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How long did jordan play basketball
Where Michael Jordan, LeBron James stack up after his 1,072nd career game
Nov 7, 2017
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Tuesday's Cavaliers-Bucks game.
On Tuesday night, LeBron James hit the court for his 1,072nd regular-season game.
Why is that noteworthy? Because Michael Jordan played in 1,072 regular-season games in his 15-season career, and in case you've been under a rock or off Twitter for the past decade, the NBA world has been known to compare the two legends' careers.![]()
How does the duo stack up as King James matches His Airness?
Two stat kings
LeBron has appeared in 94 percent of his team's games in his career. Although that's a greater percentage than MJ's 92 percent, it's worth noting that James has never played in all 82 games, something Jordan did nine times, including in his final season with the Washington Wizards in 2002-03.
Although Jordan played in more than 100 more games than James in which he finished as his team's outright leading scorer, James has more than twice as many games (103 vs. 44) in which he finished as his team's outright leader in points, rebounds and assists.
MJ and LeBron: By the numbers
| MJ | | LeBron |
|---|
| 15 | Seasons | 15 |
| 706-366 (.659) | Record | 716-356 (. 668) |
| 41,011 | Career minutes | 41,688 |
| 32,292 (4th) | Career points | 29,105 (7th) |
| 30.1 | Points per game | 27.2 |
| 6.2 | Rebounds per game | 7.3 |
| 5.3 | Assists per game | 7.1 |
| 0.8 | Blocks per game | 0.8 |
| 2.3 | Steals per game | 1.6 |
| 31 | 50-point games | 11 |
| 28 | Triple-doubles | 56 |
| * Regular-season only |
Any room in the trophy case?
Although James holds the edge in All-NBA nods, Jordan holds the advantage in All-Defense selections and MVP awards.
Can LeBron catch MJ? He's seven years younger than Jordan was at the time of his 1,072nd career game -- LeBron started his career two months shy of his 19th birthday -- so King James has some time to catch up.
MJ and LeBron: The accolades
| MJ | | LeBron |
|---|
| 5 | MVP awards | 4 |
| 6 | NBA Finals MVP | 3 |
| 11 | All-NBA selections | 13 |
| 1 | Defensive Player of the Year | 0 |
| 9 | All-Defense selections | 6 |
| 1984-85 | Rookie of the Year | 2003-04 |
| 4 | ESPY Best NBA Player | 6 |
| 1 | ESPY Best Male Athlete | 3 |
Who has shared the court with the legends?
In total, 107 players appeared as teammates alongside Jordan, while 135 have appeared alongside James.
One lucky quartet -- Jerry Stackhouse, Brendan Haywood, Larry Hughes and Scott Williams -- played with both of them.
When it comes to playing with former No. 1 overall draft picks, LeBron -- the top pick in the 2003 draft -- holds an overwhelming lead over MJ throughout their careers, although only one, Kyrie Irving, shared the court with LeBron during his prime.
No. 1 overall picks as teammates
| MJ | LeBron |
|---|
| Kwame Brown (2001-03) | Joe Smith (2007-08, 2008-09) |
| Shaquille O'Neal (2009-10) |
| Greg Oden (2013-14) |
| Kyrie Irving (2014-17) |
| Andrew Bogut (2016-17) |
| Derrick Rose (2017-18) |
James also briefly shared a roster with former No. 1 overall picks Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett in Cleveland, but both players were traded prior to the start of the 2014-15 season.
Although James and Jordan never shared the court as opponents, the duo has met in plenty of occasions as player and owner. Unfortunately for Jordan, his Charlotte Hornets (and Bobcats prior) haven't had much success against LeBron.
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Michael Jordan | Biography, Stats, & Facts
Michael Jordan
See all media
- Born:
- February 17, 1963 (age 59) New York City New York
- Awards And Honors:
- Most Valuable Player Olympic Games Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016) Basketball Hall of Fame (2009)
See all related content →
Top Questions
What was Michael Jordan famous for?
American basketball player Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1991–93, 1996–98).
He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) and was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1988.
How many times was Michael Jordan in the Olympics?
Michael Jordan led the U.S. basketball team to Olympic gold medals in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.
How tall is Michael Jordan?
During his playing career, Michael Jordan stood at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) tall.
Does Michael Jordan own a basketball team?
In 2006, Michael Jordan became minority owner and general manager of the American basketball team the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets).
What was Michael Jordan's nickname?
