Michael jordan basketball cards how much are they worth

20 Most Valuable Michael Jordan Basketball Cards In The World

If you follow sports, you might have heard of Michael Jordan. MJ as he is called by his fans was one of the best basketball players to play in the NBA. In fact, he is arguably the best player ever. In this article, we are going to be looking at 20 Most Valuable Micheal Jordan Basketball Cards that are worth a fortune.

Basketball is as popular as ever, and for good reason. Michael Jordan is one of the most recognized sports stars in history, so it makes sense that people would want to know what basketball cards are the most valuable. Whether you’re building a collection or are just looking to see what sets contain valuable basketball cards, it helps to have a comprehensive list of valuable cards. Here’s a handy list of them!

Table of Contents

20 Most Valuable Michael Jordan Basketball Cards: Price List

1. 1989 NBA Hoops Michael Jordan All-Star

Price: $125,000.00

Grade: PSA 10

Card Number: #21

This MJ card was produced by the trading card company Hoops which was approved by the NBA itself. This card is worth $125,000.00 and it was graded 10/10  by the professional grader PSA. Michael Jordan in this card played for the Chicago Bulls during the NBA league in 1989. This card would be a great purchase for any collector or fan, it is also in very good condition.

2. Michael Jordan Fleer ‘93- ‘94 League Leader Card

Price: $360,000.95

Grade: Ungraded

Card Number: #224

This League Leader basketball trading card features the star of our article, Michael Jordan in this classic fleer edition. This card captures Michael Jordan as he leaps to shoot to score, if you look at the back of this card you would find some history about this card and the records that MJ broke. He sure left a legacy. For only $360,000.95 You can have this card on eBay.

3. 1999 Upper Deck Ovation Auto Gold Michael Jordan

Price: $250,000

Grade: BGS 8

Card Number: #12

Taking a glance at the card, the first thing you see is this perfectly autographed signature at the center of this trading card. This is not only one of MJ best looking 1990s autos cards but one of his rarest ever made. there’s no deviation or parallel in this card which means there are only 23 cards in the world that look like this, how amazing is that? This card is a must-have in any collector’s collection. It sells for $250,000 On eBay.

4. Michael Jordan Sweet Shot Stars and Stripes Auto

Price: $225,000

Grade: BGS 10

Card Number: #3

Another autographed Michael Jordan card is on our list today, this card was signed by Michael Jordan himself and it was graded by the best grain services in the world where it was valued 10/10 by BGS. For a whopping $225,000 It is worth the value it carries.

5. Michael Jordan Card Chicago Bulls

Price: $188,531.00

Grade: Ungraded

Card Number: #26

This $188,531.00  MrBeast named card by the trading card company Fleer was featured during a very interesting set “MrBeast Is A Cutie” sounds like a kiddies show but it was a basketball set during the 1990-91 season of the NBA League. This card is upgraded but it is a very great card to own.

6. Michael Jordan 1986-87 Fleer Card

Price: $125,000.00

Grade: BGS 9.5

Card Number: #57

This is a Rookie Special on our list today, with our star of the show Michael Jordan. This card was graded 9.5/10 by BGS and it sells for  $125,000.00 On eBay. Michael Jordan cards are very expensive, but this card has a fair price because it is in a Gem Mint Condition, and it is an original.

7. 1986 Star Court King Michael Jordan

Price: $99,900.99

Grade: PSA 9

Card Number: #18

This Michael Jordan Card was graded 9/10 by the professional grader PSA. It’s a very lovely card to own and it sells for  $99,900.99 On eBay. It is also a rookie card which makes it even more desirable.

8. 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Michael Jordan Limited Logos Patch

Price: $100,000.00

Grade: BGS 9

Upper deck cards are mostly sought by professional traders who took over the market from

Fleer and Topps. They make one of the finest cards, this upper deck card that features our star Michael Jordan is worth $100,000.00 On eBay and it’s been graded 9/10 by the professional grader BGS. This card was captured during the National Basketball Association (NBA) league in the 2005-2006 season of basketball.

9. 1988-89 Fleer Sticker Michael Jordan

Price: $100,000. 00

Grade: BGS 9.5

Card Number: #7

For only $100,000.00 You can own this classic Fleer card from 1988-89, this card is graded 9.5 by BGS And it is in a Gem Mint Condition. For its price, it is an excellent choice for you as a collector or fan.

