From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Michael Jordan made an impact.
Michael Jordan, often known as MJ, is a businessman and former professional basketball and baseball player. Dominating the NBA from 1984-2003, he secured six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players ever. He played a key role in globally popularizing the sport and the NBA in the 80s and 90s, becoming a global icon. As of 2025, he is also the world's richest athlete.
In 1980, Michael Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in cultural geography.
As a senior, Michael Jordan was selected for the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 30 points.
In 1982, as a freshman, 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, as a freshman, Michael Jordan was a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels' national championship team.
In 1983, Michael Jordan made his debut 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 the gold medal.
In 1983, Michael Jordan was selected to play for the United States national team and won a gold medal at the Pan American Games.
By November 1984, Michael Jordan was being compared to Julius Erving due to his talent in his first NBA season.
In 1984, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls as the third overall draft pick.
In 1984, Michael Jordan left North Carolina a year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA draft.
In 1984, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics.
In 1984, Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan, called the Air Jordan. One of his more popular commercials for the shoe involved Spike Lee playing the part of Mars Blackmon: Lee, as Blackmon, attempted to find the source of Jordan's abilities and became convinced that "it's gotta be the shoes".
During his rookie 1984–85 season, Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg and was voted an All-Star starter. Controversy arose before the 1985 NBA All-Star Game due to veteran players being upset by the attention he received, leading to a so-called "freeze-out".
On April 20, 1986, Michael Jordan established a 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 to 2001-02, Jordan did not miss four or more games while active for a full season.
In 1986, Michael Jordan returned to North Carolina to complete his degree, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.
Michael Jordan completely recovered in time for the 1986–87 season after breaking his foot in the third game of the 1985-86 season.
During the 1987–88 season, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring, averaging 35.0 ppg and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
In 1987, Michael Jordan won one of his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships.
In 1988, Michael Jordan had one of his six seasons with at least 50% shooting.
In 1988, Michael Jordan won one of his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships.
In the 1988–89 season, Michael Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the field, along with 8.0 rpg and 8.0 apg.
During the 1989–90 season, Michael Jordan showed improvement in his three-point shooting, achieving a percentage of 37%.
The Bulls entered the 1989–90 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 won his second MVP award with averages of 31.5 points per game on 53.9% shooting, 6.0 rebounds per game, and 5.5 assists per game. The Bulls finished first in their division for the first time in sixteen years and set a franchise record with 61 regular season wins.
In 1990, Michael Jordan's automotive group acquired a Nissan dealership in Durham, North Carolina.
In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Bulls achieved a 67–15 record, surpassing their franchise record from the 1990–91 season. Jordan also secured his second consecutive MVP award, averaging 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game with a 52% shooting accuracy.
During the 1992-93 season, Michael Jordan showed improvement in his three-point shooting, achieving a percentage of 35%.
In 1992, Michael Jordan had one of his six seasons with at least 50% shooting.
In 1992, Michael Jordan was selected to play for the United States national team during his NBA career and won the Tournament of the Americas and Summer Olympics gold medals—while also being undefeated.
In the 1997–98 season, The Bulls won the Eastern Conference Championship for a third straight season, including surviving a seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals; it was the first time Jordan had played in a Game 7 since the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals with the New York Knicks.
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, citing a loss of desire to play. He later stated that the murder of his father three months prior contributed to his decision.
In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Bulls won their third NBA championship against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Jordan averaged a Finals-record 41.0 points per game during the six-game series and became the first player in NBA history to win three consecutive Finals MVP awards.
In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their third consecutive NBA title, completing a three-peat. Jordan then abruptly retired before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball.
On November 1, 1994, Michael Jordan's No. 23 was retired by the Bulls in a ceremony that included the erection of a permanent sculpture known as The Spirit outside the new United Center.
From 1994 to 1997, Michael Jordan shot higher percentages from 3 points.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan decided to quit baseball because he feared he might become a replacement player during the Major League Baseball strike and returned to the Bulls midway through the 1994–95 season.