During his playing career, Michael Jordan, a guard, was an exceptionally talented shooter and passer and a tenacious defender. He earned the nickname “Air Jordan” because of his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers, and his popularity reached heights few athletes have known.
Michael Jordan, in full Michael Jeffrey Jordan, byname Air Jordan, (born February 17, 1963, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.), American collegiate and professional basketball player widely considered to be one of the greatest all-around players in the history of the game. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1991–93, 1996–98).
Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. As a freshman, he made the winning basket against Georgetown in the 1982 national championship game. Jordan was named College Player of the Year in both his sophomore and junior years, leaving North Carolina after his junior year. He led the U.S. basketball team to Olympic gold medals in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.
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In 1984 Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. In his first season (1984–85) as a professional, he led the league in scoring and was named Rookie of the Year; after missing most of the following season with a broken foot, he returned to lead the NBA in scoring for seven consecutive seasons, averaging about 33 points per game. He was only the second player (after Wilt Chamberlain) to score 3,000 points in a single season (1986–87). Jordan was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) and was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. In October 1993, after leading the Bulls to their third consecutive championship, Jordan retired briefly and pursued a career in professional baseball. He returned to basketball in March 1995. In the 1995–96 season Jordan led the Bulls to a 72–10 regular season record, the best in the history of the NBA (broken in 2015–16 by the Golden State Warriors). From 1996 to 1998 the Jordan-led Bulls again won three championships in a row, and each time Jordan was named MVP of the NBA finals.
After the 1997–98 season Jordan retired again.
Jordan remained close to the sport, buying a share of the Washington Wizards in January 2000. He was also appointed president of basketball operations for the club. However, managing rosters and salary caps was not enough for Jordan, and in September 2001 he renounced his ownership and management positions with the Wizards in order to be a player on the team. His second return to the NBA was greeted with enthusiasm by the league, which had suffered declining attendance and television ratings since his 1998 retirement. After the 2002–03 season, Jordan announced his final retirement. He ended his career with 32,292 total points and a 30.12-points-per-game average, which was the best in league history, as well as 2,514 steals, the second most ever. In 2006 Jordan became minority owner and general manager of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets). He bought a controlling interest in the team in 2010 and became the first former NBA player to become a majority owner of one of the league’s franchises.
During his playing career, Jordan, a guard, standing 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) tall, was an exceptionally talented shooter and passer and a tenacious defender. He earned the nickname “Air Jordan” because of his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers, and his popularity reached heights few athletes (or celebrities of any sort) have known. He accumulated millions of dollars from endorsements, most notably for his Air Jordan basketball shoes. He also made a successful film, Space Jam (1996), in which he starred with animated characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In 1996 the NBA named him one of the 50 greatest players of all time, and in 2009 he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Michael Jordan - biography, personal life, photo, news, film, height, basketball player, The Last Dance, now 2022
Biography
Michael Jordan - the legendary American basketball player from the NBA, for a long time, from 1984 to 1998 (with a short break), who played as an attacking guard for the Chicago Bulls team.
Despite the fact that the parquet king ended his sports career long ago, his biography still arouses genuine interest among sports fans.
Childhood and youth
An outstanding athlete was born in New York on February 17, 1963. The parents of the future sports star were ordinary people by no means of basketball growth. In addition to the boy, the family raised four children: older brothers Larry and James Jr., sisters Deloris and Roslyn.
As a child, Michael was fond of baseball and at the age of 12 with the school team got into the finals of the minor league championship. Later he was recognized as the champion of the state of North Carolina, where the family moved. Another achievement in baseball was the recognition of the young man as the most valuable player in the league.
Then it was time for the teenager to get involved in basketball. The father even built a playground for the youngest son in the backyard of the house. The growth of a novice basketball player at the age of 15 reached 175 centimeters, so he perfected the jump.
Later, the athlete reached a height of 198 cm with a weight of 98 kg.
The young man had high speed and practiced diligently, but these qualities were not enough to become a player on the high school team. The failure upset the guy, and he decided to prove to the coach that he was wrong. Michael gave all the best in the games, getting 28 points in each match. At the same time, he was involved in baseball and athletics, and became a member of the school's American football team.
Perseverance paid off. In the 11th grade, the guy finally got into the basketball team, in which his older brother already played at number 45. The young man stopped his choice at number 23, explaining that he would try to become as good a player as Larry, or at least half. Jordan remained true to these figures until the end of his career.
Success spurred the ambitious boy on, and he continued to work on himself. In the summer of 1980, the applicant entered the training camp at the University of North Carolina.