10. 2005 Upper Deck Trilogy Lebron James & Michael Jordan Signed

Price: $100,000.00

Grade: BGS 9.5

Card Number: #JJ

This Upper deck card is very rare and has only 50 in production, this card features Michael Jordan with LeBron James. It sells for $100,000.00 On eBay and it’s in perfect condition, most definitely a worthy choice for you.

11. 2002-03 Upper Deck Generations Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant Signed

Price: $100,000.00

Grade: BGS 9.5

Card Number: #MJ/KB

Trading cards are valued based on the player it features, the grade it has and its condition. This autographed basketball trading card ticks all the boxes, it is not only geared but it features the star player Michael Jordan, and it is also in a very good condition. It was traded 9.5 by the professional trader BGS and it’s authenticated 10/10 by the grading service as well. This card is a great choice for you as a collector, with only $100,000.00 You can own this card.

12. 1985 Star Slam Dunk Supers Michael Jordan

Price: $86,699.00

Grade: BGS 9.5

Card Number: #5

This trading card with the Legend Michael Jordan looks historic, it perfectly accentuates the winning moment for MJ. This $86,699.00 The card is also a Rookie Special, it is from the 1985 star slam dunk superstar season. A great card to have as any collector or fan.

13. Michael Jordan 1997-98 Flair Showcase Legacy Collection

Price: $70,000.00

Grade: PSA 10

Card Number: #1

Don’t you just love how these cards perfectly picture the winning goals of Michael Jordan, this card #1 has been valued 10/10 by the professional grader PSA, it is also worth $70,000. 00 On eBay and it’s in a very good condition. It is a legacy collection card produced in the United States during the 1977-98 flair showcase set. This card is worth having.

14. 1996-97 Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Michael Jordan

Price: $65,000.00

Grade: Ungraded

Card Number: #000

This is certainly one of MJ’s most remarkable & memorable 90s cards ever seen. These brilliant and iconic legacy cards are very well known, this is the first-ever serial numbered set that exclusively altered the specialty, while most of them didn’t know that. This listing had serial number #000 of 150.

15. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys Michael Jordan

Price: $599,999.99

Grade: BGS 9.5

Here’s an amazing Micheal Jordan Basketball Jersey card, it dates back to 1997-1998. The card contains a piece of the famous Micheal Jordan. This Jersey Card has also been signed by Micheal and is currently worth a whopping $599,999

16.

Price: $58,500.00

Grade: PSA 10

This card could be the rarest on our list today because Nike features Michael Jordan in this Rookie Promo Card. Not only is Nike one of the biggest and most renowned companies in the world. It also stars MJ, two legends in one trading card. Now that’s a card any collector must own. It has a fair price of $58,500.00 On eBay. This card is also in a mint condition and yes it has been graded by the professional grader PSA.

17. Michael Jordan 1986-87 Fleer BGS 9 Rookie Sticker Card

Price: $56,092.00

Grade: BGS 9

Card Number: #8

Fleer produced this all-time favorite rookie card of Michael Jordan, This $56,092.00 The card has been added by the professional grader BGS where it earned the grade score of 9/10.  It is a great card to own.

18. 1991-92 Fleer Michael Jordan Bulls

Price: $54,990. 00

Grade: BGS 10

Card Number: #29

When you find a card that is in pristine condition, you should know that it is 100% perfect condition. It is the best card to go for as a collector, Cards in pristine condition usually price high because of their 100% factor. This card is not only in pristine condition but also sells for   $54,990.00 On eBay and it has been graded not 9, or 9.5 but 10/10 by BGS.

19. 2005-06 Exquisite Collection Base Gold Michael Jordan

Price: $49,999.00

Grade: BGS 9

Card Number: #1010

This 2005-06 Exquisite Collection Base Gold of Michael Jordan is surely a unique card to come by, it sells for $49,999.00 On eBay and it’s been graded by the professional grader BGS, where it earned the grade score of 9/10. It has an interesting card number of #1010 and it comes in a gold tamper-proof plate. The upper deck really delivered a classic if I do say so myself.

20. 1986 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan Rookie

Price: $39,999.99

Grade: PSA 9

Card Number: #57

Finally on our list today is this 1986 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan Rookie can’t, it has been graded 9/10 by the professional grader PSA and one card that you should own if you are looking for an affordable card of MJ. For $39,999.99 you can have this card.

