consecutive seasons with at least 50% shooting.
In 1988, Michael Jordan secured his second consecutive Slam Dunk Contest championship. This display of athleticism influenced a generation of young players.
In 1988, Michael Jordan was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
In 1988, Michael Jordan won both the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards, becoming the first NBA player to win both in a career, let alone a single season.
In the 1989–90 season, Michael Jordan improved his three-point shooting, achieving 37%.
The Bulls entered the 1989 season as a team on the rise, with their core group of Jordan and young improving players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, and under the guidance of new coach Phil Jackson.
On March 28, 1990, Michael Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a 117–113 road win over the Cavaliers.
In 1990, Michael Jordan acquired a Nissan dealership in Durham, North Carolina, as part of his automotive group.
In 1990, Michael Jordan won his second MVP award, averaging 31.5 points per game with a 53.9% shooting accuracy, alongside 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the regular season. The Bulls finished first in their division for the first time in sixteen years, achieving a franchise record of 61 wins. With Scottie Pippen's emergence as an All-Star, the Bulls' performance improved significantly.
In 1990, The Chicago Bulls set a franchise record with 61 wins in the regular season, marking a significant milestone in the team's history.
In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls continued their dominance, establishing a 67–15 record. Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award with averages of 30.1 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, and 6.1 assists per game on 52% shooting. The Bulls defeated the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs and advanced to the NBA Finals against Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers.
In 1991, Michael Jordan won his first NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.
Since 1991, Michael Jordan appeared in over 20 commercials for Gatorade, including the "Be Like Mike" commercials.
In 1992, Michael Jordan appeared in a Nike commercial with Bugs Bunny during Super Bowl XXVI, playing basketball, and he also made an appearance in the music video for Michael Jackson's "Jam".
In 1992, Michael Jordan ended a streak of five consecutive seasons with at least 50% shooting.
In 1992, Michael Jordan played in a Game 7 during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks.
In 1992, Michael Jordan was a part of the "Dream Team". Items from this career were displayed at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2009.
In 1992, Michael Jordan won another NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.
In the 1992–93 season, Michael Jordan improved his three-point shooting, achieving 35%.
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, citing a loss of desire to play. He later attributed the decision to the murder of his father.
In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their third NBA championship, defeating Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. Jordan averaged a Finals-record 41.0 points per game during the six-game series and was named Finals MVP for the third consecutive time. Jordan scored more than 30 points in every game of the series.
In 1993, Michael Jordan decided to quit baseball because he feared he might become a replacement player during the Major League Baseball strike.
In 1993, Michael Jordan secured a three-peat with the Chicago Bulls and then abruptly retired from basketball to play Minor League Baseball.
On November 1, 1994, Michael Jordan's No. 23 was retired by the Chicago Bulls in a ceremony that included the erection of a permanent sculpture known as The Spirit outside the new United Center.
In 1994, the Chicago Bulls went 55–27 without Michael Jordan in the lineup and lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.
Michael Jordan's 2001-02 season was the fewest he had played since returning from his first retirement during the 1994-95 season.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after playing Minor League Baseball.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the court with the Chicago Bulls to face the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, scoring 19 points. Jordan wore No. 45, his baseball number, instead of his original number.
On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA with a two-word press release: "I'm back."
On March 28, 1995, Michael Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in his next game after returning.
In 1995, Michael Jordan acquired a Lincoln-Mercury dealership, which was part of his automotive group.
In 1995, Michael Jordan was freshly motivated by the playoff defeat, and he trained aggressively for the 1995–96 season.
In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to another championship and a then-record 72 regular-season wins.
In 1996, Michael Jordan played himself in the comedy film Space Jam, which became a box office success.
In 1996, Michael Jordan starred alongside Bugs Bunny in the live-action/animated film "Space Jam," which was set during his first retirement from basketball.
In the 1996-97 season, the Chicago Bulls started with a 69-11 record but failed to win 70 games for the second year in a row.
During the 1997-98 NBA season, an NBA Entertainment crew filmed approximately 500 hours of off-court activities of Michael Jordan and his teammates, later used in the documentary "The Last Dance", released in 2020.
In 1997, Michael Jordan secured another NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.
In 1997, during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan played despite being feverish and dehydrated from a stomach virus, known as "The Flu Game". He scored 38 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining, leading the Bulls to a 90–88 victory.
By 1998, during the season of his Finals-winning shot against the Jazz, Michael Jordan was well known throughout the league as a clutch performer, always asking for the ball at crunch time.
During the labor dispute in 1998, Michael Jordan advised Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin to sell the team if he couldn't make a profit, a statement that later fueled accusations of hypocrisy during the 2011 lockout.
In 1998, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their sixth NBA championship.
In 1998, Michael Jordan played the opening game of the NBA Finals. His jersey from that game was sold for a record amount in September 2022.
The 1998 NBA playoffs featuring Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were the focus of the IMAX documentary "Michael Jordan to the Max", released in 2000, and the later TV documentary "The Last Dance", released in 2020.
On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time due to Phil Jackson's contract expiring, the looming departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, and an owner-induced lockout of NBA players.