He made such an indelible impression on the coaches that he was invited to train. At 19In 81 he became a student of this university.
Simultaneously with his studies, the guy began training in the local basketball club. He managed to show himself as an indispensable player, although the coach set higher goals for him than others. This plan worked, and in the first year the young talent entered the starting five.
Basketball
Jordan rose to the Naismith award in his first three seasons. Also, the young player took part in the Pan American Games, showing the best result in the national team. Entering the main team of the country, he participated in the Summer Olympics 1984 years old, where he also performed most successfully of all.
Embed from Getty ImagesMichael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
The New York native dropped out of university to take part in the NBA draft. Chosen by the Chicago Bulls. The lack of discipline in the team and the low level of equipment disappointed the guy.
However, despite such conditions, he continued to train intensively and entered the starting five, consistently gaining about 30 points per game. Even the fans of rivals fell in love with the future celebrity.
Just a month into his professional career, the athlete landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the ambitious caption "A Star Is Born." 1984 was the year of the first advertising contract with Nike. For the basketball player, Air Jordan sneakers were released in the traditional black and red colors of the Chicago Bulls club.
This shoe was banned by the Pro League for its aggressive color range and lack of white. However, the rebel continued to wear these sneakers to the site, and Nike management paid fines of $ 5 thousand, using this fact to advertise their product.
The team's debutant became a member of the starting five in the NBA All-Star game. This fact provoked the discontent of the veterans. As a result, the players refused to assist a teammate.
But even under such pressure, he managed to win the title of the best rookie of the association in the regular season finals. At the same time, the guy was declared third in performance in the NBA and got into the second top five players in the league. Thanks to Michael, the team managed to reach the playoffs for the first time in the last 3 years.
Almost the entire second season, the athlete was recovering from a leg injury. But by the time the Chicago Bulls made the playoffs, the American had already returned to the court and managed to score 63 points in the elimination games. Since then, no one has been able to break this record. In the 3rd season, the basketball player recovered, becoming the second scoring player in the association.
Michael Jordan's Jumpman Logo / @jordanfactorybasketball
In the 1989/1990 season, Michael captained a club filled with young progressive players. The new coach, Phil Jackson, practiced the system of collective play, and the New Yorker defended the freedom of his actions.
However, a compromise was found, and the team was transformed.
On May 7, 1989, in the last seconds of a game with Cleveland, Jordan made the famous throw (The Shot), thanks to which Chicago for the first time overcame the debut round of the playoffs.
The following season brought the floor star his second MVP title in the regular season. The athlete was building up his muscles and already instilled fear in the former offenders on the site. Interestingly, while taking the ring, the athlete stuck out his tongue. The champion inherited this manner from his father, and he, in turn, from his grandfather.
Michael managed to turn big basketball into a real art. The tricks that he showed on the playing field attracted the interest of the public in the game with the orange ball. Largely due to the spectacular performance of Jordan, investment in this sport has grown.
So, in a November 1991 game against Denver, he took a closed-eyed free throw, dedicating it to rivals center Dikemba Mutombo, who was 20 cm taller but could never score through Jordan.
The 1991/1992 season brought the basketball player his third MVP title in a row. In addition, as part of the national team, he participated in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, where the Americans won gold.
In October of the same year, Michael announced that he was leaving the sport, as he had lost interest in it. At that time, the athlete was experiencing a personal loss that knocked him down - his father died.
In honor of the end of the basketball player's career, the Chicago Bulls decided to erect a monument to an outstanding player at the entrance to the United Center stadium. The sculpture is a figure of a champion floating in the air before the signature throw.
Over time, the player signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox baseball team, explaining his decision by the fact that his late father wanted to see him as a baseball player. During a short career, he played for the Birmingham Barons, then with the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan / @DailyMJ_
In March 1995, Michael decided to return to the NBA as a Chicago Bulls player.
However, this season ended for the team with a playoff defeat. The failure was an incentive to seriously prepare for the next season. In it, the athlete won the final MVP title for the fourth time, in 1997/1998 - for the fifth, and then for the sixth. These victories were some of the best moments of his career.
In the future, Jordan for the second time announced his farewell to professional sports. A year later, he returned to the NBA again, but in a different incarnation - co-owner and general manager of the Washington Wizards club. And he began to play for the same team since September 2001. After spending two seasons here, Michael has improved its performance.
Returning to the professional league, the American became the best 40-year-old player in all of basketball history and managed to fill stadiums during Wizards matches.