Conclusion

These twenty autographed Michael Jordan cards are the most valuable modern Michael Jordan basketball cards in the entire world. It will be interesting to see what new autographed Michael Jordan cards emerge as the years go by and as MJ ages. The man is not only a great player but also an even better collector of fine memorabilia.

The Most Expensive Michael Jordan Basketball Cards

Michael Jordan is one of the most successful and famous athletes in the history of professional sports. His career highlights include:

1. Five NBA MVP awards
2. Six NBA Championship titles with the Chicago Bulls
3. Two Olympic gold medals
4. Nine Seasons Making 1st Team All-NBA and 1st Team All-Defense, the most all-time.  
5. One of three players to win DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) and MVP in the same season
6. Fourteen NBA scoring titles
7. Named All-NBA First Team ten times
8. First North American athlete to earn over $300 million in salary and endorsements

Michael Jordan is considered the GOAT (greatest of all time) NBA player. He has become a global celebrity beyond sports due to his movie and television appearances and high-profile advertising campaigns. He is also a co-founder of Jordan Brand, which showcases some of the most collectible and expensive shoes of all time.

Jordan is an eight-time All-Star, a three-time All-Star Game MVP, and was selected 9 times to the NBA All-Defensive Team (Gary Payton later tied Jordan’s record of being selected 9 times). His many accomplishments have made his memorabilia coveted among collectors worldwide. He also has 5 league MVPs, with many believing Karl Malone stole one from him in 1997. Additionally, one of his most impressive feats, is having nine seasons being selected 1st Team All-NBA and 1st Team All-Defense, the most all time. 

The value of Michael Jordan’s rookie cards has increased significantly over time due to his iconic status. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him in 2009, and the Wizards, Bulls, and even the Heat—a team he didn’t even play for!—retired his number 23 jersey.

The First Michael Jordan Rookie Cards

Michael Jordan played his first NBA game on October 26th, 1984. His first official rookie card came during the following season. However, several unofficial Michael Jordan rookie cards were issued before the 1985-86 Fleer released trading card set. The Naismith Museum in Massachusetts displays one of these unofficial rookie cards.

Michael Jordan played for the University of North Carolina under coach Dean Smith. The Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan 3rd overall, behind Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers). He quickly became famous in the NBA, winning Rookie of the Year honors and leading his team to the Eastern Conference finals in his first season.

In 1988, Jordan led the Bulls to their first of three consecutive titles, earning him MVP honors and setting in motion a stretch of greatness never before seen in pro basketball. Since retiring from playing in 2003, Jordan has served as the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.

The Last Dance Netflix documentary explores Jordan’s career, paying particular attention to his final season with the Chicago Bulls. The global pandemic kept people indoors and searching for entertainment. The popularity of this miniseries fueled renewed interest in Jordan’s career and increased the value of many of his collectibles. The most expensive Air Jordans have sold for prices comparable to the most desired trading cards. 

The Most Expensive Michael Jordan Cards Sold at Auction

Michael Jordan basketball cards are some of the most expensive sports cards ever sold. His rookie cards are his most valuable, but collectors covet other types of cards that include signatures or highlight different aspects of his career.

According to Beckett Editors, at least 20 of the most expensive Michael Jordan rookie cards have values greater than $100,000. At an auction held by Guernsey’s, a card that featured Michael Jordan in his college uniform sold for $312,000.

There are so many valuable Michael Jordan basketball cards that counterfeit cards often appear on the market. It is essential to have an expert authenticate any Jordan memorabilia before investing in its value. Fake cards often lack vital features, including a white border and a jagged bottom edge. Some of these forgeries are easy to spot, while others are more difficult to detect.

These are the highest prices reached by cards sold through Heritage Auctions.

1. 1997 Upper Deck Game Jersey Michael Jordan (Autograph) #GJ13S PSA NM 7, Auto 8 – #’d 8/23

Price: $1,440,000

The 1992 NBA All-Star Game showcase was the last All-Star Game for Magic Johnson, who came out of retirement for this game. Magic won the MVP award, and Michael Jordan led with 18 points and five assists.

This is the most expensive Michael Jordan card. This item is a 1997 Upper Deck Game Jersey featuring Jordan’s autograph and a swatch of his jersey from the 1992 All-Star Game.

This card is a PSA NM 7 with an edition size of 23. This item is hand-numbered #8 of 23 and is one of the top 10 most valuable modern basketball cards.

2. 1997 Metal Universe Michael Jordan (Precious Metal Gems – Green) #23 PSA Authentic – 9/100

Price: $915,000

The company produced only ten green (emerald) foil cards for this series, with only six have been sent to Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) for grading. Metal Universe packs contained random placements of these cards.

