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Michael Jordan

Jordan in 2014

Charlotte Hornets

Minority owner

Personal information

Born

February 17, 1963 (age 62)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

High school

Emsley A. Laney
(Wilmington, North Carolina)

Listed height

6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)

Listed weight

216 lb (98 kg)

Career information

College

North Carolina (1981–1984)

NBA Draft

1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall

Selected by the Chicago Bulls

Pro career

1984–1993, 1995–1998, 2001–2003

League

NBA

Career history

1984–1993,
1995–1998

Chicago Bulls

2001–2003

Washington Wizards

Career highlights and awards

6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003)
3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998)
10× All-NBA First Team (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
All-NBA Second Team (1985)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988–1993, 1996–1998)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1985)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985)
10× NBA scoring champion (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
3× NBA steals leader (1988, 1990, 1993)
2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1987, 1988)
No. 23 retired by Chicago Bulls
No. 23 retired by Miami Heat
3× AP Athlete of the Year (1991–1993)
Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (1991)
NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
NCAA champion (1982)
National college player of the year (1984)
2× Sporting News National Player of the Year (1983, 1984)
2× Consensus first-team All-American (1983, 1984)
ACC Player of the Year (1984)
ACC Athlete of the Year (1984)
2× First-team All-ACC (1983, 1984)
ACC Rookie of the Year (1982)
No. 23 retired by North Carolina Tar Heels
2× USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1983, 1984)
McDonald's All-American (1981)
First-team Parade All-American (1981)
Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)

Career NBA statistics

Points

32,292 (30.1 ppg)

Rebounds

6,672 (6.2 rpg)

Assists

5,633 (5.3 apg)

Medals


Men's basketball
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1984 Los Angeles	Men's basketball
Gold	1992 Barcelona	Men's basketball
Tournament of the Americas
Gold	1992 Portland	Men's basketball
Pan American Games
Gold	1983 Caracas	Men's basketball

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known as MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He played fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan is currently the main owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets NBA team. He also owns 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He was a very important part of making the NBA popular worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jordan played college basketball for three seasons at the University of North Carolina. In 1982, his team won the national championship.

He joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third player picked in the draft. Jordan became famous for his amazing leaping ability. He earned the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness" for his incredible slam dunks. Jordan briefly retired from basketball in 1993 to play Minor League Baseball. However, he returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and continued to win many awards.

Companies paid Jordan to endorse (publicly support) their products. The most famous endorsement was Nike's Air Jordan sneakers. These shoes were first released in 1984 and are still very popular today.

Early Life and High School

Michael Jordan was born in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, on February 17, 1963. His parents were Deloris, a bank employee, and James R. Jordan Sr., an equipment supervisor. In 1968, his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina.

Jordan went to Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington. There, he played basketball, baseball, and football. In his second year, he tried out for the highest-level basketball team (called varsity) but didn't make it. This made him work even harder. His hard work paid off, and he made the varsity team the next year.

Many colleges wanted Jordan to play basketball for them. In 1981, he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played for the Tar Heels and studied cultural geography.

College Basketball Career

Jordan going in for a slam dunk for the Laney High School varsity basketball team, 1979–80

Jordan in action for North Carolina in 1983

As a first-year student, Jordan was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He made the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game. This shot was against Georgetown, a team led by future NBA star Patrick Ewing. Jordan later said this shot was a major turning point in his basketball career.

Jordan left North Carolina in 1984 to join the NBA draft. He returned to North Carolina in 1986 to finish his degree. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural geography. In 2002, Jordan was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team. This team honored the 50 greatest players in ACC history.

Professional Basketball Career

Chicago Bulls: The First Era (1984–1993)

The Chicago Bulls picked Jordan as the third overall player in the 1984 NBA draft. He played his first game on October 26, 1984, scoring 16 points. Soon, he was called "the phenomenal rookie of the Bulls." He even appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title "A Star Is Born."

Jordan's fame grew quickly. During an exhibition game in Italy, he famously shattered a backboard with a slam dunk. However, he broke his foot early in the 1985–86 season, missing 64 games.

