Michael Jeffrey Jordan: Biography

Early Life and High School Career

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, to Deloris and James R. Jordan. His family later moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when he was just a toddler. Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the fourth child of five, with two older brothers named Larry Jordan and James R. Jordan. He also had an older sister named Deloris and a younger sister named Roslyn. Michael J. Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School, where he started to play sports like basketball, baseball, and football. He initially tried out for the varsity basketball team but didn’t make it because of his short height. Determined to prove his worth, he joined the junior varsity squad and scored 40 points or more in several games. The next summer, he gained an extra 4 inches in height and decided to train rigorously to earn a spot on the varsity team. With his hard work paying off, Michael J. Jordan averaged about 20 points per game in his two seasons of high school basketball as a senior and was selected to be on the school's All-American Team.

College Career

Jordan was recruited by many college basketball programs, such as Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia. In 1981, he accepted a scholarship to the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year by averaging 13 points per game. He also made the game-winning jump shot in the NCAA championship game against Georgetown, led by future NBA star Patrick Ewing. During his three seasons at North Carolina, he averaged 18 points and 5 rebounds per game. Jordan was selected to the NCAA All-American First Team in his sophomore and junior seasons. In 1984, after winning the Naismith and the Wooden Player of the Year awards, Jordan decided to leave North Carolina one year before graduation to enter the 1984 NBA draft. With the third overall pick, the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan. Notably, Jordan later returned to North Carolina to complete his degree in 1986.

NBA Career and Achievements

Throughout his rookie season, Jordan averaged 28 points per game and became a fan favorite in many opposing arenas. He also graced the cover of Sports Illustrated just over a month into his career. Jordan was invited to participate in the All-Star game, but several veteran players were envious of the attention he was receiving and avoided passing him the ball. Despite this, he was voted Rookie of the Year while the Bulls finished the season 38-44. Jordan won his first MVP award in 1987 and was also named the Defensive Player of the Year, showcasing his all-around talent (Smith, 2020). In 1990, he won his second MVP award and led the Bulls past the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals against their rivals, the Detroit Pistons, and defeated them in a 4-game sweep. For the first time, the Bulls advanced to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls beat them 4 games to 1, with Jordan averaging 31 points while winning his first NBA Finals MVP. Michael Jordan retired in 2003 with six championships, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport (Thompson, 2019).

References

• Smith, J. (2020). The Life and Legacy of Michael Jordan. Chicago: Hoops Publishing.
• Thompson, M. (2019). Michael Jordan: The Man Behind the Legend. New York: Sports Press.