In January 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time from the NBA.
In January 1999, despite claiming he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game, Michael Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback.
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, controlling all aspects of the team's basketball operations and personnel matters.
In 2000, Michael Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary, "Michael Jordan to the Max," about his career with the Chicago Bulls, especially the 1998 NBA playoffs.
On September 25, 2001, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards, with the intention of donating his salary to a relief effort for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
From 2001 to 2014, Michael Jordan hosted the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, raising money for various charities.
In 2001, Kwame Brown was drafted as the number-one pick by the Wizards.
In 2001, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for two seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Starting in 1986-87, Michael Jordan did not miss four or more games in a full season until 2001-02, showcasing his durability.
In 2002, Michael Jordan's previous tenure may have influenced the Washington Wizards' trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, though Jordan was not technically Director of Basketball Operations at the time.
Throughout the NBA during the 2002-03 season, tributes were paid to Michael Jordan in recognition of it being his final season.
On February 21, 2003, Michael Jordan became the first 40-year-old to tally 43 points in an NBA game while playing for the Washington Wizards.
On April 16, 2003, Michael Jordan played in his final NBA game in Philadelphia, scoring 13 points and receiving a standing ovation as he left the court.
On May 7, 2003, Michael Jordan was fired from his role as Director of Basketball Operations with the Washington Wizards by owner Abe Pollin.
In 2003, Michael Jordan played his final NBA season as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Since 2004, Michael Jordan has owned Michael Jordan Motorsports, a professional closed-course motorcycle road racing team.
On June 15, 2006, Michael Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the team's second-largest shareholder and taking full control over basketball operations.
In 2006, Michael Jordan became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats).
In 2008, Michael Jordan's annual income from endorsements was estimated to be over $40 million.
In 2008, the Make-A-Wish Foundation named Michael Jordan its Chief Wish Ambassador.
In June 2009, Michael Jordan's Lincoln-Mercury dealership closed.
In February 2010, Michael Jordan sought and reached an agreement to buy the Charlotte Bobcats, pending NBA approval, eventually becoming the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team.
In 2010, Michael Jordan bought a controlling interest in the Charlotte Hornets.
At the end of the 2013 season, Michael Jordan Motorsports ended its participation in the premier Superbike championship sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).
In 2013, Michael Jordan granted his 200th wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2013, the Charlotte Bobcats were renamed to the Charlotte Hornets. Michael Jordan had bought a stake in the Bobcats in June 15, 2006.
In June 2014, Michael Jordan was named the first NBA player to become a billionaire after increasing his stake in the Charlotte Hornets from 80% to 89.5%.
From 2001 to 2014, Michael Jordan hosted the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, raising money for various charities. 2014 was the last year of the tournament.
On January 20, 2015, Michael Jordan was honored with the Charlotte Business Journal's Business Person of the Year award for his achievements in 2014.
In 2015, Michael Jordan's income from the Jordan Brand and endorsements was estimated at $110 million, the most of any retired athlete.
In 2015, The Bulls finished with the best regular season record in NBA history, 72–10, a mark broken two decades later by the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors.
In 2017, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a $7 million donation.
In 2018, the steakhouse owned by Michael Jordan in New York City's Grand Central Terminal closed.
As of 2019, Michael Jordan has raised more than $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
During the 2019 NBA offseason, Jordan sold a minority piece of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim, retaining the majority for himself, as well as the role of chairman.
In 2019, Michael Jordan donated $1 million to aid the Bahamas' recovery following Hurricane Dorian.
In May 2020, the 10-part TV documentary "The Last Dance," which covers the 1997-98 NBA season, debuted on ESPN, providing a detailed look at Michael Jordan's life and career during that period.
On June 5, 2020, Michael Jordan and his brand announced a joint commitment to donate $100 million over 10 years to organizations focused on racial equality, social justice, and education.
In September 2020, Michael Jordan became an investor and advisor for DraftKings.
On September 21, 2020, Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin announced they would be fielding a NASCAR Cup Series team with Bubba Wallace driving, beginning competition in the 2021 season.
In February 2021, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in New Hanover County, North Carolina, with a $10 million donation.
In 2021, the 23XI Racing team, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, began competition in the NASCAR Cup Series with Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 car.
In 2022, Michael Jordan appeared in the miniseries "The Captain," which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter.
In 2022, the 23XI Racing team added a second car, No. 45, driven by Kurt Busch, and also had Ty Gibbs, John Hunter Nemechek, and Daniel Hemric as substitute drivers.
In August 2023, Michael Jordan finalized the sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall for approximately $3 billion, concluding his 13-year tenure as majority owner while retaining a minority stake.
In 2023, 23XI Racing fielded a third car, No. 67, driven by Travis Pastrana in the Daytona 500 and Tyler Reddick took over the No. 45 car.
In 2023, Michael Jordan donated $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for his 60th birthday.
In 2023, Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2024, Michael Jordan funded the opening of another Novant Health Clinic in Wilmington.
In 2025, 23XI Racing acquired a third charter from the defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, the No. 35 driven by Riley Herbst.
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