Jordan fully recovered for the 1986–87 season. He became only the second player ever to score 3,000 points in one season. By the 1989–90 season, the Bulls were a rising team. They had Jordan, young players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, and a new coach, Phil Jackson.

Jordan in 1992

From 1991 to 1993, Jordan led the Bulls to win three NBA championships in a row. This amazing achievement is known as a "three-peat." Jordan was the first player in NBA history to win three straight NBA Finals MVP awards. Throughout his career, he often led the league in scoring and won many MVP and other awards.

First Retirement and Baseball (1993–1995)

Michael Jordan

Jordan in training with the Scottsdale Scorpions in 1994

Birmingham Barons – No. 45, 35

Outfielder

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

Professional debut

Southern League: April 8, 1994, for the Birmingham Barons

Arizona Fall League: 1994, for the Scottsdale Scorpions

Last appearance

March 10, 1995, for the Birmingham Barons

Southern League statistics
(through 1994)

Batting average

.202

Home runs

Runs batted in

Arizona Fall League statistics

Batting average

.252

Runs batted in

Teams

Birmingham Barons (1994–1995)
Scottsdale Scorpions (1994)

On October 6, 1993, Jordan announced he was retiring from basketball. He said he had lost his desire to play. Jordan later explained that his father's death three months earlier also influenced his decision. His father, James R. Jordan Sr., had died on July 23, 1993.

Jordan was very close to his father. He even copied his father's habit of sticking out his tongue when concentrating. He later made this his own signature move on the court. In 1996, he opened a Boys & Girls Club in Chicago and dedicated it to his father.

Jordan surprised everyone by signing a Minor League Baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox on February 7, 1994. He wanted to follow his late father's dream of seeing him as a Major League Baseball player.

"I'm Back": Chicago Bulls (1995–1998)

Jordan with coach Phil Jackson in 1997

On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his return to the NBA with a simple two-word press release: "I'm back." The next day, he was back on the court with the Bulls. His team did not make it to the playoffs that year.

Jordan trained very hard for the 1995–96 season. With Dennis Rodman joining the team, the Bulls started winning again. From 1996 to 1998, Jordan and Rodman led the Bulls to another "three-peat." Jordan won his fourth, fifth, and sixth Finals MVP Awards during these years. The 1998 NBA Finals had the highest TV ratings of any Finals series in history.

Second Retirement (1999–2001)

Plaque at the United Center that chronicles Jordan's career achievements

Jordan retired from the NBA for the second time on January 13, 1999. On January 19, 2000, he became a part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. Even though he had said he was "99.9% certain" he would never play again, Jordan thought about coming back in the summer of 2001. This time, he wanted to play for his new team, the Wizards. He trained hard and hired his old Chicago Bulls coach, Doug Collins, to coach the Wizards.

Washington Wizards (2001–2003)

Jordan as a member of the Washington Wizards, April 14, 2003

On September 25, 2001, Jordan announced his return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards. He said he would donate his player salary to the victims of the September 11 attacks. The Wizards had a better record than in previous years, but Jordan's age was starting to show. He couldn't play as well as he did when he was younger. His season ended after only 60 games.

In his 14th and final NBA All-Star Game in 2003, Jordan passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in All-Star Game history. This record has since been broken by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. During Jordan's last two seasons, the Wizards did not make the playoffs. Jordan often said his teammates lacked focus and intensity.

Final Retirement (2003)

Jordan received a four-minute standing ovation in his final game at the United Center in Chicago, his old home court. Jordan played his very last NBA game on April 16, 2003, in Philadelphia. He received a three-minute standing ovation from his teammates, opponents, officials, and the crowd of 21,257 fans.

Player Skills and Style

Jordan dunking the ball, 1987–88

Jordan played as a shooting guard but could also play as a small forward and a point guard. He was known for his incredible work ethic. He always looked for weaknesses in other players and used them to his advantage. Jordan was also known to have very strong eyesight.

Out of his 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan played all 82 regular season games nine times. He was excellent at driving to the basket and drawing fouls from opponents. Jordan also developed a great fadeaway jump shot. He used his leaping ability to keep opponents from blocking his shots. The three-point field goal was not his strongest skill, especially early in his career. However, he improved his three-point shooting later on.