In addition to being so rare, the foil design of the card makes it especially susceptible to damage. These factors contributed to the spectacular price paid for this card at auction in 2020.

3.

Price: $480,000

This red foil precious metal card was released in collaboration with the green foil we saw above. One hundred total foil cards were released, with the first ten being made of green foil, and the other ninety made with the red foil seen above.

Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems from the late 90’s are some of the most valuable sports cards from that era.  Skybox produced some of the more valuable baseball cards from the late 90’s in spite of being more of a basketball brand.

4. 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 PSA Gem Mint 10

Price: $645,000

The fifty-seventh card of the Fleer 1986 basketball run is one of the most valuable Michael Jordan basketball cards and probably the most recognized. This card is not rare in terms of quantity, so condition is the primary determinant of value. Only 315 PSA GEM Mint 10 examples of this card exist.

This card only cracked the $200,000 price point in late 2020. It passed the $700,000 mark in early 2021, and the card’s value has declined since that time.

As the most popular basketball card ever produced, this item has worldwide appeal, and highly rated examples look to remain extremely valuable.

Many counterfeits of this card exist, so only professionally graded examples should be considered for purchase. You can detect counterfeits by looking for an oblong cut, distinct coloration errors, and edges that are rough to the touch. Many of these fakes look real enough to fool the untrained eye, but not authentic enough for professionals.

5. 2000 Upper Deck Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant (Game Jerseys Combo 2) #MJKB-A BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 Auto 10

Price: $516,000

This iconic dual-swatch autograph card is among the most desirable items in trading card collecting, and it was the first card signed by Jordan and Bryant. This rare example remains very valuable to collectors.

6. 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 SGC Pristine 10

Price: $420,000

This particular Jordan rookie card is one of the most expensive basketball cards. The Jordan rookie is both the beginning and the end of an era, as subsequent major issues have drowned value and demand under oceans of supply.

Collectors highly desire this Jordan rookie card, and it is the last example of a collectible standard-issue card before overproduction began reducing card values. This card is the only SGC-rated example featuring the gold-colored “Pristine 10” label.

7. 2002-03 Upper Deck NBA Logo Mania Michael Jordan Logoman Autograph 1/1 #MJ2NBA BGS Gem Mint 9.5 – 10 Autograph

Price: $204,000

2002-2003 Upper Deck Basketball card packs randomly included one of three Michael Jordan Logoman cards. Each card features an NBA logo patch taken from a game jersey, an autograph, and a handwritten 1/1 designation.

This item is an example of an ultra-rare and highly desirable card.

8. 1984-85 Star Co. Michael Jordan Rookie #101 BGS Mint 9

Price: $192,000

This card predates the 1986 rookie card and shows Jordan in the earliest stages of his professional career. College stats appear on the card due to the lack of available data from Jordan’s short tenure with the Bulls.

Approximately five thousand of these cards exist, and only three are rated higher by Beckett Grading Services (BGS).

9. 1999 Upper Deck Michael Jordan (Game Jersey Autographs) #GJ10A BGS Mint 9, Auto 10 – #’d 10/23

Price: $132,000

This limited edition was only available via mail and featured an autograph and a game jersey swatch. This card is hand-numbered 10/23.

10. 2000 Ultimate Collection Michael Jordan #MJ-G Ultimate Signatures Gold (21/25) PSA Gem Mint 10

Price $102,000

Twenty-five of these cards were placed in Upper Deck packs, featuring Jordan, Kobe, and Kevin Garnett. This card includes a 21/25 stamp and Jordan’s autograph. This card is mint and released the year before Jordan played for the Washington Wizards, making this one of the final cards featuring Jordan in his Bulls uniform.

Best Value Michael Jordan Basketball Cards

Don’t despair if these items are beyond reach. Check out the most expensive Stephen Curry basketball cards for a comparison! 

Many excellent Jordan collectibles are available that do not require a second mortgage on your home.

1984-85 Star Co. Michael Jordan #101 Signed Rookie BGS NM-MT+ 8.5, Autograph 10

Price: $26,400

The famous 1986 card is the official rookie card, but this autographed example from the previous year is similarly revered.

As part of the Jordan basketball legacy, this card takes on added value for reasons beyond the historic nature of the signature.