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 moment in his comeback to the NBA.
From 1995, Michael Jordan's automotive group had a Lincoln-Mercury dealership.
In 1995 Michael Jordan was motivated by the playoff defeat and he trained aggressively for the 1995–96 season.
In 1995, Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls after a brief stint in Minor League Baseball.
In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fourth NBA championship and a then-record 72 regular season wins.
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, missing out on a second consecutive 70-win season.
From 1994 to 1997, Michael Jordan shot higher percentages from 3 points.
From 1997–98 NBA season, an NBA Entertainment crew shot about 500 hours of candid film of Jordan's and his teammates' off-court activities which was used in the documentary The Last Dance in 2020.
In 1997, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fifth NBA championship.
In 1997, during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan, despite being feverish and dehydrated from a stomach virus (known as "The Flu Game"), scored 38 points, including the game-winning three-pointer. He also received his fifth Finals MVP award.
On June 14, 1998, In Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan steals the ball from Malone.
By 1998, the season of his Finals-winning shot against the Jazz, Michael Jordan was well known throughout the league as a clutch performer.
In 1998, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their sixth NBA championship.
In 2000, Michael Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary titled "Michael Jordan to the Max" about his career with the Chicago Bulls, especially the 1998 NBA playoffs.
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, citing Phil Jackson's expiring contract and the looming departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
In January 1999, Michael Jordan claimed that he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game.
On January 19, 2000, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA as part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.
In 2000, Michael Jordan was the subject of an IMAX documentary titled "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 and stated his intention to donate his salary to relief efforts for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
From 2001, Michael Jordan hosted the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, which raised money for various charities.
In 2001, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for two seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards.
In the summer of 2001, Michael Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback, this time with his new team, inspired by the NHL comeback of his friend Mario Lemieux the previous winter.
In 2002, while not technically Director of Basketball Operations, Michael Jordan may have influenced the trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse during his time with the Wizards.
On February 21, 2003, Michael Jordan became the first 40-year-old to score 43 points in an NBA game, marking a significant achievement during his time with 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 from teammates, opponents, and fans.
On May 7, 2003, Wizards owner Abe Pollin fired Michael Jordan from his role as Director of Basketball Operations.
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 control of basketball operations.
In 2006, Michael Jordan became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats).
In 2008, the Make-A-Wish Foundation named Michael Jordan its Chief Wish Ambassador.
In 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 with Johnson, pending NBA approval. On March 17, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved Jordan's purchase, making him the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA team, and the league's only African-American majority owner.
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.
In 2013, the Charlotte Bobcats became known as the Hornets.
Michael Jordan Motorsports, a professional closed-course motorcycle road racing team, competed with two Suzukis in the premier Superbike championship sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) until the end of the 2013 season.
In June 2014, Michael Jordan was named the first NBA player to become a billionaire after increasing his stake in the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2014, Michael Jordan became the first billionaire player in NBA history.
Until 2014, Michael Jordan hosted the annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament, which raised money for various charities.
In 2017, Michael Jordan donated $7 million to fund two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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.
On June 5, 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Michael Jordan and his brand announced a joint donation of $100 million over 10 years to organizations dedicated to 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 2020, The Last Dance, a 10-part TV documentary about Michael Jordan's life, debuted on ESPN.
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 the 2021 season, 23XI Racing began competition in the NASCAR Cup Series with Bubba Wallace driving car No. 23.
In 2022, 23XI Racing added a second car, No. 45, driven by Kurt Busch.
Michael Jordan appeared in the 2022 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 Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner, although he kept a minority stake. The sale was officially completed for approximately $3 billion.
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 in Wilmington.
In May 2025, Michael Jordan was announced as a special contributor for the NBA on NBC commentary team.
23XI Racing acquired a third charter from the defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, the No. 35 driven by Riley Herbst beginning in 2025.
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