Legacy and Impact

Jordan receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the White House

Michael Jordan is one of the most celebrated players in NBA history. He finished among the top three for regular season MVP voting 10 times. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In 2021, he was selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Jordan is one of only seven players to win an NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. He achieved the Olympic gold medal twice, with the 1984 and 1992 U.S. men's basketball teams. Since 1976, Jordan and Scottie Pippen are the only two players to win six NBA Finals playing for one team. In All-Star Game fan voting, Jordan received the most votes nine times, more than any other player.

Many sports channels and magazines have called him the greatest athlete of all time. His amazing leaping ability, shown in his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships in 1987 and 1988, inspired many young players. Several NBA players have said that Jordan was their role model growing up.

In August 2009, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened a Michael Jordan exhibit. It included items from his college and NBA careers, and from the 1992 "Dream Team." The exhibit also features a baseball glove from his short career in Minor League Baseball.

In 2016, President Barack Obama gave Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In October 2021, Jordan was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In September 2022, a jersey Jordan wore in the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $10.1 million. This made it the most expensive game-worn sports item ever.

After Retirement

Jordan on a golf course in 2007

After his third retirement, Jordan expected to return to his job as Director of Basketball Operations with the Wizards. However, on May 7, 2003, Wizards owner Abe Pollin fired Jordan.

Jordan stayed busy in the following years. He kept fit, played golf in celebrity charity tournaments, and spent time with his family. He also promoted his clothing brand and rode motorcycles. Since 2004, Jordan has owned Michael Jordan Motorsports.

Charlotte Hornets Ownership

On June 15, 2006, Jordan bought a small share in the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets). He became the team's second-largest shareholder. On March 17, 2010, the NBA approved Jordan's purchase of the Bobcats. This made him the first former player to become the main owner of an NBA team. He also became the league's only African-American main owner.

In 2019, Jordan sold a small part of the Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim. He kept most of the team for himself and remained chairman.

23XI Racing

On September 21, 2020, Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin announced they would start a NASCAR team. Bubba Wallace would be their driver, starting in the 2021 season. On October 22, the team's name was confirmed as 23XI Racing (pronounced twenty-three eleven). The team's car would have the number 23. Their first race was the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021.

Personal Life

Jordan is the fourth of five children. He has two older brothers, Larry and James Jr., and two sisters, Deloris and Roslyn.

Jordan married Juanita Vanoy on September 2, 1989. They had two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, and a daughter, Jasmine. They divorced on December 29, 2006.

In 1991, Jordan bought land in Highland Park, Illinois, to build a large mansion. It was finished in 1995. He put the mansion up for sale in 2012. He also owns homes in North Carolina and Jupiter Island, Florida.

Jordan proposed to his longtime girlfriend, model Yvette Prieto, on Christmas 2011. They married on April 27, 2013. On November 30, 2013, they announced they were expecting their first child. On February 11, 2014, Yvette gave birth to identical twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel. In 2019, Jordan became a grandfather when his daughter Jasmine had a son.

Media and Business Ventures

Endorsements and Fame

Jordan in 2008

Jordan is one of the most marketed sports figures ever. He has been a major spokesperson for many brands. These include Nike (who created the Air Jordan shoe for him), Coca-Cola, Gatorade, McDonald's, and Hanes.

Jordan has also worked with the Looney Tunes cartoon characters. In a Nike commercial during the 1992 Super Bowl, Jordan and Bugs Bunny played basketball. This commercial inspired the 1996 film Space Jam. Jordan also appeared in Michael Jackson's music video for "Jam" in 1992.

Since 2008, Jordan's yearly income from endorsements is estimated to be over $40 million.

Business Interests

As of 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.5 billion. This makes him one of the richest celebrities.

Jordan co-owns an automotive group named after him. He also has interests in the restaurant industry. He has owned several restaurants and is the main investor in a Florida golf course, Grove XXIII, which opened in 2019. In September 2020, Jordan became an investor and advisor for DraftKings.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

From 2001 to 2014, Jordan hosted a golf tournament that raised money for charities.
In 2006, Jordan and his wife Juanita pledged $5 million to a high school in Chicago.
The Jordan Brand has donated to Habitat for Humanity and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In 2015, Jordan won a lawsuit against supermarkets that used his name without permission. He donated the money to 23 Chicago charities.
In 2017, Jordan gave $7 million to open two health clinics in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In 2018, after Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina, Jordan donated $2 million for relief. He also gave $1 million to help the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
As of 2019, he had raised over $5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In June 2020, Jordan and his brand announced they would donate $100 million over 10 years. This money would go to groups working for racial equality, social justice, and better education.
In February 2021, Jordan gave another $10 million to open two more health clinics.

