michael jordan official biography

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Michael Jordan Biography

Born: February 17, 1963 Brooklyn, New York African American basketball player

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan is one of the most successful, popular, and wealthy athletes in college, Olympic, and professional sports history.

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, one of James and Deloris Jordan's five children. The family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when Michael was very young. His father worked as a General Electric plant supervisor, and his mother worked at a bank. His father taught him to work hard and not to be tempted by street life. His mother taught him to sew, clean, and do laundry. Jordan loved sports but failed to make his high school basketball team as a sophomore. He continued to practice and made the team the next year. After high school he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he played under head coach Dean Smith.

In Jordan's first season at North Carolina he was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year for 1982. The team won the ACC championship, and Jordan made the clutch jump shot that beat Georgetown University for the championship of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Jordan led the ACC in scoring as a sophomore and as a junior. The Sporting News named him college player of the year for both years. He left North Carolina after his junior year and was selected by the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the third pick of the 1984 draft. Before joining the Bulls, Jordan was a member of the Summer 1984 United States Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal in Los Angeles, California.

Early pro years

When Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls they were a losing team, drawing only around six thousand fans to home games. Jordan quickly turned that around. His style of play and fierce spirit of competition reminded sportswriters and fans of Julius Erving (1950–), who had been a superstar player during the 1970s. Jordan's incredible leaping ability and hang time thrilled fans in arenas around the league. In his first season he was named to the All-Star team and was later honored as the league's Rookie of the Year.

By adding such players as Scottie Pippen, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, and John Paxson around Jordan, the Bulls' management created a strong team that won the 1991 NBA title by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. The next year, the Bulls repeated as NBA champions by beating the Portland Trail Blazers. In 1992 Jordan also played on the "Dream Team," which participated in the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. The Olympic Committee had voted to lift the ban on professional athletes participating in the games. The team easily won the gold medal, winning their eight games by an average margin of 43.7 points.

Unexpected retirement

In 1993, after a tough playoff series with the New York Knicks, the Bulls met the Phoenix Suns for the NBA championship. When it was over, Jordan was again playoff MVP, and Chicago had won a third straight title. That summer Jordan's father, James, was murdered by two men during a robbery attempt. Jordan was grief stricken, and his father's death, combined with media reports about his gambling, led him to announce his retirement from professional basketball in October. Jordan had won three straight NBA titles, three regular season MVP awards, three playoff MVP titles, seven consecutive scoring titles, and he was a member of the All-Star team every year that he was in the league. In just nine seasons he had become the Bulls all-time leading scorer.

In 1994–95 Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league baseball team in the Chicago White Sox system. Although the seventeen-month experiment showed that he was not a major league baseball player, the experience and time away from basketball provided a much-needed rest and opportunity to regain his love of basketball.

Return to glory

When Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls during the 1994–95 regular season, people wondered, "Could he do it again?" He played well, but he was obviously rusty. The Bulls were defeated in the playoffs by the Orlando Magic. After a summer of playing basketball during breaks from filming the live-action cartoon movie Space Jam, Jordan returned with a fierce determination to prove that he had the ability to get back on top. The 1995–96 Bulls finished the regular season 72–10, an NBA record for most wins in a season, and Jordan, with his shooting rhythm back, earned his eighth scoring title. He also became the tenth NBA player to score 25,000 career points and second fastest after Chamberlain to reach that mark. The Bulls went on to win their fourth NBA championship, overpowering the Seattle Supersonics in six games. Few who watched will ever forget how Jordan sank to his knees, head bent over the winning ball, in a moment of bittersweet victory and deep sadness. The game had been played on Father's Day, three years after his father's murder.

The defending champions had a tougher time during the 1996–97 season but entered the playoffs as expected. Sheer determination took the Bulls to their fifth NBA championship. Illness, injury, and at times a lack of concentration hurt the team. In the fifth game of the finals Jordan carried the team to victory despite suffering from a stomach virus. In the 1997–98 season the Bulls were again in the playoffs, and again they faced tough competition. As before, they were able to clinch the NBA championship, and Jordan claimed his sixth NBA finals MVP award.

Jordan's other professional life as a businessman was never off track. Profitable endorsements (ads in which he voiced his support for certain products) for companies such as Nike and Wheaties, as well as his own golf company and products such as Michael Jordan cologne (which reportedly sold 1.5 million bottles in its first two months), made Jordan a multimillionaire. In 1997 he was ranked the world's highest paid athlete, with a $30 million contract—the largest one-year salary in sports history—and approximately $40 million a year in endorsement fees.

Retired again

Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, ending his career on a high note just after the official end of a labor dispute between NBA players and team owners. Many people saw him as the greatest basketball player ever, and his retirement was called the end of an era. In 2000 Jordan became part-owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards. This made him only the third African American owner in the NBA. He also gained an ownership stake in the Washington Capitals hockey team. Also in 2000, Jordan celebrated the first year of his $1 million grant program to help teachers make a difference in their schools.

In September 2001, after months of rumors, Jordan announced that he was ending his three-year retirement to play for the Wizards at age thirty-eight. At a news conference to discuss his comeback, he said, "Physically, I know I'm not twenty-five years old, but I feel I can play the game of basketball on the highest level." The Wizards, who had won only nineteen games the season before, improved with the addition of Jordan. After being voted to play in his thirteenth All-Star game (during which he missed a slam dunk), Jordan had the Wizards in the race for the playoffs until suffering a knee injury and missing the last part of the season. He was also distracted in January 2002 when his wife Juanita, whom he married in 1989, filed for divorce. (They have three children.) The next month the divorce was called off. Jordan said he planned to play one more season for the Wizards.

