Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan Rookie Card

High School and College Star

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. Soon after, his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. From a young age, Michael excelled in sports. Although he was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore, he grew four inches that summer and became a star player by his junior year. In his senior year, he made history by averaging a triple-double. In 1982, he was named a McDonald’s All-American and accepted a scholarship to play for the University of North Carolina. During his freshman season, Jordan hit the game-winning shot to win the national championship. After three years, he entered the NBA draft.

The Birth of Greatness

In the 1984 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Jordan third overall. His rookie season was outstanding—he scored 40 points or more seven times, made the All-Star team, and won Rookie of the Year. Despite a foot injury in his second season, he returned to dominate the league, averaging 37.1 points per game in 1986–87.

The Jordan Way

Known for his high-flying dunks, competitive spirit, and clutch shots, Jordan became the most recognizable athlete in the world. He landed major endorsements from Nike, Gatorade, McDonald’s, and others. His Air Jordan sneakers remain one of the most popular athletic shoe lines today. He starred in commercials and even a hit movie, Space Jam.

Original Air Jordans

Original Air Jordans

Three World Championships

After early playoff exits, Jordan and the Bulls broke through in 1991 by beating the Lakers for their first NBA title. Jordan won MVP of the Finals. The Bulls went on to win three straight titles from 1991–1993. In 1992, Jordan also led the “Dream Team” to Olympic gold in Barcelona.

From Basketball to Baseball and Back

In 1994, following his father’s death, Jordan retired from basketball to pursue baseball. He joined the minor league Birmingham Barons but struggled. In 1995, he returned to the Bulls and wore number 45 briefly before switching back to 23. He led Chicago to another three consecutive NBA championships (1996–1998) and won Finals MVP each time. He retired again in 1999.

New Challenges in the Nation’s Capital

In 2001, Jordan came out of retirement again, this time to play for the Washington Wizards while also working in their front office. Though older, he still averaged over 20 points per game and had memorable performances. He retired permanently in 2003, finishing with 32,292 career points—now fifth on the NBA all-time scoring list as of 2025. He made the All-NBA Defensive Team nine times and won five regular-season MVPs.

Michael Jordan played for the Chciago Bulls and Washington Wizards in his NBA career.

Legacy and Life in 2025

After retiring, Jordan became majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets), making him the first former player to become principal owner of an NBA team. In 2020, he sold his majority stake but remains active in business and philanthropy. He is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, with his influence still seen in today’s NBA stars and culture. Jordan continues to be involved in charitable work and business ventures.

Michael Jordan Interactive Map and Scavenger Hunt

Featured MJ Activity
Michael Jordan Super Paralaugh Game

Michael Jordan Super Paralaugh

Create your own hilarious Chicago Bulls story with this interactive Michael Jordan-themed Mad-Lib game! Fill in the blanks with the right words, check your score, and enjoy features like read-aloud, PDF download, and a Bulls-inspired design.

Interesting Jordan Articles:

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time?
  2. What challenges did Jordan face in high school and how did he overcome them?
  3. How did Jordan’s success off the court (like with Nike and movies) help make him more famous?
  4. What do you think motivated Jordan to come out of retirement more than once?

Early Life and High School

Michael Jordan was born in 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in North Carolina. He loved sports and worked hard to get better. In high school, he was cut from the basketball team as a sophomore, but came back stronger. By his senior year, he was a star and got a scholarship to play at the University of North Carolina.

College and NBA Start

In college, Jordan made the game-winning shot that helped his team win a national championship. He joined the NBA in 1984 and was picked by the Chicago Bulls. In his first season, he scored a lot, became an All-Star, and won Rookie of the Year.

Basketball Fame

Jordan was known for amazing dunks and big shots. He also became very famous through ads for Nike, Gatorade, and more. His Air Jordan shoes became very popular. He even acted in the movie Space Jam.

Winning Championships

From 1991 to 1993, Jordan and the Bulls won three NBA titles. After a short break to try baseball, he returned to win three more titles from 1996 to 1998.

Later Career and Retirement

Jordan retired but came back again in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards. He played well, even at age 40. He finally retired in 2003. He scored over 32,000 points in his career and is still seen as one of the best basketball players ever.

Legacy

Jordan later owned an NBA team, helped many charities, and stayed involved in basketball and business. He remains an icon in sports today.

Michael Jordan Language Arts Activities
Michael Jordan Math Activities (Graes 5 + )