Full Name: Mr. Michael Jeffrey Jordan
Date of Birth: February 17, 1963
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: N/A
Place of Death: N/A
Classification: Heroes & Icons
Basketball might have been in his genes, but Michael Jordan had to work hard to develop to his full potential. Being cut from the varsity basketball team in his first year at high school might have drove him to become the best basketball player in world history.
In his high school days, Michael played three sports: American football, basketball, and baseball. He always loved the two other sports with a passion, especially baseball. It was basketball; however, that would make him a world-famous athlete. As a senior, he became nationally recognized and was on his way to a promising collegiate career with the University of North Carolina. While playing there, he hit the game-winning shot against Georgetown University for the 1982 NCAA Basketball Championship during the last second. Before being drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls, he was selected as the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. Even after entering the NBA, Jordan went on to finish his degree in Geography.
Jordan’s plethora of basketball and athletic awards are numerous. In his NBA career, he was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award for his first year playing and went on to be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) a record five times, winning six NBA Championships. But, he was also one of the league’s most prized defensive threats as well, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. In each NBA All-Star Game, Jordan has been the most dominant threat, winning the MVP Triple Crown Award no less than twice.
After breaking a bone in his foot in the third season of his career, Jordan worked at rehabilitating himself even more. He swam and shot free throws and other shots to keep his game in rhythm. When he re-joined his team and the league, he was an NBA powerhouse, averaging almost 40 points per game. But, even with such performances, Jordan still hadn’t obtained an NBA Championship Title.
Then in 1991, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their first-ever Championship by beating Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the next season, the Bulls won nearly 70 games in one season, setting a new record. The following year saw them win yet again, Jordan being the only player to ever win three consecutive NBA Finals MVP awards.
By 1993, the stress from the game and his celebrity career took a toll and he decided to retire. But, after a stint playing professional baseball, he returned to the Chicago Bulls two years later, where he became the league’s most dominant force again. After his first three consecutive NBA Championships, the Bulls went on again to win three more titles in a row. After retiring again, Jordan went on to become part-owner of the Washington Wizards, then came back to play with them for part of another season. Following, he retired once again, this time for good, as he owns most of and manages the Charlotte Bobcats