For More Information

Greene, Bob. Hang Time. New York: Doubleday, 1992.

Gutman, Bill. Michael Jordan: A Biography. New York: Pocket Books, 1991.

Halberstam, David. Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made. New York: Random House, 1999.

Jordan, Michael. For the Love of the Game: My Story. New York: Crown Publishers, 1998.

Naughton, Jim. Taking to the Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan. New York: Warner Books, 1992.

Smith, Sam. The Jordan Rules. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.

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Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan

(Mike, Air Jordan, M.J., His Airness, Money, Black Cat, Mr. June, G.O.A.T., Superman, Captain Marvel, Black Jesus)

Position: Shooting Guard and Small Forward ▪ Shoots: Right

6-6 ,  198lb  (198cm, 89kg)

Born: February 17 , 1963 in Brooklyn,  New York us

College: UNC

High School: Emsley A. Laney in Wilmington, North Carolina

Draft: Chicago Bulls , 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1984 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: October 26, 1984

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2009 ( Full List )

Career Length:  15 years

• Hall of Fame
• 14x All Star
• 10x Scoring Champ
• 3x STL Champ
• 6x NBA Champ
• 11x All-NBA
• 1984-85 All-Rookie
• 1984-85 ROY
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• 1987-88 Def. POY
• 6x Finals MVP
• NBA 75th Anniv. Team

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• 4/6 Last Word on Sports: NBA Legend And Analyst Joins NBL Next Stars Program :  Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith has had a successful career as a former ...
• 4/6 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Was Issued Major Challenge By Chris Paul In Room Full Of Kids And Prevented Them From Getting Free Shoes :  NBA icon Michael Jordan was issued a major challenge by Chris ...
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• 4/5 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Insulted Patrick Ewing While Talking About His Positive Attitude: ‘He Has A Very Positive Attitude Even Though He’s Been Losing Against Me’ :  During an interview with SLAM Magazine in 1997 after winning ...
• 4/5 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Senior Flight School Charged Middle-Aged Men $15,000 For Experience Of Lifetime :  From 1997-2010 during the summer, the Mirage Resort Casino in ...
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• 4/5 HoopsWire: Scottie Pippen Was Almost Traded By Bulls To SuperSonics, Seattle Backed Out At Last Minute After Angry Fans Flooded Them With Calls :  The Seattle SuperSonics almost acquired NBA legend Scottie Pippen ...
• 4/4 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Told Bulls Teammates Privately Clyde Drexler Was Just As Good As Him But Didn’t ‘Know How To Play The Game’ :  Former Chicago Bulls guard Craig Hodges told DJ Vlad of Vlad TV ...
• 4/4 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Told Baseball Teammates From Bathroom Toni Kukoc Would Hit Playoff Game-Winner vs. Knicks After Scottie Pippen Refused To Go In: ‘I Predicted The Whole Scenario’ :  Michael Jordan retired from the NBA after guiding the Chicago ...
• 4/3 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Got Away With Fouls On Bulls Since NBA’s Supervisor Of Officials Knew Fans Didn’t ‘Want To See Jordan Foul Out’ :  During his Hall of Fame career, NBA legend Michael Jordan routinely ...
• 4/3 HoopsWire: John Stockton Never Felt Aura About Michael Jordan When Jazz Faced Bulls In 2 Straight Finals :  Utah Jazz legend John Stockton faced Michael Jordan and ...
• 4/3 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Scored Career-High 69 Points vs. Cavs Because Fans Cheered After He Got Hurt: ‘That’s When I Went Crazy’ :  On March 28, 1990, NBA legend Michael Jordan had the greatest ...
• 4/3 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Has Net Worth Of $3.2 Billion In 2024, LeBron James At $1.2 Billion :  Per Forbes, NBA legend Michael Jordan has a net worth of $3.2 ...
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• 4/2 HoopsWire: Bulls Once Dreamed Of Landing Danny Ainge, An Idea Favored By Michael Jordan :  Some members of the Chicago Bulls were hoping the team would pursue ...
• 4/2 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Wasn’t Happy When Bulls Fired Doug Collins, Hired Phil Jackson: ‘I Wasn’t A Phil Jackson Fan’ :  Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson are arguably the greatest player-coach ...
• 4/2 HoopsWire: Michael Jordan Was Once Asked For Autograph In Bathroom After Bulls Landed At Airport :  According to Will Perdue, NBA icon Michael Jordan was once asked ...
• 4/1 HoopsWire: Tex Winter Told Bulls Coach Phil Jackson To Remove Michael Jordan From Game 6 Of ’92 Finals Because He Was ‘Holding The Ball Too Long’ :  According to Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, the late great ...
• 4/1 NBA Analysis Network: LeBron James Joins Michael Jordan In Accomplishing This Feat :  One of the most prevalent debates among NBA fans is between LeBron ...
• 4/1 HoopsWire: LeBron James Ties Career-High 9 3-Pointers In Win vs. Nets; Passes Michael Jordan For Most 30+ games in NBA History :  LeBron James scored a season-high 40 points, while tying his career-high ...
• 4/1 Last Word on Sports: LeBron James Breaks Michael Jordan Tie, Addresses Retirement :  Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James just had one of the ...
• 3/31 Zone Coverage: How Responsible Are A-Rod and Lore For Minnesota’s Recent Success? :  The three most crucial aspects of the Minnesota Timberwolves ownership ...
• 3/30 Basketball Reference: Most NBA Championships Won by a Player :  One of the best barometers of a player’s impact is by the number ...
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• Shot location data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons. Shot type and location data quality from the 1990s is inconsistent, esp. 1996-97
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June 19, 1984 : Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1984 NBA Draft.

