Michael Jordan's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Michael Jordan. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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.

Sections (6)

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

1969: Willis Reed Achieves MVP Sweep

In the 1969-70 season, Willis Reed achieved only the second sweep of the MVP awards in the All-Star Game, regular season, and NBA Finals

1981: Selected for McDonald's All-American Game

In 1981, as a senior in high school, Michael Jordan was selected for the McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 30 points.

1982: National Championship with North Carolina

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

1982: Game-Winning Shot in NCAA Championship

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.

1983: Pan American Games Debut

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.

1983: NCAA All-American First Team

In 1983, Michael Jordan was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team for his sophomore season.

1984: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1984, Michael Jordan won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics, leading the U.S. team in scoring with 17.1 ppg.

1984: Wins Naismith and Wooden Awards, Enters NBA Draft

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.

August 26, 1985: Shattered Backboard in Nike Exhibition Game

On August 26, 1985, during a Nike exhibition game in Trieste, Italy, Michael Jordan shattered the glass of the backboard with a dunk, a moment considered an important milestone in his rise.

1985: Rookie Season Success

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.

April 20, 1986: 63 Points Against Celtics

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".

1986: Prolific Scoring 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.

1987: Slam Dunk Contest Championship

In 1987, Michael Jordan won his first Slam Dunk Contest championship. This athletic achievement influenced a generation of young players.

1987: First League MVP Award

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.

1988: NBA Defensive Player of the Year

In 1988, Michael Jordan was awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

1988: Back-to-Back Slam Dunk Contest Championship

In 1988, Michael Jordan won his second consecutive Slam Dunk Contest championship. This further solidified his influence on a generation of young basketball players.

1988: Defensive Player and MVP Awards

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.

1990: Regular Season Success and Playoff Run

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.

1991: Bulls Establish New Record and Jordan Wins MVP

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.

1991: First NBA Title

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

1992: "Dream Team" Olympics

In 1992, Michael Jordan was a member of the "Dream Team" at the Summer Olympics and the Tournament of the Americas, winning gold medals in both tournaments. He was the only player to start all eight games in the Olympics.

1992: Second NBA Title and Olympics

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.

1992: Olympic Gold Medal

Michael Jordan won an Olympic gold medal with the 1992 U.S. men's basketball team, representing the last third of the basketball Triple Crown.

1993: Third NBA Title and First Retirement

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.

1993: Third NBA Championship and Finals MVP for Jordan

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.

November 1, 1994: Jordan's Number Retired by the Bulls

On November 1, 1994, Michael Jordan's No. 23 was retired by the Chicago Bulls during a ceremony that included the unveiling of a permanent sculpture called The Spirit outside the new United Center.

September 1996: Named Greatest Athlete of the Past 50 Years by Sport

In September 1996, Michael Jordan was named the greatest athlete of the past 50 years in the 50th-anniversary issue of Sport publication.

1996: Jordan selected Class of 1996 member David Thompson to present him for Hall of Fame induction.

After Jordan received word of his acceptance into the Hall of Fame, he selected Class of 1996 member David Thompson to present him.

1996: Fourth NBA Title

In 1996, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their fourth NBA championship.

1996: 50 Greatest Players

In 1996, Michael Jordan was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

1996: NBA 50th Anniversary Team

In 1996, Michael Jordan was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team.

1997: Fifth Regular Season MVP Award and Finals Rematch

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.

1997: "The Flu Game" and Fifth Finals MVP

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.

1997: Fifth NBA Title

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

June 14, 1998: Jordan's Clutch Plays in Game 6

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.

1998: Finals-Winning Shot

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.

1998: Sixth NBA Title

In 1998, Michael Jordan secured his sixth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls, completing another three-peat.

1998: 1998 NBA playoffs

In 1998, the Chicago Bulls won the NBA playoffs, which later became the subject of the IMAX documentary 'Michael Jordan to the Max'.

1998: Sixth NBA Championship and Finals MVP

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.

December 1999: Ranked Greatest North American Athlete of the 20th Century

In December 1999, Michael Jordan was ranked the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century in an ESPN survey of journalists, athletes, and sports figures. He was also voted the greatest basketball player of the 20th century by the Associated Press and placed second to Babe Ruth in the AP's list of 20th-century athletes.

1999: Greatest North American Athlete of the 20th Century

In 1999, ESPN named Michael Jordan the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century.

2002: Named to ACC 50th Anniversary Team

In 2002, Michael Jordan was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, honoring the 50 greatest players in ACC history.

February 21, 2003: 43 Points at 40

On February 21, 2003, Michael Jordan became the first 40-year-old player to score 43 points in an NBA game.

April 11, 2003: Miami Heat Jersey Retirement

On April 11, 2003, the Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey, even though he never played for the team, as a tribute to his career.

2008: Chief Wish Ambassador

In 2008, Michael Jordan was named the Chief Wish Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

June 2009: $55 Million Earned Between June 2009 and June 2010

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.

August 2009: Michael Jordan Exhibit Opens at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In August 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, opened a Michael Jordan exhibit featuring items from his college and NBA careers, as well as memorabilia from the 1992 "Dream Team" and a baseball glove representing his time in Minor League Baseball.

September 2009: Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In September 2009, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, with David Thompson presenting him. His emotional speech spawned the "Crying Jordan" Internet meme.

2009: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2009, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his individual career and into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.

June 2010: Ranked 20th-Most-Powerful Celebrity by Forbes

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.

2010: Second Hall of Fame Induction and North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

In 2010, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of "The Dream Team" and also became a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

June 2014: Named First NBA Player Billionaire

In June 2014, Michael Jordan was named the first NBA player to become a billionaire after increasing his stake in the Charlotte Hornets.

January 20, 2015: Charlotte Business Journal's Business Person of the Year for 2014

On January 20, 2015, Michael Jordan was honored as the Charlotte Business Journal's Business Person of the Year for 2014.

2015: FIBA Hall of Fame Induction

In 2015, Michael Jordan was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as an individual member.

2016: First Billionaire NBA Player

In 2016, Michael Jordan became the first billionaire player in NBA history, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

2016: Honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2016, President Barack Obama honored Michael Jordan with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

2017: Highest Career Earnings

In 2017, Forbes designated Michael Jordan as the athlete with the highest career earnings.

2017: "Dream Team" Induction into FIBA Hall of Fame

In 2017, Michael Jordan was inducted to FIBA Hall of Fame as a member of the "Dream Team".

October 2021: Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team

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

2021: NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Michael Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

December 2022: NBA Unveils New MVP Trophy Named in Jordan's Honor

In December 2022, the NBA unveiled a new MVP trophy named in Michael Jordan's honor, replacing the original trophy named after Maurice Podoloff. This new trophy would be awarded starting with the 2022–23 season.