Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1963. He played for the Chicago Bulls and won six NBA championships. Many people call him the greatest basketball player ever.

Early Life

Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore. This motivated him to work harder. He played basketball at the University of North Carolina and won a national championship.

Young Michael Jordan hits the shot that wins the 1982 college title.
Young Michael Jordan hits the shot that wins the 1982 college title. (Unknown authorUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player five times. He scored over 32,000 points in his career. He also won two Olympic gold medals. His Air Jordan brand became one of the most popular in the world.

Fun Facts

  • Jordan was cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore.
  • He wore jersey number 23, which became one of the most famous numbers in sports.
  • He briefly retired from basketball to play minor league baseball.

Did You Know?

Jordan's competitiveness was legendary. He famously said he missed more than 9,000 shots in his career, but that failure motivated him to succeed. His brand, Air Jordan, earns billions of dollars each year.