October 6, 1993 : Retired from the Chicago Bulls .

January 13, 1999 : Retired from the Chicago Bulls .

September 25, 2001 : Signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards .

April 17, 2003 : Retired from the Washington Wizards .

How old is Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan is 61 years old.

Where was Michael Jordan born?

Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York.

When was Michael Jordan born?

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963.

How tall is Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan is 6-6 (198 cm) tall.

How much did Michael Jordan weigh when playing?

Michael Jordan weighed 198 lbs (89 kg) when playing.

Is Michael Jordan in the Hall of Fame?

Michael Jordan was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Player in 2009 ( Full List ) .

When was Michael Jordan drafted?

Michael Jordan was drafted by Chicago Bulls , 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), 1984 NBA Draft .

What position did Michael Jordan play?

Shooting Guard and Small Forward.

When did Michael Jordan retire?

Michael Jordan last played in 2003.

What is Michael Jordan's net worth?

Michael Jordan made at least $94,022,500 playing professional basketball.

How much did Michael Jordan make?

Michael Jordan made $33,140,000 in 1998.

What did Michael Jordan average?

Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

How many rings does Michael Jordan have?

Michael Jordan won 6 championships.

What schools did Michael Jordan attend?

Michael Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney in Wilmington, North Carolina and UNC .

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Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan personified greatness on the court, and redefined superstar athlete off it. His freshman season at UNC culminated with Jordan hitting the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA national title game. That shot put Michael on the map and a new era was born. Following his junior year, Jordan entered the NBA Draft and was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls. The young superstar began stockpiling NBA hardware. The court was his and the world soon followed. His unmistakable style - the wagging tongue, the baggy shorts, the signature line of sneakers - helped make the 14-time All Star the most recognizable person on the planet. Still his resume lacked an NBA title. Then in 1991, the Jordan-led Bulls launched an all-out assault on the rest of the league winning three straight world championships. Michael won Olympic gold again in 1992 and then in 1993 abruptly retired from the Bulls to play minor league baseball. He returned to the NBA full-time in 1995 and the Bulls promptly won three consecutive titles. Jordan was named Finals MVP each time. In 2001, Jordan made a second improbable comeback and still averaged 20 points per game and appeared in the 2002 and 2003 All Star Games.

Professional Career

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Michael JORDAN

Michael Jordan is considered by most experts to be the greatest basketball player of all-time. He played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, where he helped that team win an NCAA championship in 1982 and also won gold at the Pan American Games in the same year. In 1984, Jordan led the United States to an Olympic gold medal. Turning to professional basketball after his junior year in college, he became the greatest player in the NBA (National Basketball Association). In 1991, Jordan finally achieved his greatest thrill, leading the Chicago Bulls to an NBA Championship, and completing his Triple Crown of titles – NCAA, NBA, and Olympic. Jordan eventually led the Bulls to six NBA titles (1991-1993, 1996-1998). In 1992, Jordan also played on the Dream Team which won the basketball gold medal at Barcelona. He could also have played in 1996 but chose not to do so. Jordan retired briefly at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season, taking a short fling at playing minor league baseball, but returned to basketball at the end of the 1995 season. He retired again after helping the Chicago Bulls win their sixth NBA title in the spring of 1998. However, Jordan came out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards in the 2001-03 NBA seasons.

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Michael Jordan Biography, Childhood, Career, Personal Life

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 15 seasons. During those 15 seasons in the NBA,

Michael Jordan, through sheer hard work and an ironclad determination to succeed, captured 6 NBA championships. Aside from the championships, Michael Jordan’s impressive basketball prowess, which earned him the admiration of fans, and established him as one of the most outstanding personalities in the sport, earned him individual awards.

Whenever he won, Michael Jordan does it so brilliantly with such exceptional attitude that it was clear beyond any doubt that he is the best, as evidenced by his NBA Final MVP awards. In the six NBA Finals Michael Jordan won, he stood out and thus was awarded the MVP award.

His excellent disposition, which earned him success on the courts, has been carried into the business world after he retired, and this, in turn, has brought him similar success. In this article, we’ll review Micheal Jordan’s biography facts, childhood/early life, career, and personal life.

RELATED: Michael Jordan’s Net Worth, Career Earnings & Endorsements

Table of Contents

Michael Jordan’s Biography Facts, Age, Quick Info

Here are some quick biography facts that you need to know about the American basketball legend .

• Full Name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan
• Nicknames: His Airness, Black Cat, MJ, Air Jordan, Black Cat
• Born: February 17, 1963
• Age: 61 years old
• Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
• Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
• Weight: 98 kg (216 lb)
• High School: Emsley A. Laney High School 
• College: University of North Carolina
• NBA Draft: 1984 (Round 1; Pick 3) by  Chicago Bulls
• Position: Shooting guard
• League: NBA
• Kit Number: #23, #12, #45
• Playing Career: 1984–1993, 1995–1998, 2001–2003
• Father: James R. Jordan, Sr.
• Mother: Deloris Jordan
• Brothers: Larry Jordan, James Jordan Jr.
• Sisters: Roslyn Jordan, Deloris Jordan
• Wife: Yvette Prieto (married 2013), Juanita Vanoy (married 1989–2006)
• Sons: Jeffrey Michael Jordan, Marcus Jordan
• Daughters: Ysabel Jordan, Victoria Jordan, Jasmine M. Jordan

RELATED: Interesting Michael Jordan Facts You Should Know

Michael Jordan’s Early Life & Childhood

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963, Michael Jeffrey Jordan is one of five children born to his parents — James Jordan and Deloris Jordan. His father, James, worked as a General Electric Supervisor while his mother, Deloris, worked in a bank. As a young boy, his father taught him basic etiquettes such as hard work, while his mother instilled domestic skills such as sewing and laundry.