2003 Upper Deck Triple Dimensions Michael Jordan (Standout Signatures) #5 BGS Pristine 10, Auto 10 – #’d 12/25

Price: $26,400

This item is a 2003 Upper Deck Triple Dimensions “Standout Signatures” card featuring a gold design and a near-perfect rating.

2005-06 SP Game Used By The Letter Michael Jordan 5/6 #BL-MJ, BGS Mint 9

Price: $25,200

This card features a larger jersey swatch than was seen previously. This By The Letter set took names from game-used jerseys and featured them on cards with serial numbers equal to the length of the player’s name.

1998-99 Metal Universe Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems #1 BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 – Numbered 6/50

Price: $24,000

This item is a 1998-99 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Only fifty of these inserts exist, and this is number six.

2012 Fleer Retro Buyback Autographs Michael Jordan #9 PSA NM 7, Auto 7 – #’d 98/100 with 1/1 Auto

Price $22,800

This item is a limited edition 2012 Fleer Retro Buyback Autograph card. The signature is 1/1, and the card is graded PSA NM 7 with a PSA/DNA NM 7 autograph. This card is number 098/100.

1997 UD3 Michael Jordan (Season Ticket – Autograph) #MJ PSA NM 7, Auto 7

Price $22,800

This card is a 1997 UD3 “Season Ticket” featuring Jordan’s autograph on a foil back. Graded PSA NM 7 and certified & graded PSA/DNA Auto 7. Only eight of these cards went to PSA for grading.

2001 Upper Deck Michael Jordan (MJ Comeback Commemorative-Dual Jersey Auto) #CCDA1 BGS NM-MT 8, Auto 10 – #’d 9/23

Price: $22,200

Upper Deck produced just twenty-three of these cards. This dual patch item features a swatch from a UNC jersey and a swatch from a game-used Bulls jersey. An Auto 10 rated autograph is also featured.

2005 Upper Deck Trilogy Michael Jordan (Signature Swatches Autographs) #SSA-MJ BGS Gem Mint 9.5, Auto 10 – #’d 25/25

Price: $21,000

The Upper Deck Trilogy cards display a game-worn jersey from an All-Star game and an autograph, and this card is BGS Gem Mint 9.5 number 25/25. This item is the highest-rated of the seventeen cards submitted for review.

2006 Skybox E-X Michael Jordan (Jambalaya) #J-MJ BGS Mint 9

Price $21,000

Fleer brought back the Jambalaya line in 2003, and the rarity of this card has created an item that remains highly collectible. Michael Jordan’s inclusion drove the popularity of the series.

Fewer than 30 of these cards have gone to Beckett for rating.

1993 Finest Michael Jordan (Refractor) #1 PSA Gem Mint 10

Price: $19,800

Topps Finest collection debuted in 1993 and featured refractor parallel cards. The company placed one of these cards in every nine packs. This item is card number one for Michael Jordan. Insert cards in this debut issue were scarce.

1985 Interlake/Boy Scouts Michael Jordan BGS Mint 9

Price: $19,200

The Boy Scouts and Interlake Youth Incentive Program sponsored cards featuring the Chicago Bulls, including a young Michael Jordan.

Key Takeaway

To recap, the most expensive Michael Jordan rookie card is the 1997 Upper Deck Game Jersey Michael Jordan card, which values at a ludicrous $1,440,000. On the other end, the 1985 Interlake/Boy Scouts Michael Jordan BGS Mint 9 is still incredibly valuable, but you’ll be paying a much more affordable price of $19,200 if you want to try and get your hands on it.

Collectors are always looking for rare and exciting Michael Jordan cards. The prices for some of the most coveted cards continue to rise. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, it’s hard to deny the cultural impact that Michael Jordan has had. These cards represent a piece of history and are sure to appreciate over time.

Special thanks to Heritage Auctions for furnishing images.

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The most expensive basketball cards of November-December - Hobby: Collectible cards - Blogs

Hobby: Collectible cards

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Hello everyone!

After a short break, the top most expensive basketball cards are back. Today we will capture 2 months - November and December.

In order for the cards of different periods to be presented in the top, I divided it into three parts: before the 90s, the 90s and the first half of the 00s and the last 10 years.

Let's go from new cards to old ones (most often this means an increase in cost).

So, the top 4 most expensive new cards.

4) In fourth place is a 1/1 LeBron James card from Flawless 2015-16 with the NBA logo. They paid $10,300 for it.