Retirement
The last appearance of the champion on the playing field took place in 2003 during the competition against the Philadelphia-76 team, at the end of the match the victor received a three-minute standing ovation from the public.
After his third retirement from the sport, Jordan intended to return to the position of manager, but he was fired by the owner of the club. Michael regarded this as a betrayal.
To keep fit, the basketball player participated in celebrity charity golf tournaments. Then his hobby included motorcycling. Since 2004, the star has owned a professional team called Michael Jordan Motorsports. He also promoted his own brand of clothing.
Embed from Getty ImagesMichael Jordan is now
According to ESPN, Jordan was considered the best basketball player of all time, LeBron James was only in third place. The basketball player himself said in an interview that he would not refuse to go on the court with him. Michael considered Kobe Bryant one of the greatest players in the NBA and considered his great friend, despite the fact that he stole all the movements from him.
Fans called the favorite “the god of basketball”, and Roland Lazenby wrote the book “Michael Jordan. His Air", dedicated to the biography of the athlete and the history of his success.
In 2009, the player's name was among the top basketball players in the Hall of Fame.
Personal life
The sportsman's personal life was stormy due to many hobbies. He has always been considered the favorite of women. The first chosen one of the famous basketball player was Juanita Vanoy.
In 1989, the young were legally married, and at 19On the 91st, the husband purchased for the family a luxurious estate of 17 hectares in Highland Park. The couple had three children: two sons, Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James, and a daughter, Jasmine. In early 2002, Juanita announced that she had filed for divorce. She called irreconcilable contradictions the basis, but the couple managed to agree and did not divorce.
But in 2006 it became known that Michael had a secret mistress, whom he paid for silence. The court rejected the claim of Carla Knaifel to pay her compensation in the amount of $ 5 million. The player allegedly promised her this money because she did not announce her pregnancy from him at 1991 year.
Embed from Getty ImagesYvette Prieto and Michael Jordan
DNA analysis has proven that the former athlete was not the father of the child. However, this finally spoiled the relationship of the spouses, and at the end of the year they divorced by mutual consent. At the same time, Juanita received a settlement of $ 168 million, which was a record at that time among famous people.
After 5 years, Michael proposed to Cuban model Yvette Prieto. They dated for three years. The chosen one agreed, and soon the couple announced their engagement. On April 27, 2013, the lovers got married in Jupiter Island.
In 2012, the basketball player decided to sell the estate in Highland Park for $29 million. Later, he bought a house in Florida. In February 2014, Jordan's wife gave birth to two twin girls, who were given the names Isabelle and Victoria.
It is known that the athlete starred in the video of his namesake - Michael Jackson. The two stars played basketball in the video for Jam.
Interestingly, the word "Jam" is interpreted in two ways - as an improvisation of a musical group and as a throw of the ball from above in basketball.
Notably, Michael Jordan portrayed himself in the sci-fi animated film Space Jam. Teaming up with the superstar in the battle against the aliens was the cartoon character Bugs Bunny the rabbit and world movie star actor Bill Murray.
Michael Jordan and Nicki Minaj / @MinajThrowback
Subsequently, the documentary series The Last Dance was released on Netflix. While watching the tape, fans discovered that their pet's eyes have an unhealthy yellow color. Fans were worried that it could be an illness - jaundice.
As of July 2022, Forbes estimated the net worth of the celebrity at $1.7 billion. Michael earned capital not only from his Jordan Brand salary, but also through several profitable investment ventures. Due to reasonable investments and proper distribution of funds, the American has become one of the richest athletes on the planet.
Fan pages on Instagram (the social network is banned in the Russian Federation, it belongs to the Meta corporation, which is recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation) are dedicated to the celebrity's sports career, where photos and videos with the best moments from games with Jordan are displayed.
Michael Jordan now
Now the sports legend is trying not to fall out of the media field. In April 2022, work began on a film about the collaboration between Jordan and Nike, which turned the sports industry upside down. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon acted as writers and producers of the project.
Awards and achievements
- 1983 - gold medal at the Pan American Games in Caracas
- 1984 - gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics
- 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 - NBA champion
- 1992 - gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics
- 1992 - gold medal at the American Championships in Portland
Interesting facts
- legendary pose.
The photo session was timed to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. - In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Jordan brand, the basketball player invited Hollywood stars to the annual event: Jane Aiko, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and others.
- A public favorite suffers from hydrophobia. The fact is that in his youth, Michael witnessed how his friend drowned.
- It is noteworthy that the height of Jordan's parents did not exceed 175 cm.
