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Born in Brooklyn
Feburary 17, 1963
Michael Jordan was born to James R. Jordan, Sr. and Deborah Jordan in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when he was a toddler.
Attended Emsley A. Laney High School
September 27, 1977 - June 27, 1981
ACC Freshman of the Year
Feburary 17, 1981
In 1981, Jordan earned a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he majored in cultural geography. As a freshman in coach Dean Smith's team-oriented system, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year after he averaged 13.4 points per game (ppg) on 53.4% shooting (field goal percentage).
Famous Winning Shot
Feburary 17, 1982
He made the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, which was led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing.
College Player of the Year
Feburary 17, 1984
Drafted by the Chicago Bulls
Feburary 17, 1984
After winning the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year awards in 1984, Jordan left North Carolina one year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA Draft. The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan with the third overall pick, after Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers).
Scored a Playoff Record 63 Points!
April 17, 1986
Against a 1985-86 Boston Celtics team that is often considered one of the greatest in NBA history, Jordan set the still-unbroken record for points in a playoff game with 63 in Game 2. The Celtics, however, managed to sweep the series.
Completed Degree at North Carolina
December 17, 1986
Won First NBA MVP Award
April 17, 1988
Got Married
September 25, 1989
Won Second MVP Award
April 17, 1991
Won First NBA Title
May 17, 1991
After beating the rival Detroit Pistons, the Bulls advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, where they beat the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one. Perhaps the best known moment of the series came in Game 2 when, attempting a dunk, Jordan avoided a potential Sam Perkins block by switching the ball from his right hand to his left in mid-air to lay the shot in.
First Three-Peat in NBA History
May 17, 1991 - May 22, 1993
Retired From the NBA
October 17, 1993 - March 22, 1995
Played Baseball in Minor League
March 31, 1994 - Feburary 22, 1995
Jordan then further surprised the sports world by signing a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. He reported to spring training and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31, 1994. Jordan has stated this decision was made to pursue the dream of his late father, who had always envisioned his son as a major league baseball player. The White Sox were another team owned by Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who continued to honor Jordan's basketball contract during the years he played baseball. He had an unspectacular professional baseball career for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox farm team, batting .202 with 3 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB, and 11 errors. He also appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League.
Returned to the NBA
March 18, 1995
Second Three-Peat
March 18, 1996 - March 22, 1998
Starred in Space Jam
June 26, 1996
Retired From the NBA
January 13, 1999
Returned to Play for the Wizards
September 25, 2001 - April 22, 2003
Got Divorced
December 26, 2006