Jordan, who had an interest in sport from a young age, tried playing basketball at Emsley A. Laney High School in his second year, but Jordan, who stood at the height of 5 feet, 11 inches, was said to be too short and couldn’t play for his high school basketball team.

He, however, went on to play for his school’s junior basketball team, where he recorded several 40 point games. Soon Jordan grew and was given a spot in the maim team where he recorded an average of 25 points in his last two seasons of high school basketball.

In 1981, as a senior in high school, Jordan was invited to the McDonald’s All-American Game, where he performed brilliantly. After completing high school, he received several offers from various universities such as the University of North Carolina, Syracuse University, and the University of Virginia. He, however, chose to play for North Carolina.

Michael Jordan’s College Basketball Career

In his first season of college basketball, Jordan was instrumental in North Carolina’s NCAA Championship win and was awarded the ACC Freshman of the Year award. He continued in a superb form, which saw him earn the NCAA All-American First Team selection in his second and third year in college.

In his junior year, Jordan’s impressive form earned him the Wooden and Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year awards. Following a brilliant junior year, he decided to forgo his final year in college and enlisted in the 1984 NBA Draft, where the Chicago Bulls selected him as the draft’s third overall pick. In 1986, he returned to college, where he bagged his Bachelor of Arts degree in geography.

Michael Jordan’s Professional Basketball Career & Awards

Chicago bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998).

In his first season in the NBA, Jordan’s performance made him a fan favorite, which led him to feature in the All-star game. The All-Star game in the 1984/85 was controversial, as the established stars were pissed about the attention Jordan was receiving from the fans and thus refused to pass to him. Jordan, who seemed not to mind the buzz around him, continued in great form and won the Rookie of the year award after averaging 28.2 points.

Jordan could not perform well in his second season due to a fractured foot, which led him to miss 64 games. He however, recovered fully and went on a scoring spree in his third season. That season saw him emerge as the second of only two players in the history of the NBA to have recorded 3,000 points in a season. He also recorded 100 blocked shots and 200 steals, which made him the first player to record such numbers.

In his fourth season in the NBA, the 1987/88 season, Jordan topped the scoring charts and also won the Defensive Player of the award. In the 1988/89 and 1989/90 seasons, Jordan led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals but was defeated by the Detroit Pistons in both seasons.

The 1990/91 season was the beginning of good times in the NBA for Jordan. His performance during the season earned him a second MVP award after he claimed the first in the 1988 season. He also led the Bulls to defeat LA Lakers, who had the mighty Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals.

For his performance, Jordan was named the Finals MVP. The following season, he and the Bulls maintained their top form and went on to win the NBA Finals while Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP as well as the season’s MVP award for a second successive time.

In the 1992/93 season, Jordan did not win the NBA MVP, but he did win a third consecutive NBA Championship and set the record of being the first player ever to claim three successive NBA Finals MVP award.

First Retirement

In October 1993, Jordan retired from the NBA. He cited the death of his father as a factor which affected his decision but said his desire to play no more was the primary reason for his retirement. It was, however, rumored that Michael Jordan’s retirement was a punishment for his involvement in gambling.

Return to the NBA

In March 1995, Michael Jordan announced his return to the NBA, saying, ‘I’m back.’ In November 1994, Jordan’s #23 jersey was retired by the Bulls, and though he could use the jersey number, he chose to wear #45. But he later decided to return to his old jersey number, which led to the Bulls being fined due to not reporting the change to NBA officials.

In the 1995/96 season, Jordan was back to his old self. He won the NBA MVP, All-star game MVP, the NBA Championship, and the NBA Finals MVP awards. The championship win that season was emotional for Jordan because it was the first championship he won following his father’s murder and the championship was won on father’s day. Jordan was seen crying after the win.

The following season, Jordan did not win the All-Star MVP and NBA MVP, but went on to win the NBA Championship and also his fourth NBA Finals MVP. In the 1997/98 season, Jordan was once again on an impressive run as he claimed the NBA MVP, All-Star MVP, the NBA Finals MVP, and the NBA Championship.

RELATED: Top-20 Greatest NBA Players Of All-Time (Updated)

Second Retirement

In January 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time. A year later, he returned to the NBA as co-owner of a Basketball franchise, the Washington Wizards. 

Washington Wizards (2001–2003)

In September 2001, he returned as a Washington Wizards player and went on to play until April 2003, where he played his final NBA game against the Philadelphia 76ers in front of 21,257 spectators.

RELATED: Michael Jordan vs LeBron James | NBA GOAT Debate

Michael Jordan Baseball Career

In February 1994, Michael Jordan signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). In March 1995, as a result of the MLB strike, he decided to retire from baseball.

Michael Jordan’s International Career

Michael Jordan’s international career is as glamorous as his NBA career. At the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, Jordan, who was still in college, led the US team in points and picked his first Olympics gold medal. In the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, Jordan, who was part of the star-studded Dream team, won his second Olympics Gold medal. He also won Gold at the 1983 Caracas Pan American games and the 1992 Portland FIBA America’s Championship. 

