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 considered one of the greatest of all time. He played 15 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Chicago Bulls, winning six NBA championships. Jordan's exceptional athletic abilities, competitive spirit, and charismatic personality made him a global icon, instrumental in popularizing basketball and the NBA worldwide during the 1980s and 1990s. He is also a successful businessman.
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 1985, Michael Jordan helped the Chicago Bulls qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 1980-81 season.
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, as a senior in high school, Michael Jordan was selected for the McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 30 points.
In 1982, Michael Jordan was a freshman member of the North Carolina Tar Heels national championship team.
In 1982, as a freshman, Michael Jordan made the game-winning jump shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, a major turning point in his career.
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 and winning a gold medal.
In 1983, Michael Jordan was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team for his sophomore season.
By November 1984, Michael Jordan's talent was clear in his first NBA season; he was being compared to Julius Erving.
In 1984, Michael Jordan began his 15-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Chicago Bulls.
In 1984, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls as the third overall draft pick and quickly rose to stardom.
In 1984, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics, leading the U.S. team in scoring with 17.1 ppg.
In 1984, Michael Jordan won the Naismith and Wooden College Player of the Year awards and then left North Carolina to enter the NBA draft.
In 1984, Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan called the Air Jordan. This line later became its own division named the "Jordan Brand."
In 1984, Nike introduced Air Jordan sneakers, which were endorsed by Michael Jordan and became highly successful.
During his rookie 1984-85 season, Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg and helped the Bulls qualify for the postseason, becoming a fan favorite and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
On April 20, 1986, Michael Jordan established the single-game playoff record of 63 points against the Boston Celtics, leading Larry Bird to describe him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan".
From 1986-87 season to 2001-02 season, Michael Jordan did not miss four or more games while active for a full season.
In the 1986-87 season, Michael Jordan had one of the most prolific scoring seasons in NBA history, becoming the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season, and he also recorded 200 steals and 100 blocked shots.
In 1987, Michael Jordan won his first Slam Dunk Contest championship. This athletic achievement influenced a generation of young players.
In the 1987-88 season, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring, averaging 35.0 ppg, and won his first league MVP Award and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
During the 1988-89 season, Michael Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg, and also averaged 8.0 rpg and 8.0 apg.
In 1988, Michael Jordan was awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
In 1988, Michael Jordan won his second consecutive Slam Dunk Contest championship. This further solidified his influence on a generation of young basketball players.
In 1988, Michael Jordan won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards, becoming the first NBA player to win both awards in a season.
Starting in 1988, Michael Jordan had five consecutive seasons with at least 50% shooting.
During the 1989-90 season, Michael Jordan demonstrated improved three-point shooting, making 37% of his attempts.
The Chicago Bulls entered the 1989-90 season as a team on the rise, with Jordan and young players under coach Phil Jackson.
On March 28, 1990, Michael Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a 117-113 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In 1990, Michael Jordan won his second MVP award, averaging 31.5 points per game with a shooting percentage of 53.9%. The Bulls achieved first place in their division, winning 61 games, a franchise record. The team, including All-Star Scottie Pippen, defeated the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs before sweeping the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 1990, Michael Jordan's automotive group acquired a Nissan dealership in Durham, North Carolina.
In 1990, The Chicago Bulls were dominating the regular season. Michael Jordan was performing extremely well and the franchise was headed for greatness.
In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls established a 67–15 record, surpassing their franchise record from the 1990–91 season. Jordan secured his second consecutive MVP award with averages of 30.1 points per game.
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.
During the 1992-93 season, Michael Jordan shot 35% from the three-point line.
In 1992, Michael Jordan finished his fifth consecutive season with at least 50% shooting.
In 1992, Michael Jordan was featured in a Nike commercial with Bugs Bunny during Super Bowl XXVI. He also made an appearance in the music video for Michael Jackson's "Jam".
In 1992, Michael Jordan won his second NBA title and also played for the United States national team at the Tournament of the Americas and Summer Olympics, winning gold medals.
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, citing a loss of desire to play. He later mentioned that the murder of his father, James R. Jordan Sr., three months prior influenced his decision.
In 1993, Michael Jordan won his third consecutive NBA title with the Chicago Bulls, completing a three-peat, and then abruptly retired to play Minor League Baseball.
