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How long has michael jordan played basketball
Where Michael Jordan, LeBron James stack up after his 1,072nd career game
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Nov 7, 2017
ESPN.com
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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.
How Many Seasons Did Michael Jordan Play in the NBA?
The NBA is an unforgiving league. While all pro athletes would like to stay on the court forever, that’s simply not reality. Most players only last a few years, with a few special cases sticking around for a decade or more. That, unsurprisingly, is where Michael Jordan fits in.
The G.O.A.T did not have the longest NBA career, but he played much, much longer than most other stars. The following paragraphs cover those seasons, how they occurred, and why Jordan continued to thrive where so many others fell off.
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An Interesting Arc
Overall, Jordan played for 15 seasons in the NBA. That’s much longer than the average span of an NBA career (4.5 years) and it further reinforces his dominance. He wasn’t just in the league for that entire time, he thrived from the start all the way to the end.
Jordan’s career path is unique as well. Where most stars stick with one team during their prime, then usually jump around a bit as their athleticism winds down, Jordan only seemed to get better with time. He also had two gaps in his career, but still managed to bring home six titles.
A Rocky Start
Jordan came into the league during the 1984 season when the Bulls picked him third overall in the draft. He instantly took to the game, playing well enough to earn national attention. However, despite his skill, he didn’t have the right players around him.
The Bulls went 38-44 his rookie season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. He then missed 64 games the next season with a broken foot before bouncing back in 1986 with one of the best scoring seasons (37.1 ppg) in NBA history.
Despite his talent, he couldn’t get his team past the Pistons. Jordan’s Bulls were bounced out of the playoffs in 1988 and 89. It wasn’t until the 90’s that he created his legacy.
Two Title Runs
Spurred by high-level play and a desire to win, Jordan won three straight NBA championships with the Bulls from 1990 to 1993. Those seasons instantly put him on the map as one of the best players of all time. Then, out of nowhere, he retired.
After reaching his goal of a title, Jordan tried a career in baseball. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1993. He played well, but ultimately came back to the NBA after the 1995 MLB strike.
Despite not playing for two seasons and getting into his mid-thirties, Jordan once again proved his dominance. He won three more titles, putting him as one of the few players to get six rings.
With a 6-0 Finals record, he decided to retire again. However, he couldn’t stay away for long.
The Return of the King
As he did during his hiatus in the 90’s, Jordan only stayed away from the game for two years. He sat out in 1999 through 2001, then decided to lace up his sneakers and join with the Washington Wizards.
This return, however, was not as glamorous as his first. He had solid stats (averaging more than 20 points a game) but wasn’t as quick or as dominant as he used to be.
Through a combination of injuries and lackluster teammates, Jordan’s Wizards never got off the ground. They failed to make the playoffs and lost most of their games. That caused his true (and final) retirement in 2003 after playing for fifteen years in the league.
Final Words
Few players have matched Jordan’s success, and nobody in the modern era has come close. He truly was one of the all-time legends, and someone who seemed to get better with time. His longevity at such a high level is one of the many reasons he’s considered the best of all time.
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 basketball player biography, photo, his wife Michael Jordan is a man whose very name has long been a true symbol of basketball. He was one of the main stars of the NBA, and therefore, over time, he turned into a real world-class star. But do not think that the career of our today's hero was simple. Making his way to the very top, Michael went through many different tests, and therefore really deserved the right to be called the best of the best.
Michael Jordan's early years, childhood and family
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 17, 1963. His parents were ordinary Americans and never had an athletic build or tall stature. That is why it was quite difficult for our today's hero to count on bright successes in basketball.
Michael Jordan - as a child
At an early age, Michael always loved sports, but baseball remained his number one game for a long time. Jordan dreamed of becoming a famous pitcher, and therefore spent a lot of time with the ball and a baseball glove. It is remarkable that such diligence soon bore fruit. Speaking in the children's team, Michael Jordan by the age of twelve managed to become one of the best pitchers in his age category.
Playing baseball, the future NBA player managed to become a state champion, as well as the best player in the championship in the minor league. He was predicted a great future in this sport. However, the young boy always did not take such words very seriously. Perhaps that's why, already in high school, he suddenly decided
to trade baseball for basketball. One of the reasons for this decision was his older brother Larry, who as a teenager became a real star of the school basketball team. Looking at him, Michael dreamed of the same success. But all aspirations for a long time were broken by the indifference of school coaches.