Michael Jordan’s Wife, Personal Life & Charity

In 1989, Michael Jordan married Juanita Vanoy, who gave birth to three children for him — two sons and a daughter. In January 2002, they filed for divorce as a result of irreconcilable differences but soon reconciled. But in December 2006, they divorced amicably. Juanita Vanoy received a $168 million settlement. In 2013, he got married to Yvette Prieto, a Cuban model. In February 2014, Prieto gave birth to a set of identical twins named, Victoria and Ysabel.

In July 2006, a court declared that Jordan did not owe his ex-lover Karla Knafel, $5 million over breach of contract after it emerged that he paid her $250,000 to keep their affair a secret.

Between 2001 to 2014, Jordan held the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, a golf tournament, which raised money for charity. Jordan was made The Chief Wish ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2008. As of 2019, Jordan has helped the foundation raise as much as $5 million.

In 1984, Jordan’s Nike Air Jordan shoes were released, and it progressed to become a viral sensation. The brand generated about $1 billion in sales for Nike, as revealed by Forbes. Jordan had various endorsement deals with Gatorade, Nike, McDonald’s, Chevrolet, Wheaties, Coca-Cola, and several others.

RELATED: Top-20 Richest NBA Players Of All-Time

In 2014, following his increased stake in basketball franchise, the Charlotte Hornets, from 80% to 89.5%, Jordan became the first basketball billionaire.

SEE MORE: Biography facts, childhood and personal life of famous basketball stars

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Related Posts

If you haven't been watching  The Last Dance , ESPN's 10-part docuseries about Michael Jordan's career with the Chicago Bulls, well, you're missing out. Even as a non-sports fanatic (I'd consider myself a  dabbler ), I've thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the iconic athlete, his storied career, and, of course, his famous Nike sneakers.  Episode five  delves into the history of the Air Jordan, some of the most famous footwear in history.

How the Air Jordan Was Created

The shoe was born after a deal signed in 1984. At that time, Converse was the official shoe of the NBA. The company told him they couldn't put Jordan above the other athletes they sponsored, which included players like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, so Jordan decided against partnering with them. His favorite shoe at the time was actually Adidas, but the brand told him they just couldn't make a shoe work at that time. Jordan's agent, David Falk, wanted him to go with Nike, which at the time was known more for track shoes, but Jordan wasn't interested. So Falk, appealed to  Jordan's mother, Deloris . "My mother said, 'You're going to go listen, you may not like it, but you're going to go listen,'" Jordan remembers. Nike offered him a great deal, one that was unheard of for a rookie, and  his father  said he'd have to be a fool not to take it. So Jordan did.

Michael Jordan playing against the Washington Bullets, wearing Air Jordans, in 1985.

Michael Jordan’s first Air Jordans.

How the Air Jordan Got Its Name

From there, it was all about getting Jordan his own shoe. "Nike had just come out with this new technology for their running shoes called air soles," says Falk. "And obviously Michael played in the air, so I said, 'I got it, we're going to call it Air Jordan.'"

"Nike's expectation when we signed the deal was, at the end of year four, they hoped to sell $3 million worth of Air Jordans," Falk recalls. "In year one, we sold $126 million."

PS. Don't forget to grab a Converse promo code before you hit checkout.

How the Air Jordan Became Iconic

As legend has it, the  NBA actually banned  the first iteration of Michael's Jordans, stating they violated the league's rule that a sneaker must be mostly white and reflect the colors of the team's jersey. Jordan was reportedly fined $5,000 for every game he wore the banned Air Jordan 1 sneakers, and Nike paid the fines, happy to capitalize on the publicity.

But, when it comes to Air Jordans' popularity, the rest is history. The shoe became a must-have status symbol of the late '80s and '90s—and it's still a street style staple today. "For a kid, it was almost like owning a light saber, from  Star Wars ," rapper Nas explains in the documentary. "You needed that shoe to be like him. It was more than a status symbol—you knew that this guy was the guy." Jordans made sneakers part of pop culture.

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The Legacy of the Jordan 1

For his last game playing at Madison Square Garden as a Bull, Jordan chose to wear his Jordan 1s, the first shoe he wore to play at MSG, his favorite place to play, he says in the documentary. Of course, it didn't quite go as he had hoped—"by halftime, my feet are bleeding," Jordan says in the doc, admitting that "innovation has taken a long turn"—but he stuck through it.

The Air Jordan has now seen numerous iterations, but the Air Jordan 1 remains iconic, which is why the original version is still being produced today. And after watching  The Last Dance , I've officially been influenced into investing in a pair of Jordans of my own.

watch 'The Last Dance' on espn+

Sally is the Editor in Chief of Marie Claire where she oversees coverage of all the things the Marie Claire reader wants to know about, including politics, beauty, fashion, and celebs. Holmes has been with Marie Claire for five years, overseeing all content for the brand’s website and social platforms. She joined Marie Claire from ELLE.com, where she worked for four years, first as Senior Editor running all news content and finally as Executive Editor. Before that, Sally was at NYMag.com's the Cut and graduated with an English major from Boston College. 

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Michael Jordan Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics

Michael Jordan is an American businessman and former professional basketball player who has been the principal owner and chairman of the  Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and of  23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. A global icon, his biography on the official NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” He played a key role in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s and played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the  Chicago Bulls . He became the first billionaire player in NBA history in 2014 and some of his accolades include 6 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, 10 scoring titles (both all-time records), 5 MVP Awards, 10 All-NBA First Team designations, 9 All-Defensive First Team honors (a joint record), 14 NBA All-Star Game selections, 3 All-Star Game MVP Awards, 3 steals titles, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. In 2015, he became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan

MJ, His Airness, Air Jordan, The G.O.A.T

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Nationality

Michael attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.

After graduating, he was offered many athletic scholarships from different colleges such as Duke, Syracuse, and South Carolina, but he accepted North Carolina’s basketball scholarship in 1991 and majored in Cultural Geography.

Michael left college to enter the 1984 NBA Draft, but eventually came back and graduated in 1986.

Professional Basketball Player

• Shooting Guard (SG)
• Small Forward (SF)

Chicago Bulls (1984 – 1993, 1995 – 1998), Washington Wizards (2001-2003)

• Father – James Jeffrey Jordan (Equipment Supervisor)
• Mother – Deloris Peoples (Bank Teller)
• Siblings – Larry Jordan (Older Brother), James R Jordan JR (Older Brother), Deloris (Older Sister), and Roslyn (Younger Sister)
• Others – William M. Edward Jordan (Paternal Grandfather), Rosa/Rose Belle Hand (Paternal Grandmother), Edward Peoples (Maternal Grandfather), Inez Weeks (Maternal Grandfather)

Michael has been signed to Jump Inc. and Michael Jordan Flight School .

Achievements

Michael Jordan achieved –

• 6 time NBA champion (1991 – 1993, 1996 – 1998)
• 5 time NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991 – 1992, 1996, 1998)
• 6 time NBA Finals MVP (1991 – 1993, 1996 – 1998)
• 9 time NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988 – 1993, 1996 – 1998)
• 14 time NBA All-Star (1985 – 1993, 1996 – 1998, 2002 – 2003)
• 3 time NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998)
• 10 time All-NBA First Team (1987 – 1993, 1996 – 1998)
• 10 time NBA scoring champion (1987 – 1993, 1996 – 1998)
• 3 times NBA steals champion (1988, 1990, 1993)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
• 3 time AP Athlete of the Year (1991, 1992, 1993)
• 2 time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1987 – 1988)
• 2 time USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1983 – 1984)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1985)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985)
• NCAA champion (1982)
• First-team All-American (1983 – 1984)
• Chicago Bulls all-time leading scorer
• All-NBA Second Team (1985)
• ACC Player of the Year (1984)
• National College Player of the Year (1984)
• NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• Olympic gold medals in Los Angeles (1984) and Barcelona (1992)
• FIBA Americas Championship gold medal in Portland (1992)
• Pan American Games gold medal in Caracas (1983)

Jersey Number

Michael wore the legendary 23 number that is a retired number from Chicago Bulls, North Carolina, and the Miami Heat.

His 23 number was retired by the Chicago Bulls two times. First when he retired in 1993 and later after his second retirement in 1998. He wore number 45 after he was back from his first retirement, but eventually, after a short period he got back his 23 and he wore it till he retired again in 1998.

According to Forbes, his net worth was $2 billion in July 2023.

6 ft 6 in or 198 cm

• 195 lbs or 88 kg – as a rookie
• 205 lbs or 92 kg – first three championships
• 216 lbs or 97 kg – another three championships
• 223 lbs or 101 kg – when he played for Washington Wizards

Girlfriend / Spouse

Michael Jordan has dated –

• Vanessa Williams – Michael was in a relationship with the well-known actress Vanessa Williams.
• Loredana Jolie – Michael also had an encounter with Loredana Jolie, who is a former Playboy model.
• Janet Jackson – It was RUMORed that he once had a fling with singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer Janet Jackson.
• Robin Givens – Jordan was romantically involved with model and actress Robin Givens in the past.
• Gabrielle Union – He has also dated Gabrielle Union, an American actress, voice artist, activist, and author.
• Juanita Jordan (1989-2002) – Michael married Juanita Jordan on September 2, 1989. They were together for 17 years before they got divorced. Michael and Juanita have 3 children – Jeffrey Michael (born November 18, 1988), Marcus James (born December 24, 1990), and Jasmine Mickael (December 7, 1992).
• Karla Knafel (1989) – Michael met the American singer Karla Knafel in an Indianapolis hotel, while she was performing with her band. They had a s*x affair which Michael wanted to keep in private. He paid Karla $250,000 to keep the affair a secret. Knafel claimed that Jordan promised her $5 million for remaining silent and agreeing not to file a paternity suit after Knafel learned she was pregnant in 1991. A DNA test showed Jordan was not the father of the child and he claimed in court that Knafel was extorting him.
• Kylie Ireland (1996) – Michael had an encounter with the American porn star Kylie Ireland.
• Lisa Miceli (2005) – Michael met a local American girl Lisa Miceli back in 2005. Lisa claimed that Michael was the father of her son Dante Michael Miceli, which was proven to be wrong in the paternity tests. After the story, Michael asked for a lawsuit so that he could keep Lisa away from him.
• Ashley Dupre (2006) – Michael had an encounter with the American Flutist Ashley Dupre.
• Nicole Mitchell Murphy (2007) – There were RUMORs that the NBA superstar and Eddie Murphy’s ex-wife Nicole Mitchell Murphy dated. The RUMOR source said that these two spent a night together in bed.
• Yvette Prieto (2008–Present) – Michael started dating Yvette Prieto in 2008 and the two got engaged on December 26, 2011, and they got married on April 27, 2013. Michael and Yvette have twin daughters Victoria and Ysabel (born on February 9, 2014).

Race / Ethnicity

Michael Jordan is of African-American descent.

Sexual Orientation

Distinctive features.

• Played with his tongue out
• Long legs and arms
• Played with bubble gum in his mouth

Jersey Size

Measurements.

• Hand Length – 9.75 in
• Wingspan – 6 ft 11.5 in

13 (US) or 12 (UK) or 47 (EU)

Brand Endorsements  

Michael has appeared in many  TV commercials for WorldCom phone service (the 1990s), Rayovac batteries(1990s), Coalition on Organ and Tissue Donation (1990s), Michael Jordan cologne (1996), Gatorade thirst quencher (1990s), McDonald’s (1990s), Chevrolet (1990s), Nike (1990s), Hanes Underwear (1990s – 2000s), Johnson Hair Products (1980s), and a single TV commercial for Presidential Campaign of Bill Bradley (2000), Ball Park Franks (1997), Renew Rechargeable Batteries (1990s), MCI 5 cent Sundays (1998), Coca-Cola (mid-1980s), 1-800-COLLECT (2001), Hanes Underwear with Kevin Bacon (2007), Hanes Underwear with Cuba Gooding Jr. (2007), Wheaties cereal (1990s), Upper Deck Trading Cards (1993), Hanes Underwear “Talking Shirt Tag” (November 2013), Hanes underwear with Matthew Perry (2005).

Print ads for Ball Park Franks (2003), “Sports Illustrated for Kids” (1991)

Michael has signed contracts with Nike, 2K Sports, Upper Deck, Hanes, Gatorade, Presbyterian Healthcare, and Five Star Fragrances.

Roman Catholicism

Best Known For

Michael is being considered the best basketball player of this era. He is known for leading the Chicago Bulls to two three-peats and a total of 6 championships. In all 6 championship finals, he was named the final MVP. Michael was also part of the well known NBA dream team that won 4 gold medals in the Olympics in Los Angeles (1984) and Barcelona (1992), one at the FIBA Americas Championship (1992) in Portland and one more at the Pan American Games in Caracas (1983).

• Great overall athleticism, especially vertical jump
• Very clutch player
• Great in isolation 1 on 1
• Great back technique
• Post-shooting

Many people see Michael as the perfect basketball player with no weaknesses, but not many know that he was struggling with the three-point shot during most of his basketball career.

First NBA Game

Michael debuted in NBA with a game against Washington Bullets on October 26, 1984. Jordan scored 16 points and added 6 rebounds and 7 more assists in that game. His team Chicago, won that game by sixteen points (109-93).

Michael’s made his maiden appearance in the movie Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend in 1990.

Michael got his first important role in the animated movie Space Jam in 1996, in which he played himself (Michael Jordan), helping the Looney Toons team to win the game against the alien slavers and earn their freedom.

First TV Show

Michael appeared in the TV series Almost Live in 1990.

Personal Trainer

Well-known Tim Grover is Michael Jordan’s personal trainer. Tim Grover is the owner of Attack Athletic and is considered one of the best sport-specific strength and conditioning coaches in the world. When Michael first came into the league, he was only doing basic basketball training but wasn’t lifting weights.

After Chicago Bulls were eliminated by the Detroit Pistons two times in a row back in 1987 – 88 and 1988 – 89, he decided to give Tim Grover a shot and started training with him. At that time, Michael didn’t know how that will affect his game and he gave Grover a trial period of one month, and one month transformed into 15 years.

“I began lifting weights two and a half years ago. I was taking a lot of physical beating by the Pistons and the New York Knicks, they thought this was the way to play Michael, to physically beat him.”

– said Jordan in one of his documentaries about his weightlifting training with Tim Grover.

Tim is also known for training many other NBA superstars like Dwayne Wade (3 times NBA champion), Gilbert Arenas, Tracy Mcgrady, Kobe Bryant, and others.

Michael Jordan Favorite Things

• Food – Steak, Chicken, Pizza, Shrimp
• TV Shows – Sanford and Son (1972-1977)
• Song – Give it your best – Anita Baker
• Color – Red
• Jersey Numbers – 11, 3, 13
• Cigarettes – Partagas Lusitanias
• Shoes – Jordan’s (11s, 3s, 12s, and 13s)

