MICHAEL JORDAN
Name: Michael Jordan
Born: 17 February 1963 Brooklyn, New York
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American
professional basketball player and active businessman. Proclaimed by the
National Basketball Association (NBA) as the "greatest player of all time",
Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation, and
was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
After a stand-out career at the University of North Carolina, Jordan joined the
NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as one of the stars of the
league, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability,
illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line at Slam Dunk
Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also
gained a reputation as one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991,
he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement
with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Though Jordan abruptly
left the NBA at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season to pursue a career in
baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional
championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season
wins in the 1995–96 season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but he
returned for two more NBA seasons in 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten
All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen
NBA All-Star Game appearances and three All-Star MVP, ten scoring titles, three
steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of
the Year Award. He holds the NBA record for highest career regular season
scoring average with 30.1 points per game, as well as averaging a record 33.4
points per game in the playoffs. In 1999, he was named the greatest North
American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the
Associated Press's list of athletes of the century.
Jordan is also noted for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's
Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today.
Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam. He is currently a part-owner
and Managing Member of Basketball Operations of the Charlotte Bobcats in his
home state of North Carolina.
Name: Michael Jordan
Born: 17 February 1963 Brooklyn, New York
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American
professional basketball player and active businessman. Proclaimed by the
National Basketball Association (NBA) as the "greatest player of all time",
Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation, and
was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
After a stand-out career at the University of North Carolina, Jordan joined the
NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as one of the stars of the
league, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability,
illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line at Slam Dunk
Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also
gained a reputation as one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991,
he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement
with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Though Jordan abruptly
left the NBA at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season to pursue a career in
baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional
championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season
wins in the 1995–96 season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but he
returned for two more NBA seasons in 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten
All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen
NBA All-Star Game appearances and three All-Star MVP, ten scoring titles, three
steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of
the Year Award. He holds the NBA record for highest career regular season
scoring average with 30.1 points per game, as well as averaging a record 33.4
points per game in the playoffs. In 1999, he was named the greatest North
American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the
Associated Press's list of athletes of the century.
Jordan is also noted for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's
Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today.
Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam. He is currently a part-owner
and Managing Member of Basketball Operations of the Charlotte Bobcats in his
home state of North Carolina.