Micheal "Air" Jordan

Michael "Air" Jordan is unquestionably the greatest basketball player that has ever lived. He was truely a king among men. He is the greatest scorer that will ever play the game. He knew more ways to score than anybody, even Wilt Chamberlain. But it is hard to imagine that the greatest basketball player of all time was not even the best player in his home or not even good enough to make the H.S. freshman basketball team.

Jordan was born on Febuary 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. His family had moved down to North Carolina when Michael was five. There he and his older brother would have wars out in their backyard to see who the better basketball player was. But those wars just pushed Michael to get better and better until he made the High School team and started beating his older brother on a consistant basis. Michael was the star of his school and colleges from all over the country were trying to recruit him, but he decided to stay close to home and go to the University of North Carolina.

Most people thought Michael would go to North Carolina, sit on the bench for four years, and then come home and work at a gas station. But fame struck early for Jordan as he hit the winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Tourament Final Game and help lead his team to victory. After that shot he became an instant star and would go on to receive the All-American and NCAA Player of the Year Award twice(1983 and 1984). Jordan went on to forgo his senior year of college and went on to lead the United States Basketball Oylimic Team to a gold medal as their captin and leading scorer.

Jordan was drafted third overall in the 1984 draft and became the cornerstone of a rebuilding Chicago franchise. On arrival to Chicago he made on promise to Bulls fans that if he was playing he never have a losing season and the Bulls would make to the playoffs every year. So far he has not broken that promise. Probably because he is the only player in history that could just take over a game anytime anywhere, his opponents had to mercy to his will. He is most likely the reason the phrase "You can't stop me, you can only contain me" was made for. Jordan helped lead his team to victory in the finals three consecutive time, only two other teams have done that. Plus he helped lead his to team to three consecutive titles on another occasion, the only team in history to do so.

If you don't yet believe that Jordan is the best basketball player that ever lived just look at his accomplishments(I mentioned the ones I felt were most important, if I were to list them all it would take me a week). Other than having six titles(1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), he also has six Finals M.V.P's, along with five regular season M.V.P's(1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998). He has been named to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Team ten times(1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), and was named the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He also lead the league in scoring ten times(1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) and lead the league in steals four times. He was voted in to the NBA All-Star Game 12 times(1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) and won the All-Star M.V.P three times(1988, 1996, 1998). They did not call him Michael "Air" Jordan for nothing he won the All-Star Slam Dunk contest twice(1987 and 1988). Lastly he won Rookie of the Year Award beating out Barkley and Olajuwan, and he was a two time Olympic Basketball Team gold medalist(1984 and 1992).

STATS

College Records
YearTeamGPFG%FT%RPGPPG
1981-82North Carolina3453.472.24.413.5
1982-83North Carolina3653.573.75.520.0
1983-84North Carolina3155.177.95.319.6
TOTALS10154.074.85.017.7
NBA Records
YearTeamGPFG%FT%StlPGBlkPGRPGAPGPPG
1984-85Chicago8251.584.52.40.86.55.9 28.2
1985-86Chicago1845.784.02.11.23.62.9 22.7
1986-87Chicago8248.285.72.91.55.24.6 37.1
1987-88Chicago8253.584.13.21.65.55.9 35.0
1988-89Chicago8252.684.82.80.76.96.3 33.6
1989-90Chicago8153.885.02.80.88.08.0 32.5
1990-91Chicago8253.985.12.71.06.05.5 31.5
1991-92Chicago8051.983.22.30.96.46.1 30.1
1992-93Chicago7849.583.72.80.86.75.5 32.6
1994-95Chicago1741.180.11.80.86.95.3 26.9
1995-96Chicago8249.583.42.20.56.64.3 30.4
1996-97Chicago8248.683.31.70.55.94.3 29.6
1997-98Chicago8246.578.41.70.65.83.5 28.7
TOTALS93050.583.82.50.96.35.431.5
Meaning of the acronyms:
GP
Games Played
FG%
Field Goal Percentage
FT%
Free Throw Percentage
StlPG
Steals Per Game
BlkPG
Blocks Per Game
RPG
Rebounds Per Game
APG
Assits Per Game
PPG
Points Per Game

Logo appears at www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/1064/