Michael Jordan - biography, career, achievements, statistics, photos of a basketball player who is the greatest player of all time. Everyone has the same answer - Michael Jordan, the god of basketball, a man who set such standards with his game that any comparison with him is a priori doomed to failure. The words "Jordan" and "basketball" are synonymous - and this, and not numerous victories and MVP titles, is the main achievement of His Airiness.
Michael Jordan
Born 2/17/1963
Career :
- Chicago Bulls (1984-1993, 1995-1998).
- Washington Wizards (2001-2003).
Team achievements :
- NBA champion 1991-1993, 1996-1998.
- Olympic champion 1984, 1992.
Personal achievements :
- NBA regular season MVP 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998.
- NBA Finals MVP 1991-1993, 1996-1998.
- 1988, 1996, 1998 NBA All-Star Game MVP.
- 10 NBA 1st Team All-Star Team (1987-1993, 1996-1998).
- Participated in 14 NBA All-Star Games.
- The most productive player of the NBA regular seasons 1987-1993, 1996-1998.
- 1988, 1990, 1993 NBA steals leader.
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year 1988 years old.
- Winner of the 1987, 1988 top throw competition.
Start
As is often the case with famous people, Jordan had to experience disappointment before success came to him. If such, of course, can be considered a refusal to be admitted to the school basketball team.
Little Michael was a sports boy from childhood, playing in the yard with his father and brothers - first baseball, then basketball. The reason for the refusal was banal - short stature and poor physical readiness. Another kid would give up, but that's not about Jordan. A year of hard training - and a future legend in the school team - the first step is taken.
More and more. Quickly becoming a leader in children's basketball, the young player receives an invitation from the varsity team of North Carolina, where his family moved from Brooklyn. Michael starts right off the bat - he finishes his debut season as the best NCAA rookie and becomes the author of the decisive throw in the finals of the student championship. Came-saw-won - this is Jordan's motto - it has been formed in him since those years.
Michael Jordan in his youth
The next two seasons, the young star is in the top five stars of the League and in the summer of 19At 84, he decides to participate in the NBA draft, which gave the world such stars as Hakim Olajuwon, then selected with the first number, and Charles Barkley.
It's hard to believe now, but Jordan heard his last name only third in the list of newcomers like him. Representatives of the Chicago Bulls got the lucky ticket, not realizing how lucky they were then.
Recognition
Before his NBA debut, Jordan becomes an Olympic champion - the undefeated US team easily wins the tournament, and the best player in the competition is, you guessed it, the new "bull" Michael Jordan.
Jordan's good mood is reflected in the game - he instantly becomes the leader of Chicago, gaining an average of 28.2 points per game in the 1984/1985 season - this is the third best result in the League. His team reaches the playoffs for the first time in a couple of years, Michael gets into the second symbolic team of the League and becomes Rookie of the Year, demonstrating a stellar level.
The second season is going to be much harder for yesterday's debutant. A serious injury knocks him out of the rhythm of the game for almost the entire regular season.
This negatively affects the game of his team, but Chicago still clings to the playoffs, by the beginning of which Jordan recovered and was ready to help the Bulls.
Of course, they could not cope with the Boston Celtics with the legendary Larry Bird, but they managed to pretty exhaust the latter. Moreover, in the second match of the series, Jordan sets a career performance record in the playoffs - 63 points. After such a benefit, Byrd calls Jordan the God of Basketball. As he looked into the water, well, really!
Michael Jordan in the Chicago Bulls
The 1986/1987 season was again a record-breaking season. Jordan is averaging 37 points per game - a fantastic performance that finally confirmed Michael's star status. However, even this did not help defeat Boston in the spring.
The next three seasons went like a blueprint. Jordan's inspiring play, a consistent 30+ points per game average, and an unfortunate playoff run against the Detroit Pistons, a well-played and experienced team led by Isaiah Thomas.
One thing was clear: Chicago and Jordan were on the cusp of an upswing. Michael by that time, in addition to the frantic performance, as they say, was overgrown with meat, becoming an elite player on both sides of the court - the title of the best defensive player in the NBA 1988 years old is proof of that. The Bulls, on the other hand, went forward - first they got to the second round of the playoffs, and the next two seasons stopped in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Three-time
The turning point came after Phil Jackson came to the coaching bridge and Scotty Pippen appeared in the Chicago camp - a brilliant coach and the smartest player in the Association gave Jordan what he lacked - tactical training and help directly on the court. Now the rivals of the "bulls" have more problems - trying to keep Michael together, they involuntarily let go of his partners, one of whom was Scotty - an impeccable star of the "second plan".
This tactic of countering the leader of "Chicago" did not help "Detroit" this time.![]()
A 4-0 rout in the 1991 East Finals and the Bulls advance to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. That series actually changed the king of the League - the magnificent Magic Johnson transfers his powers to Jordan, who now has the right to be called the winning superstar.
Michael Jordan leads Chicago
The next year brings a new showdown in the Finals as the NBA's best shooting guards Jordan and Drexler face off. But the struggle did not work out - Michael did not allow the leader of Portland to turn around, confirming the status of an excellent defender, and in the attack, as always, he was unstoppable. Of course, Jordan becomes the MVP owner of both the regular season and the playoffs in winning seasons. Complete dominance!
Jordan's style has finally taken shape - he scores most of his points with medium throws, after passes under the shield, abrupt stops and freezes. It is a pleasure to watch his flights, which are worth only throws from above - it is not for nothing that he is a two-time winner of the competition of the same name in the All-Star Matches.
Since then, Jordan has been nicknamed His Airiness - the ability to soar above the parquet elevated him to the rank of celestials.
But the most important thing that distinguishes Michael from other League stars is his ability to achieve results, to get involved in the most difficult moments for his team. This he confirmed on June 1993rd, when in the finals I had to fight Phoenix, whose leader was the excellent Charles Barkley, who became the MVP of the regular season that season. To say that Barkley was determined to win is to say nothing, his motivation was beyond the limits! And he played great, leading his team to success. But Jordan did even better, becoming a three-time NBA champion and, you guessed it, his third straight playoff MVP.
Michael Jordan in the 1993 NBA Finals
1991-1993 finally approved Jordan in the list of League legends - bright victories, fantastic statistics - all the components of greatness with him. But where there is triumph, there is also tragedy.
That summer, Jordan's father is killed. Michael, unable to bear such a shock, retires from basketball, leaving the question open - is he the best in history?
Six times
Almost two years he was out of the game - he even managed to light up in the baseball team, but it was not that. Chicago, of course, could not dream of a championship without its leader. Pippen tried his best, but still he is not Jordan, who, after a little rest from his favorite game, decided to return in the spring of 1995th.
What was going on - the whole of America seemed to have gone crazy! The idol of millions has returned to the floor - this is the best thing that could happen to basketball! Pretty quickly, Jordan picked up form and helped Chicago reach the conference finals, where the Bulls were stopped by the young leaders of Orlando.
But Jordan is back to win, he doesn't need anything else! A fantastic regular season (72-10) and a victory in the final over Seattle confirm that Jordan is great! With his game, he overshadows everyone - Robinson, Olajuwon, young Shaquille.
Now everyone is interested in one thing - how many more titles Michael will win. Obviously, Jordan is the best player in the NBA, and he will remain so for as long as he wishes.
Michael Jordan
And he wanted to play for two more seasons, which ended the same way - a confrontation with the most experienced Utah Jazz team. Led by two NBA veterans, Malone and Stockton, Utah waited their turn in the West to challenge the Bulls. I must say that the fight against Chicagoans Malone and the company imposed a serious one!
The fate of most matches was decided in the last seconds, where, as you already understand, Jordan spoke his word. Perhaps it was those three years (1996-1998) that confirmed everyone that Michael was not mistaken. His scoring average was down by a few points, but in decisive moments, Jordan took the ball and won matches.
Out of Time and Comparison
Five-time regular season MVP, six-time NBA Finals MVP, six-time Association Champion - you can't argue with such a track record.
At the age of 35, Jordan removed all questions - without ending his career, he became the best basketball player of all time.
Another thing to note is that Jordan is a sought-after media personality. Perhaps he is the first athlete in history who fully mastered the advertising market. His popularity is colossal - Jordan is known all over the world - from small children to housewives. He acts in films and releases Air Jordan sneakers with Nike.
The 1998/1999 season did not start for a long time, due to a long lockout. As a result, a shortened season was held, but Jordan did not come out on the floor. He again announced the end of his career, as in 1993, leaving basketball at the peak of his fame ... to return after almost 3 years, but not to Chicago, but to Washington.
Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards
Of course, this was no longer the Jordan everyone knows. Yes, he was still good in attack - the average 20-22 points per game at 39-40 years old do not gain only under the influence of the magic of the name, but his team was weak, and new NBA stars grew up - Bryant, Iverson.
