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.
The March 19, 1995 game of Jordan's comeback had the highest Nielsen rating of any regular season NBA game since 1975.
In 1985, Michael Jordan helped the Bulls improve and 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, Michael Jordan was selected for the McDonald's All-American Game, scoring 30 points.
In 1982, Michael Jordan made the game-winning jump shot in the NCAA Championship game against Georgetown.
In 1982, Michael Jordan was a freshman member of the North Carolina Tar Heels' national championship team.
In 1983, Michael Jordan won a gold medal while playing for the United States national team at the Pan American Games.
In 1984, Michael Jordan began his 15-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In 1984, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls as the third overall draft pick.
In 1984, Michael Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the third overall pick of the NBA draft.
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.
In 1984, Nike created a signature shoe for Michael Jordan called the Air Jordan.
In 1984, Nike introduced the Air Jordan sneakers, which fueled the success of Michael Jordan's endorsements.
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.
Michael Jordan fully recovered for the 1986-87 season, after an injury the previous season.
In the 1989-90 season, the Chicago Bulls entered as a team on the rise.
On March 28, 1990, Michael Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a road win against the Cavaliers.
In 1990, the Bulls established a new franchise record, setting the stage for their dominance in the upcoming season.
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.
In 1992, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Tournament of the Americas and the Summer Olympics.
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
Jordan 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his comeback to the NBA with a two-word press release: "I'm back."
On March 28, 1995, Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Bulls to their fourth NBA championship and a record 72 regular season wins.
In 1996, Michael Jordan played himself in the comedy film Space Jam, which was a box office success.
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.
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.
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.
In 1998, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their sixth NBA championship.
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".
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.
In January 1999, Jordan claimed he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game.
In January 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time from the NBA.
On January 19, 2000, 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 about his career with the Chicago Bulls, titled Michael Jordan to the Max.
In 2001, Jordan used the first pick in the NBA draft to select Kwame Brown, a decision that faced criticism later on.
In 2001, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for two seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards.
In 2001, Michael Jordan started hosting the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, an annual golf tournament to raise money for various charities.
In the summer of 2001, Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback, inspired by Mario Lemieux.
In 2002, Jordan's previous tenure produced mixed results and may have influenced the trade of Richard "Rip" Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse.
On May 7, 2003, Michael Jordan was fired from his role as Director of Basketball Operations by Wizards owner Abe Pollin.
In 2003, Michael Jordan played his final season in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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 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".
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.
In February 2010, Michael Jordan sought majority ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats and reached an agreement to buy the team.
In 2013, Michael Jordan granted his 200th wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2013, the Charlotte Bobcats became known as the Hornets.
In 2014, Michael Jordan concluded hosting the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, an annual golf tournament that raised money for various charities since 2001.
In 2017, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a $7 million donation.
As of 2019, Michael Jordan has raised more than $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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.
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, debuted on ESPN, covering the period of Jordan's life from 1997-98.
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.
In February 2021, Michael Jordan funded two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in New Hanover County, North Carolina, by giving $10 million.
In October 2021, Michael Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, honoring his contributions to basketball.
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.
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, ending his 13-year tenure as majority owner.
In 2023, Michael Jordan donated $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for his 60th birthday.
In 2024, Michael Jordan funded the opening of another Novant Health Clinic, this time in Wilmington.
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