Noting the playing qualities of a young guy, the mentors of the school team still did not dare to take him to the team because of his small stature, and also not the most athletic physique. Such an attitude towards himself hurt the young guy very much, and therefore, already in the classroom in the younger group, he always gave all the best to two hundred percent.
Michael Jordan. Top 40 Moments
Thanks to such diligence, in the eleventh grade, Michael managed not only to decently develop his muscles, but even to gain a good height. It was during this period that the player was finally accepted into the school basketball team.
From the first games, the basketball player took the position of a power forward and, successfully fitting into the team game, began to score an average of 20.8 points per match. During this period, scouts of many prestigious American universities drew attention to him. Michael always studied rather poorly at school, however, despite this, after graduating from the eleventh grade, he received offers from several leading US universities at once.
The most persistent in its desire to get a bright young player was the University of North Carolina, which very soon became the home of Michael Jordan.
Star Trek basketball player Michael Jordan
For the first time in his career, Michael Jordan played shooting guard in the college league. He did not get used to the new role immediately, but over time he nevertheless found his game. In the 81-82 season, he became a real leader of his team, and in the final of the student league championship he even scored the decisive goal, which, in fact, made the University of North Carolina team the champion of the entire draw.
Michael Jordan - basketball legend
Subsequently, our today's hero did not slow down. He performed very brightly, and therefore regularly ranked among the best basketball players in the championship. In 1983 and 1984, his name was included in the symbolic league team. In 1984, Michael Jordan was recognized as its best player at all.
In addition, in 1983, a talented young basketball player was included in the US team for the Pan American Games. In that tournament, Michael became the most productive player on his team and already at 19In 1984 he went with the team to the Olympics. At the Olympic Games, our today's hero again flashed his skills and eventually became the best player in the entire draw.
It is worth noting that 1984 was a turning point in the career of a star basketball player. During this period, he left the University of North Carolina in order to participate in the NBA draft, but two years later he still graduated from the university and received a bachelor's degree in geography. At that time, he was already one of the main stars of the NBA and the stellar Chicago Bulls.
Throughout his career, our today's hero played for only two professional clubs - the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. As part of these teams, he was a real star, and therefore a huge number of personal and team awards should not surprise anyone. He was a six-time NBA champion, a two-time Olympic champion, and the recipient of countless other awards.
Basketball player Michael Jordan has already retired
Over the many years of playing in the NBA, Michael Jordan interrupted and resumed his career several times, but he was always in the public eye. He had many advertising contracts, millions in fees, as well as a whole army of fans. However, this great athlete has always remained himself - a simple American guy who gives his all in training.
Life of Michael Jordan after retirement
Outside the basketball court, Michael Jordan was known as a passionate fan of baseball, motorcycle racing, golf, and a participant in numerous charitable companies. Once during his career, our today's hero even managed to prove himself well as an actor, starring in the popular film Space Jam, where he courageously played basketball against a team of aliens.
In addition, Michael often starred in commercials and worked as a model.
Personal life of Michael Jordan
In 1989, Michael Jordan married a girl named Juanita Vanoy, who became his first and only official wife. In marriage, three joint children were born. "Family nest" at the cost of $ 29 million, the lovers built near the small town of Highland Park in Illinois.
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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.
One lucky quartet -- Jerry Stackhouse, Brendan Haywood, Larry Hughes and Scott Williams -- played with both of them.
That, unsurprisingly, is where Michael Jordan fits in. 
He instantly took to the game, playing well enough to earn national attention. However, despite his skill, he didn’t have the right players around him.
At 19In 81 he became a student of this university. 
Even the fans of rivals fell in love with the future celebrity. 
Thanks to Michael, the team managed to reach the playoffs for the first time in the last 3 years. 
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. 
Michael regarded this as a betrayal. 
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. 
The fact is that in his youth, Michael witnessed how his friend drowned. 
Jordan dreamed of becoming a famous pitcher, and therefore spent a lot of time with the ball and a baseball glove. It is remarkable that such diligence soon bore fruit. Speaking in the children's team, Michael Jordan by the age of twelve managed to become one of the best pitchers in his age category. 
Such an attitude towards himself hurt the young guy very much, and therefore, already in the classroom in the younger group, he always gave all the best to two hundred percent. 
At the Olympic Games, our today's hero again flashed his skills and eventually became the best player in the entire draw. 
He had many advertising contracts, millions in fees, as well as a whole army of fans. However, this great athlete has always remained himself - a simple American guy who gives his all in training. 