Film and Television Appearances

Jordan played himself in the 1996 comedy film Space Jam. He was also the subject of two documentaries: Michael Jordan to the Max (2000) and The Last Dance (2020). He appeared in the 2022 miniseries The Captain, which was about baseball player Derek Jeter.

Books Authored

Jordan has written books about his life, basketball career, and ideas:

Rare Air: Michael on Michael (1993)
I Can't Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence (1994)
For the Love of the Game: My Story (1998)
Driven from Within (2005)

NBA Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular Season Games

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1984–85	Chicago	82*	82*	38.3	.515	.173	.845	6.5	5.9	2.4	.8	28.2
1985–86	Chicago	18	7	25.1	.457	.167	.840	3.6	2.9	2.1	1.2	22.7
1986–87	Chicago	82*	82*	40.0	.482	.182	.857	5.2	4.6	2.9	1.5	37.1*
1987–88	Chicago	82	82*	40.4*	.535	.132	.841	5.5	5.9	3.2*	1.6	35.0*
1988–89	Chicago	81	81	40.2*	.538	.276	.850	8.0	8.0	2.9	.8	32.5*
1989–90	Chicago	82*	82*	39.0	.526	.376	.848	6.9	6.3	2.8*	.7	33.6*
1990–91†	Chicago	82*	82*	37.0	.539	.312	.851	6.0	5.5	2.7	1.0	31.5*
1991–92†	Chicago	80	80	38.8	.519	.270	.832	6.4	6.1	2.3	.9	30.1*
1992–93†	Chicago	78	78	39.3	.495	.352	.837	6.7	5.5	2.8*	.8	32.6*
1994–95	Chicago	17	17	39.3	.411	.500	.801	6.9	5.3	1.8	.8	26.9
1995–96†	Chicago	82	82*	37.7	.495	.427	.834	6.6	4.3	2.2	.5	30.4*
1996–97†	Chicago	82	82*	37.9	.486	.374	.833	5.9	4.3	1.7	.5	29.6*
1997–98†	Chicago	82*	82*	38.8	.465	.238	.784	5.8	3.5	1.7	.5	28.7*
2001–02	Washington	60	53	34.9	.416	.189	.790	5.7	5.2	1.4	.4	22.9
2002–03	Washington	82	67	37.0	.445	.291	.821	6.1	3.8	1.5	.5	20.0
Career		1,072	1,039	38.3	.497	.327	.835	6.2	5.3	2.3	.8	30.1
All-Star		13	13	29.4	.472	.273	.750	4.7	4.2	2.8	.5	20.2

Playoff Games

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1985	Chicago	4	4	42.8	.436	.125	.828	5.8	8.5	2.8	1.0	29.3
1986	Chicago	3	3	45.0	.505	1.000	.872	6.3	5.7	2.3	1.3	43.7
1987	Chicago	3	3	42.7	.417	.400	.897	7.0	6.0	2.0	2.3	35.7
1988	Chicago	10	10	42.7	.531	.333	.869	7.1	4.7	2.4	1.1	36.3
1989	Chicago	17	17	42.2	.510	.286	.799	7.0	7.6	2.5	.8	34.8
1990	Chicago	16	16	42.1	.514	.320	.836	7.2	6.8	2.8	.9	36.7
1991†	Chicago	17	17	40.5	.524	.385	.845	6.4	8.4	2.4	1.4	31.1
1992†	Chicago	22	22	41.8	.499	.386	.857	6.2	5.8	2.0	.7	34.5
1993†	Chicago	19	19	41.2	.475	.389	.805	6.7	6.0	2.1	.9	35.1
1995	Chicago	10	10	42.0	.484	.367	.810	6.5	4.5	2.3	1.4	31.5
1996†	Chicago	18	18	40.7	.459	.403	.818	4.9	4.1	1.8	.3	30.7
1997†	Chicago	19	19	42.3	.456	.194	.831	7.9	4.8	1.6	.9	31.1
1998†	Chicago	21	21	41.5	.462	.302	.812	5.1	3.5	1.5	.6	32.4
Career		179	179	41.8	.487	.332	.828	6.4	5.7	2.1	.8	33.4

