Michael Jordan
Cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore, Jordan turned the snub into relentless motivation and starred at North Carolina, hitting the title-winning shot as a freshman in 1982. He became a global star in 1987-88 when he won his first scoring title and Defensive Player of the Year, but the 1991 championship cemented his legend. From there he led the Chicago Bulls to two three-peats.
North Carolina Roots
Though born in Brooklyn, Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. He sealed his college legacy by hitting the championship-winning jumper for the Tar Heels as a freshman in 1982.
The Bulls Dynasty
Drafted third by Chicago in 1984, Jordan transformed the franchise into a global powerhouse. Paired with coach Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen, he led the Bulls to two separate three-peat championships in the 1990s.
Beyond Basketball
Jordan's Air Jordan sneaker line revolutionized sports marketing and remains a billion-dollar brand. He later became majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets and a co-owner of the 23XI Racing NASCAR team.
Career Timeline
- 1982Hits game-winning shot to win NCAA title for North Carolina
- 1984Drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls
- 1985Named NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1988Wins MVP and Defensive Player of the Year same season
- 1991Wins first NBA championship over the Lakers
- 1992Helps the Dream Team win Olympic gold in Barcelona
- 1993Completes first Bulls three-peat, then retires briefly
- 1996Bulls go 72-10 en route to a title
- 1998Hits title-clinching shot for sixth championship
- 2003Retires after two seasons with Washington Wizards
- 2009Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Jordan was famously cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore, a slight he cited as career-long motivation.
- He has the highest career scoring average in NBA history at 30.1 points per game, in both regular season and playoffs.
Portrait: DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons