Michael Jordan Biography — Life Story & Career Timeline

Early Life

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, into a family of seven (three boys and two girls) — he was the second youngest of the children. As a boy he also played baseball, once pitching a one-hitter and being voted MVP of his team.

High School — Laney High, Wilmington, N.C.

At Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina, Jordan participated in basketball, baseball, football and track, and kept a B+ average in the classroom. Famously, as a sophomore he was left off the varsity roster — a snub that fueled one of the greatest work ethics in sports history.

College — University of North Carolina

Jordan went on to play for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman he hit the jump shot that gave the Tar Heels the 1982 NCAA Championship. He was voted College Player of the Year in 1984, and in three seasons at UNC he averaged 17.7 points per game. As a junior he made himself eligible for the NBA Draft.

Rookie Year with the Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan with the No. 3 pick of the 1984 NBA Draft (Hakeem Olajuwon went first). That same year he was co-captain of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team. He was voted NBA Rookie of the Year after finishing his first season averaging 28.2 points per game.

Three games into the 1985–86 season he broke a bone in his left foot and missed 64 games. In 1985 he married Juanita Vanoy; together they have three children — Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine.

The Scoring Years

In the 1986–87 season he posted a career-high 37.1 points per game. He won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1987 and 1988 (he also participated in 1985). On February 26, 1987 he sank an NBA record 23 points in a row. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and league MVP in 1987–88, when he led the Bulls in scoring in 81 of 82 games.

He scored a career game-high 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989–90 season, and was voted NBA Finals MVP in 1990–91 when Michael and the Bulls took home the first NBA championship in franchise history.

Six Championships with Chicago

The Bulls repeated in 1991–92 and completed a three-peat in 1992–93, with Jordan voted Finals MVP each time. In 1996 he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 the Bulls won a second three-peat. On April 14, 1997 he notched his 28th career triple-double — 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the Toronto Raptors.

1998 was Michael's last season for the Bulls. He scored the winning basket with 5.2 seconds remaining to beat the Utah Jazz 87–86 and win the NBA championship — his sixth.

Records He Left Behind in Chicago

Closed the 1997–98 season as the Bulls' all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds (5,836), assists (5,012), steals, games (930), field goals made and attempted and free throws made and attempted (8,115).
First player in league history with 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season.
Led the NBA in steals in 1987–88 (3.16 spg), 1989–90 (2.77 spg) and 1992–93 (2.83 spg).
NBA record for most seasons leading the league in field goals made (10) and attempted (10).
NBA record for most seasons leading the league in scoring (10).
NBA Finals record for highest single-series scoring average (41.0 ppg in 1993).
NBA Playoffs record for highest career scoring average (33.4 ppg).
Upon retiring in 1997–98, ranked as the all-time NBA Finals leader in three-pointers made (42), second in three-point attempts (114), third in points (1,176), fourth in steals (62), fifth in field goals made (438), sixth in assists (209) and free throws made (258), seventh in field goals attempted (911) and eighth in free throws attempted (320).
Upon retiring in 1997–98, ranked as the all-time NBA Playoffs leader in field goals attempted (4,497), free throws made (1,463) and attempted (1,766), and steals (376); second in field goals made (2,188), fourth in assists (1,022) and three-point attempts (446), sixth in three-pointers made (148).
NBA record for most consecutive games scoring in double digits (840).
Shares the NBA record with Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive seasons leading the league in scoring (seven, 1986–87 to 1992–93).
First player since Wilt Chamberlain to top 3,000 points in a season.
Shares the NBA record with Karl Malone for most seasons with 2,000 or more points (11).
NBA single-game records for most free throws made in one half (20 against Miami on 12/30/92) and most free throws attempted in one half (23 in the same game).
Shares the NBA single-game records for most free throws made in one quarter (14 against Utah on 11/15/89 and against Miami on 12/30/92) and most free throws attempted in one quarter (23 against Miami on 12/30/92).
Entering 2001–02, ranked first in NBA history in scoring average (31.5 ppg), third in steals (2,306), fourth in points (29,277), fifth in field goals made (10,962), sixth in field goals attempted (21,686) and seventh in free throws made (6,798).

Honors

Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection (1987–88 to 1992–93, 1995–96 to 1997–98).
Member of six Chicago Bulls championship teams.
Named NBA MVP five times (1987–88, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98).
MVP of the 1988, 1996 and 1998 NBA All-Star Games.
All-time NBA All-Star Game leader in steals (33); second in field-goal attempts (193), third in points (234), ninth in assists (49) and free-throw attempts (50).
Notched the first triple-double in All-Star Game history — 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland.
Holds the NBA All-Star Game career record for highest scoring average (21.3 ppg).
Ten-time All-NBA First Team selection (1986–87 to 1992–93, 1995–96 to 1997–98).
Participated in 13 NBA All-Star Games.
Six-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

After retiring from the Bulls, Michael returned once more with the Washington Wizards in 2001–02 and 2002–03 before retiring for good — and in 2009 he was enshrined in the NBA Hall of Fame as a player.