Awards and Honors

James Worthy, Jordan, and Dean Smith in 2007 at a North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball game honoring the 1957 and 1982 men's basketball teams

NBA

Six-time NBA champion – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Six-time NBA Finals MVP – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Five-time NBA MVP – 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
NBA Defensive Player of the Year – 1988
NBA Rookie of the Year – 1985
10-time NBA scoring leader – 1987–1993, 1996–1998
Three-time NBA steals leader – 1988, 1990, 1993
14-time NBA All-Star – 1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003
Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP – 1988, 1996, 1998
10-time All-NBA First Team – 1987–1993, 1996–1998
One-time All-NBA Second Team – 1985
Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team – 1988–1993, 1996–1998
NBA All-Rookie First Team – 1985
Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion – 1987, 1988
Two-time IBM Award winner – 1985, 1989
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
Selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021
No. 23 retired by the Chicago Bulls
No. 23 retired by the Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor
NBA MVP trophy renamed in Jordan's honor ("Michael Jordan Trophy") in 2022

USA Basketball

Two-time Olympic gold medal winner – 1984, 1992
Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner – 1992
Pan American Games gold medal winner – 1983
Two-time USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year – 1983, 1984

NCAA (College)

NCAA national championship – 1982
ACC Rookie of the Year – 1982
Two-time Consensus NCAA All-American First Team – 1983, 1984
ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year – 1984
ACC Athlete of the Year – 1984
USBWA College Player of the Year – 1984
Naismith College Player of the Year – 1984
Adolph Rupp Trophy – 1984
John R. Wooden Award – 1984
Two-time Sporting News National Player of the Year – 1983, 1984
No. 23 retired by the North Carolina Tar Heels

High School

McDonald's All-American – 1981
Parade All-American First Team – 1981

Halls of Fame

Two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee:
- Class of 2009 – individual
- Class of 2010 – as a member of the "Dream Team"
United States Olympic Hall of Fame – Class of 2009 (as a member of the "Dream Team")
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2010
Two-time FIBA Hall of Fame inductee:
- Class of 2015 – individual
- Class of 2017 – as a member of the "Dream Team"

Media Recognition

Three-time Associated Press Athlete of the Year – 1991, 1992, 1993
Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year – 1991
Ranked No. 1 by Slam magazine's "Top 50 Players of All-Time"
Ranked No. 1 by ESPN SportsCentury's "Top North American Athletes of the 20th Century"
10-time ESPY Award winner (in various categories)
1997 Marca Leyenda winner

National and Local Honors

2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom
Statue inside the United Center
Section of Madison Street in Chicago renamed Michael Jordan Drive – 1994

Michael Jordan's Famous Quotes

"The key to success is failure."
"Failure makes me work even harder."
"If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life."
"Heart is what separates the good from the great."
"If you quit once, it becomes a habit. Never quit!"

Interesting Facts About Michael Jordan

Jordan has a fear of large bodies of water because he almost drowned at age 11.
His childhood hero was basketball legend Magic Johnson.
If Jordan hadn't played in the NBA, his backup plan was to become a weatherman. He studied cultural geography in college.
He initially wanted to wear Adidas shoes when he joined the NBA. However, Nike offered him more money to endorse their brand.
In 2020, it was revealed that Jordan had made over $1 billion from his partnership with Nike.
In 1991, he turned down an invitation from President George H.W. Bush to visit the White House. He chose to play golf instead.
Before every game, Michael Jordan had a ritual. Four hours before the match, he would eat the same meal: a 23-ounce New York steak, mashed potatoes, a salad, and ginger ale.
He is the only professional basketball player over age 40 to average 20 points per game (PPG).
ESPN ranked Michael Jordan as the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century.
The highest bid for a Jordan sneaker at an auction was $71,000.