Early Life
Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game as a freshman at the University of North Carolina.
Career
Drafted third overall by the Bulls in 1984, he won five NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, ten scoring titles and six NBA Finals MVP awards, capturing two three-peats (1991–1993 and 1996–1998). He briefly retired to play minor-league baseball in 1994 and later played two seasons for the Washington Wizards. He also won Olympic gold in 1984 and 1992.
Legacy
The Air Jordan shoe line, launched with Nike in the mid-1980s, became a global brand. Jordan starred in the film Space Jam (1996), owned the Charlotte Hornets from 2010 to 2023, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24