Source – CigaraFicionado.com, Best-Basketball-Tips.com

Michael Jordan Facts

• Jordan was drafted as the 3 rd pick in the first round of the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
• He was chosen as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world by People Magazine.
• ESPN voted him as the greatest athlete of this era.
• His father, James Jordan was killed while he was sleeping in his brand new car, which Michael gifted him shortly before the accident.
• Jordan’s fortune is estimated to be over 400 million dollars.
• He wasn’t selected on the varsity team during his sophomore year because his coach said he was too short (at that time Michael was 5 ft 11 in).
• Sam Bowie, who was selected as a second pick in the 1984 NBA draft before Michael, was later named as the worst draft pick in North American professional history.
• After his second retirement, Michael was named Director of Basketball Operation in the Washington Wizards.
• Michael decided a total of 25 games with field goals or free throws in the last 30 seconds with the Bulls.
• He is the owner of Michael Jordan Motorsports, a motorcycle racing team.
• Jordan is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• He became the owner of Charlotte Bobcats in 2010. On May 21, 2013, he filed papers to change the name Bobcats to the Hornets. By becoming the owner of Charlotte, Jordan became the first Afro-American majority owner of an NBA team.
• He received the status of a billionaire from Forbes due to his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets.
• He has his own Jordan brand on Nike.com.
• In 1991, he purchased a lot in Highland Park, Illinois, where he built a 56,000-square-foot mansion in 1995. He reportedly listed the mansion for sale in 2012.
• In 2008, he was named the ‘Chief Wish Ambassador’ by the Make-A-Wish Foundation .
• Michael was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015.
• In 2016, Barack Obama honored him with the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’.
• In September 2020, Michael started serving as an investor and advisor for  DraftKings .
• In November 2020, he had donated $2 million to food banks in Carolina and Chicago.
• In 2023, on his 60th birthday, Michael donated $10 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation .
• In 2023, Michael Jordan’s shoes were sold for $1.38 million at an auction.
• In June 2023, Jordan was looking to sell a majority stake in NBA’s Charlotte Hornets to an investment consortium. In July 2023, he sold off his majority stake in Charlotte Hornets for almost $3 billion. It was revealed that he would remain as a minority stake owner in the team.
• In October 2023, Michael became the first athlete to be included in the “Forbes 400 Richest People” list.
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Michael Jordan

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Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ , is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He is the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His biography on the official NBA website states: "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." He was integral in helping to popularize the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon in the process.

• 1 Biography
• 2 NBA Street
• 3 NBA Street Vol. 2

Biography [ ]

Jordan played college basketball for three seasons under coach Dean Smith with the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick, and quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring while gaining a reputation as one of the game's best defensive players. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames " Air Jordan " and " His Airness ". Jordan won his first NBA championship with the Bulls in 1991, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball, but returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a then-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season. He retired for a second time in January 1999 but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.

Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten scoring titles(both all-time records), five MVP Awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections, three All-Star Game MVP Awards, three steals titles, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA records for career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the 20th century's greatest North American athlete by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press' list of athletes of the century. Jordan was twice inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, once in 2009 for his individual career and again in 2010 as part of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team"). He became a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015.

One of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation, Jordan is also known for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1984 and remain popular today. Jordan also starred as himself in the 1996 live-action animated film Space Jam , and is the central focus of the Emmy Award-winning documentary miniseries The Last Dance (2020). He became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats (now named the Hornets) in 2006, and bought a controlling interest in 2010. In 2014, Jordan became the first billionaire player in NBA history. With a net worth of $2.1 billion, he is the fourth-richest African American, behind Robert F. Smith, David Steward, and Oprah Winfrey.

NBA Street [ ]

Since they been able to use MJ since the beginning, after beating Stretch at Rucker Park, they have a good sense of what His Airness can do. Now the have to face him and the NYC Legends. This isn't going to be pretty. The thing about Michael Jordan is that you can never leave him unguarded, so you'll need a player with a lot of quickness to shadow him. Don't worry if Michael scores some points.

NBA Street Vol. 2 [ ]

In NBA Street Vol. 2, there are three incarnations of Michael Jordan are playable: the 1985 Chicago Bulls Jordan, the 1996 Chicago Bulls Jordan, and the Washington Wizards Jordan. It is possible to play as a team made up of the three different Jordans (or the "All-Jordan" team as Bobbito García refers to it).

• 1 Michael Jordan

9 Books Every Michael Jordan Fan Should Read

They’re all slam-dunks.

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.

Little, Brown and Company Michael Jordan: The Life

An Amazon Editor’s Pick in Best Biographies , this book claims the top spot in our list of the best Michael Jordan books. It encompasses the duality of his character, and details not only his greatness on the court, but the complex history that motivated him to stop at nothing to achieve success.

More: Michael Jordan: 7 Facts About the Basketball Legend

Crown For the Love of the Game: My Story

From Michael Jordan himself, this book offers a unique visual look at his successful career. Infused with his own words, the book showcases the snapshots that made history.

Taschen Sneaker Freaker. The Ultimate Sneaker Book

Think you know all there is to know about Air Jordans? Check out “Sneaker Freaker: The Ultimate Sneaker Book” for a deep dive on classic shoes throughout history. It’s a perfect gift for a shoe-loving friend or a fun conversation piece for your coffee table.

Harper San Francisco I Can't Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence

Another take on Michael Jordan from the man himself. In this book, the legendary basketball player shares his views on achieving excellence, learning the fundamentals, and leadership in general.

Penguin Workshop Who Is Michael Jordan?

For little ones who love Michael Jordan, this is a great pick. It's Amazon’s number one bestseller in Children's Multicultural Biographies . Bonus: It’s currently less than four bucks.

KC Press Unbelievable Stories of Michael Jordan

Have a child that’s a little older? The “Unbelieveable Stories of Michael Jordan” book is perfect for those Michael Jordan fans who fall into the nine to 12 age range.

Agate Midway The Chicago Tribune Book of the Chicago Bulls: A Decade-by-Decade History

If you’re a true basketball aficionado, this is the Michael Jordan book for you. This informative pick from the Chicago Tribune showcases a decade-by-decade history of the Chicago Bulls.

Diversion Books The Jordan Rules: The Inside Story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

This highly-rated pick is a bestseller from NBA Hall of Fame columnist Sam Smith. The book was originally published 20 years ago and now offers an updated introduction with candid revelations about his sources and the reaction from Michael himself.

Atria Books Driven from Within

Another gem from the man himself, “Driven from Within” pays tribute to the mentors, teachers, and role models who shaped his iconic career. Michael Jordan shares lessons learned along the way about the power of collaboration in his own words.

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