3) Next is newcomer Steph Curry from Topps Chrome 2009-10. The gold parallel in this collection has a circulation of 50 copies. Added to this is the almost perfect condition of the card, and the total price is $10,600.

2) And the same amount was paid for a Karl-Anthony Towns card with a mourning patch dedicated to Flip Saunders of Flawless 2015-16.

1) And in the first place, 2 league logos and two Golden State stars - the same Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. It's the same Flawless collection from last season. The price of this card is $12,000 without one dollar.

Further older cards. I will say in advance that all 4 are from the second half of the 90s

4-3) And open the top two cards of Michael Jordan with a jersey and an autograph. In the first case, the card in this form was inserted into the blocks of the Upper Deck 19 collection98-99 - a kind of parallel with the autograph with a circulation of 23 copies. $10,999 was paid for the card. And the second card in the collection of the previous season was a regular unnumbered jersey. For a re-release in 2013, an autograph was at stake in the Jordan collection. The resulting result was estimated at $15,000.

2) Next, another overlay of the top newcomer from Topps Chrome. This time it's Kobe Bryant and the 1995-96 collection. Plus, the card itself is in excellent condition. Price $17500.

1) And in the first place is the red parallel Metall Universe PMG by Michael Jordan with an edition of only 100 copies. In addition, the card number 23/100 is of additional interest. It should also be noted that the card was sent to the PSA for an authenticity check, but not for a condition assessment. The rating would not be high - edge damage (not rare for cards of this sub-series) is visible to the naked eye. As a result, the card was sold for $21453.

Well, the oldest top contains only the classic rookie cards of future NBA legends.

4) And this list opens with Wilt Chamberlain's map from the Fleer collection from 1961. The condition of the card is 9 points out of 10 possible, and the price is $32,211.

3-2) Next, two cards from rookie Michael Jordan. Moreover, for a rarer 9-point card from Star-85, they paid more ($40,207) than for a 10-point card from Fleer-86 ($35,999).

1) Well, absolutely out of competition is the triple card of Larry Bird, Julius Irving and Magic Johnson - the main newcomers of the 1979 season-80 from Topps. Three members of the Hall of Fame + the perfect condition of the card itself gave a total of $96423.

Thank you for your attention!

Jordan left the NBA for a year and a half due to secret suspension? "The Last Dance" and conspiracy theories

Anton Solomin

May 12, 2020 15:19

Photo: © Jonathan Daniel / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages. ru

Series seven and eight of the iconic documentary.

The seventh and eighth series of the cult documentary.

One of the two storylines of The Last Dance was interrupted a week ago at the end of the 1992/93 season. Chicago won the title for the third time in a row, and Michael Jordan became the Finals MVP for the third time in a row. And even then it was clear where series No. 7 would begin.0003

A month after the Bulls' victory in the 1993 Finals, Michael's father, James Jordan, was killed. The closest person in the life of a superstar. The first who supported his decision to become a basketball player, although he himself loved baseball. And the first of those who shared with him the joy of the championship in the 91st, 92nd and 93rd. Look at any photo and video from Chicago's victory ceremonies. Who is closest to Michael? His dad.

What could be worse than killing your own father? Only murder, the blame for which is laid on the son. They talked about this 27 years ago, sometimes they continue to remember it now: James Jordan could have given his life because of his son's addiction to gambling.

This version has too much hazy and too little humane. A man has just lost his own father - and this is already a huge grief. And then it starts from all sides: "It's my own fault." All that was missing was to add: "So you need it." Even if true, this is the worst moment in the history of all North American basketball journalism.

The best basketball player in history was indeed in the game all the time, even if it wasn't basketball. Played poker with teammates on the plane on the road. I drove between playoff matches from New York to Atlantic City to visit the casino "for an hour and a half", and returned to the team hotel at three in the morning. On the golf course, he met various dubious characters (only later found out how dubious they were), and after losing, he wrote checks for tens of thousands of dollars.

Then Jordan even had to testify in criminal court. But at the same time, he still remained the role ideal as much as possible. The usual earthly shortcomings only made him more human and close to everyone else.

Another conspiracy theory: in the same 1993, Jordan did not leave of his own free will, but because of a secret disqualification from NBA commissioner David Stern. Announcing his retirement at a press conference, Michael very pointedly (and seemingly out of place) mentioned the head of the league: “Let's say in five years I want to play basketball again, and then if the Bulls want to see me and David Stern will put me back in the league, I can come back. I don’t close this door behind me.”