In 1993, despite losing the regular season MVP award to Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their third NBA championship, defeating Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Jordan achieved a Finals-record average of 41.0 points per game and won his third consecutive Finals MVP award, becoming the first in NBA history to do so. This marked the end of a seven-year period where Jordan secured seven scoring titles and three championships.
On February 7, 1994, Michael Jordan signed a Minor League Baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. He reported to spring training in Sarasota, Florida, and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31. This decision was driven by his late father's dream of Jordan becoming a Major League Baseball player. The White Sox were owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who continued to honor Jordan's basketball contract.
From 1994 to 1997, Michael Jordan shot higher percentages from the three-point line as the three-point line was temporarily moved inwards.
Michael Jordan played 17 games after returning from his first retirement during the 1994-95 season.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after a brief stint in Minor League Baseball.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the court with the Chicago Bulls to face the Indiana Pacers, scoring 19 points. He wore No. 45, his baseball number, instead of his original No. 23, which the Bulls had retired. This game achieved the highest Nielsen rating for a regular season NBA game since 1975.
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, marking a significant performance during his comeback.
In 1995, Michael Jordan trained intensely after the playoff defeat, and the Chicago Bulls acquired Dennis Rodman. The Bulls started the 1995–96 season with a 41–3 record.
In 1995, Michael Jordan's company formerly had a Lincoln-Mercury dealership.
In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fourth NBA championship.
In 1996, Michael Jordan played himself in the comedy film Space Jam. The film was a box office success and earned more than $1 billion through merchandise sales.
In 1996, Michael Jordan starred in the live-action/animated film Space Jam alongside Bugs Bunny. The movie was set during Jordan's first retirement from basketball.
In the 1996–97 season, the Bulls were at a 69–11 record but lost their final two games to finish the year 69–13, missing out on a second consecutive 70-win season.
From 1994 to 1997, Michael Jordan shot higher percentages from the three-point line as the three-point line was temporarily moved inwards.
In 1997, Michael Jordan led the league with 28.7 points per game and secured his fifth regular season MVP award, along with All-NBA First Team, First Defensive Team, and All-Star Game MVP honors. The Bulls won the Eastern Conference Championship for a third straight season, and they moved on for a Finals rematch with the Utah Jazz after surviving a seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers.
In 1997, Michael Jordan played Game 5 against the Utah Jazz despite having a stomach virus. He scored 38 points, including the game-winning three-pointer, leading the Bulls to a 90–88 victory. Jordan received his fifth Finals MVP award, and although he posted the first triple-double in All-Star Game history, the MVP award went to Glen Rice.
In 1997, an NBA Entertainment crew shot about 500 hours of film of Jordan's and his teammates' off-court activities.
On June 14, 1998, in Game 6 against the Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan executed a series of plays considered one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA Finals history. With the Bulls trailing 86–83, Jordan scored a basket to cut Utah's lead to 86–85. He then stole the ball from Karl Malone and dribbled down the court.
By 1998, 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.
In 1998, Michael Jordan secured his sixth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls, completing another three-peat.
In 1998, the Chicago Bulls won the NBA playoffs, which later became the subject of the IMAX documentary 'Michael Jordan to the Max'.
In 1998, with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6, Michael Jordan made the climactic shot of his Bulls career, a top-key jumper over Bryon Russell, to give Chicago an 87–86 lead. The Bulls won their sixth NBA championship, achieving their second three-peat of the decade. Jordan was voted Finals MVP for a record sixth time, averaging 33.5 points per game. The 1998 Finals holds the highest television rating of any Finals series, and Game 6 holds the highest television rating of any game in NBA history.
In September 2022, Jordan's jersey in which he played the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.
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 professional basketball.
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 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 about his career with the Chicago Bulls, especially the 1998 NBA playoffs, titled Michael Jordan to the Max.
On September 25, 2001, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards, donating his salary to relief efforts for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
Confirmed during the start of his career and possibly later on, Michael Jordan had a special "Love of the Game Clause" written into his contract, allowing him to play basketball against anyone at any time, anywhere.
From 2001 to 2014, Michael Jordan hosted an annual golf tournament, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, to raise money for various charities.
In 2001, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for two more seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards.
In 2001, as part owner and president of the Washington Wizards, Michael Jordan used the first pick in the NBA draft to select high school student Kwame Brown, who did not meet expectations and was later traded after four seasons.
During the 2002-03 NBA season, tributes were paid to Michael Jordan throughout the NBA in recognition that it would be his final season.
In 2002, Michael Jordan's previous tenure with the Wizards may have influenced the trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, although Jordan was not technically Director of Basketball Operations at the time.
On February 21, 2003, Michael Jordan became the first 40-year-old player to score 43 points in an NBA game.
On April 16, 2003, Michael Jordan played his final NBA game in Philadelphia. He scored his final points from the free throw line and received a three-minute standing ovation when he was subbed out with one second left in the game.
On May 7, 2003, Abe Pollin, the owner of the Washington Wizards, fired Michael Jordan from his position as Director of Basketball Operations, leading Jordan to feel betrayed.
In 2003, Michael Jordan concluded his professional basketball career after playing 15 seasons in the NBA.
Since 2004, Michael Jordan has owned Michael Jordan Motorsports, a professional motorcycle road racing team.
On June 15, 2006, Michael Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats (later known as the Hornets), becoming the team's second-largest shareholder and taking control of basketball operations.
In 2006, Michael Jordan became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats).
As of 2008, Michael Jordan's yearly income from endorsements was estimated to be over $40 million, in addition to the impact on ticket sales and player salary.
In 2008, Michael Jordan was named the Chief Wish Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In June 2009 through June 2010, Michael Jordan earned $55 million and was ranked by Forbes as the 20th-most-powerful celebrity in the world.
In June 2009, Michael Jordan's Lincoln-Mercury dealership closed.
In February 2010, it was reported that Michael Jordan was seeking majority ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats. On February 27, an agreement was reached for Jordan to buy the team from Robert L. Johnson, which was approved by the NBA on March 17, making him the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team.
In June 2010, Michael Jordan was ranked by Forbes as the 20th-most-powerful celebrity in the world, earning $55 million between June 2009 and June 2010.
In 2010, Michael Jordan bought a controlling interest in the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2013, Michael Jordan granted his 200th wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Michael Jordan Motorsports, which Michael Jordan owned, competed with two Suzukis in the premier Superbike championship sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) until the end of the 2013 season.
On June 15, 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats (known as the Hornets since 2013), becoming the team's second-largest shareholder and taking control of basketball operations.
In June 2014, Michael Jordan was named the first NBA player to become a billionaire after increasing his stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
From 2001 to 2014, Michael Jordan hosted an annual golf tournament, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, to raise money for various charities.
On January 20, 2015, Michael Jordan was honored as the Charlotte Business Journal's Business Person of the Year for 2014.
In 2015, Michael Jordan's income from his Jordan Brand and endorsements was an estimated $110 million, the most of any retired athlete.
In 2017, Forbes designated Michael Jordan as the athlete with the highest career earnings.
In 2017, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina, by giving $7 million.
In 2018, Michael Jordan's steakhouse in New York City's Grand Central Terminal closed.
As of 2019, Michael Jordan had 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 gave $1 million to aid the Bahamas' recovery following Hurricane Dorian.
In May 2020, The Last Dance, a 10-part TV documentary covering the 1997-98 NBA season in great detail, debuted on ESPN.
On June 5, 2020, Michael Jordan and his brand announced a joint statement that they would be donating $100 million over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to racial equality, social justice, and greater access to 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 field a NASCAR Cup Series team with Bubba Wallace driving, starting in the 2021 season. The team would be named 23XI Racing.
In 2020, Michael Jordan was the central focus of the Emmy-winning documentary series "The Last Dance".
In February 2021, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in New Hanover County, North Carolina, by giving $10 million.
In 2021, 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, began competition in the NASCAR Cup Series with Bubba Wallace driving No. 23.
In September 2022, Michael Jordan's jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals was sold for $10.1 million, setting a record as the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history.
In 2022, 23XI Racing added a second car, No. 45, initially driven by Kurt Busch, with other drivers substituting during the season.
In 2022, Michael Jordan appeared in the miniseries The Captain, which follows the life and career of Derek Jeter.
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, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner, though he retained a minority stake.
In 2023, 23XI Racing fielded a third car, No. 67, driven by Travis Pastrana in the Daytona 500.
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, this time in Wilmington.
In 2024, Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship, the first for 23XI Racing.
In 2025, 23XI Racing will acquire a third charter from the defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, with Riley Herbst driving the No. 35 car.
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