• Cards, money, Michael Jordan

There is a lot of agreement in this theory, except for the main one: who benefited from Jordan's almost two-year absence from basketball? Stern, who allegedly voluntarily deprived the NBA of its main star, and therefore of income? (And what kind of image loss could the league suffer if Jordan stayed in the game?) Jordan himself, who deliberately repurposed his body from basketball to baseball for 18 months, knowing that after the “disqualification” he would have to return all the skills almost from scratch? Or maybe it was to the advantage of the owner of the basketball Bulls and the baseball White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf, who continued to pay Jordan $ 3 million a year, but at the same time missed 19 championship cups. 94 and 1995?

Did Jordan bet on his matches? If yes, then certainly not for the purpose of enrichment. From his first day in the league, he's been peppered with money from advertising contracts (not to mention Chicago paychecks). But even in The Last Dance, the theme that Michael was bored just playing basketball came up several times: "Besides the team victory, he constantly invented additional competitions for himself - just to make it interesting to play."

https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1259654661658693632

Stern also denied the rumors about the disqualification, saying with his trademark sly smile: "It's not true." The legendary commissioner passed away on January 1 this year, but managed to film for The Last Dance. He forever remained in the history of the NBA thanks to his 30-year reign and that very smile with an easy-to-read overtone: "You will only learn from me what I myself want to tell."

• "I smiled as he cut my head open with an invisible lightsaber. " NBA mourns David Stern

Michael himself says that he thought about leaving back in 1992, after the gold medal in Barcelona: “I would have done it earlier, but Magic and Byrd did not become champions more than two times in a row. And I wanted to do it."

He was already very tired of basketball, of the crazy attention that followed him everywhere. And I just wanted to "stay at home and watch the grass grow." But the chance to go down in history (before that, only two major NBA legend teams, the Lakers and the Celtics, had done a championship hat-trick) simply could not leave alone the most reckless and most talented basketball player ever born on Earth.

As Jordan himself said, “I don't have a gambling addiction. I'm addicted to competition." Just winning was not enough for him. It was necessary to come up with new challenges all the time. Such as three championships in a row. Or as in the following story told in The Last Dance.

There was such a young talent in the NBA in the 90s - Labredford Smith from Washington. The 19th pick of the 1991 draft, it seems, even gave some hope there. But he spent only three seasons in the NBA - then he went to waste in the minor leagues of America, in Spain and Poland. Now almost no one remembers his name. One could write without "about", if not for his 37 points against Jordan on his own site, in Chicago.

The Bulls then barely won, Michael himself scored 25, but scored only a third of the shots - 9 of 27 - by Jordan's standards, this is a failure. Nevertheless, the 1992 Olympic champion allegedly received a compliment from the best scorer of that match: “Nice game, Mike.” At least Jordan says that's how it was.

What? Mike? That is, a no-name who spends his second season in professional basketball calls the great Jordan "Mike"? And besides, he teases him, although in fact the match ended in victory for Chicago?

The next day, the Bulls and Washington played again at the Bullets' court. And then Michael promised the team: "Tomorrow I will score as much for a half as he does for a match today. "

I scored 36 points. "Chicago" won not "+5", as the day before, but "+25". Jordan just needed some extra competition. He wanted to humiliate Smith and his team in front of 20,000 fans.

• 1990s, 2000s, 2010s. Symbols of an Era to Remember Three Decades of the NBA

Anyway, Jordan left. And his future heir, 9-year-old LeBron James, cried, refusing to understand how this is possible.

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1259653946529902593

The film's next stop is the 1993/94 season, the first without Jordan. Chicago is still good, great player Scottie Pippen is stepping out of Michael's shadow and now dragging the team himself. The Bulls become an even more special group in terms of chemistry. The level of trust is the same, but now no one in the locker room is rude and pours shit on partners who made an inaccurate pass or missed a couple of inches in training. Pippen's methods differed from Jordan's like a modern ball from the one played by the inventor of basketball, James Naismith.

But in the 1994 playoffs, captain Scottie Pippen flopped, and it may have cost Chicago another run for the title.

In the second round, the Bulls played a very good New York at the time. A year ago, these teams met in the Eastern Conference Finals, and both times the Knicks stunned opponents at the start of the series, winning the first two games. The third game with the score 0-2 is Russian roulette. You either die quickly, or you get a chance to turn the streak around. In 1993, the second happened: the Bulls won game number 3 (a hero with 29it was Pippen who became the glasses). A year later - already in the role of the main star of the team - Scotty was going to do the same.

Game 3 end, tied, 1.8 seconds left, ball at Chicago, Phil Jackson timeout. A year earlier, it would never have occurred to a coach to entrust the game-winning shot to anyone other than Jordan. But now Michael was playing baseball, and Jackson drew a combination with the withdrawal of first-year Toni Kukocha. Pippen's reaction was predictable: “It was an insult to me. I am the most dangerous player on this team. Why does he have to carry the damn ball? - recalls today's Pippen.

The moment that was left behind the scenes of The Last Dance is important here. Seconds before, Scotty had already thrown to win - but with resistance and forced. He missed and presented Kukocha for this, who did not open for the transfer. Jackson decided that Pippen already had a chance to win the match - and gave a new opportunity to the Croat, who had previously scored last-second winners at least three times in the season.

Can you guess what Pippen did? Refused to go to the site.

Once again: the captain of the most legendary NBA team of the time blew the coach and refused to play at the moment when the series score was about to become 0-3. This would mean the end of the Chicago dynasty, but Pippen didn't care.

“This is one of those incidents that should never have happened,” said Pippen. “But if I had a chance to repeat it, perhaps I would have done the same.”

Kukoch still scored that goal, and Chicago won. But the locker room was as quiet as a graveyard. Even the coach didn't know what to say.

And then center Bill Cartwright spoke up. There were tears on his cheeks:

- Scotty, I can't believe you could put all of us like that.

Chicago went from Knicks to last, but still lost in seven games. But rather, Pippen spent the remaining 10 years of his career getting rid of this stain on his reputation, earning greatness through work. And earned again. The return of Jordan helped.

https://twitter.com/MandalaySM/status/1259676234264588290

Jordan's agent David Falk remembers:

- When Michael agreed with "Chicago" and it became clear that he was returning, I prepared 3-4 versions of the text of the press release. He says: "No, not that, all these texts do not reflect what I feel now." Then I offered him to take a pen and write it himself. And he wrote.

Photo: © NBA

I'm back. This is the most legendary press release in basketball history.

Jordan managed to catch a bit of the 1994/95 season and play in the playoffs, but it was no longer the Chicago. Michael briefly experimented with the game number: in the first matches, he had the numbers 45 on his back instead of the legendary 23. This is the number under which he played baseball, and under it he also took his first basketball steps in school. I tried in this way to honor the memory of my father, who was always in the same place as number 23.

But one day, Nick Anderson from Orlando intercepted the ball from Jordan and won the match, and after him he said: “Number 45 is not the same the most that 23. In the next match, everyone saw the real Michael. And his real number.

"Chicago" in the second half of the 90s was different. Of the 1991 champions, only Pippen remained in the team. But there were many players with whom Jordan had never entered the court at all before - and all of them had to get used to the return of the legend. For example, Dennis Rodman at that time was already a two-time NBA champion with Detroit and was respected by Michael. And the current head coach of Golden State, Steve Kerr, in the eyes of the greatest basketball player in the world at that time was nobody. How could Jordan then know that Kerr would win three championship rings as a coach.

Long story short, they got into a fight in training. Jordan is still ashamed: “I felt like a nonentity then - I chose the smallest guy on the court as my rival. When I was driving from training, I turned around, came back to the gym and asked for Steve's phone to apologize."

Jordan and Kerr simultaneously compared basketball to war. Michael said: “Now, in training, all the fouls in a row are whistling at you. But how will that help you when it's time to sit in the trenches and fend off the Knicks playing close contact?

Kerr: "It's rather strange, but that incident was an almost necessary step in our relationship, which began to improve rapidly after it. We got along right away, began to understand each other better. Okay, we figured it out, now we're going to war together."

After that, Michael and Steve won three wars in a row. Becoming the best team in NBA history in the 1995/96 season. 72 wins out of 82 possible and a championship title - no one has done this before or after.

At the end of the eighth episode of The Last Dance, perhaps the most emotional moment of Jordan's career.

The sixth match of the 1996 final fell on Father's Day. For Michael at all times, this day meant a lot, and now it was his first final series after the death of his dad. Leaving for baseball, changing scenery, numbers - all this was a defensive reaction so as not to go crazy with grief. But June 16, 1996 was the first time Michael Jordan became an NBA champion and James wasn't there to share the joy.

So Michael just lay on the floor in the dressing room, hugging the championship cup and crying.

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