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Michael Jordan (American athlete) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia
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Michael Jordan

 American athletein full Michael Jeffrey Jordan, byname Air Jordan

born February 17, 1963, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Main

Michael Jordan (wearing number 23) rising to the basket during a playoff game against the New York … [Credits : © 1996 NBAE—Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images]American collegiate and professional basketball player, widely considered to be the greatest all-around player in the history of the game. He led the National Basketball Association (NBA) Chicago Bulls to six championships (1991–93, 1996–98).

Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and others reminisce about the 1982 National Collegiate Athletic … [Credits : Acquired from Vast Video]Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. As a freshman, he made the winning basket against Georgetown in the 1982 national championship game. Jordan was named College Player of the Year in both his sophomore and junior years, leaving North Carolina after his junior year. He led the U.S. basketball team to Olympic gold medals in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.

Michael Jordan competing in the NBA All-Star slam dunk contest in Seattle, 1987. [Credits : Andrew D. Bernstein—© 1987 NBAE/Getty Images]Several NBA superstars talk about the great Michael Jordan. [Credits : Acquired from Vast Video]In 1984 Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. In his first season (1984–85) as a professional, he led the league in scoring and was named Rookie of the Year; after missing most of the following season with a broken foot, he returned to lead the NBA in scoring for seven consecutive seasons, averaging about 32 points per game. He was only the second player (after Wilt Chamberlain) to score 3,000 points in a single season (1986–87). Jordan was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) and was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. In October 1993, after leading the Bulls to their third consecutive championship, Jordan retired briefly to pursue a career in professional baseball. He returned to basketball in March 1995. In the 1995–96 season Jordan led the Bulls to a 72–10 regular season record, the best in the history of the NBA. From 1996 to 1998 the Jordan-led Bulls again won three championships in a row, and each time Jordan was named MVP of the NBA finals. After the 1997–98 season Jordan retired again. His career totals at that time included 29,277 points (31.5 points per game average), 2,306 steals, and 10 scoring titles.

Jordan remained close to the sport, buying a share of the Washington Wizards in January 2000. He was also appointed president of basketball operations for the club. However, managing rosters and salary caps was not enough for Jordan, and in September 2001 he renounced his ownership and management positions with the Wizards in order to be a player on the team. His second return to the NBA was greeted with enthusiasm by the league, which had suffered declining attendance and television ratings since his 1998 retirement. After the 2002–03 season, Jordan announced his final retirement. He ended his career with 32,292 total points and a 30.12-points-per-game average, which was the best in league history. In 2006 Jordan became minority owner and general manager of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

At 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres), Jordan, a guard, was an exceptionally talented shooter and passer and a tenacious defender. He earned the nickname “Air Jordan” because of his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers.

During his playing career Jordan’s popularity reached heights few athletes (or celebrities of any sort) have known. He accumulated millions of dollars from endorsements (most notably for his Air Jordan basketball shoes). He also made a successful film, Space Jam (1996), in which he starred with animated characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In 1996 the NBA named him one of the 50 greatest players of all time, and in 2009 he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Citations

MLA Style:

"Michael Jordan." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 16 Apr. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/306201/Michael-Jordan>.

APA Style:

Michael Jordan. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 16, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/306201/Michael-Jordan

More from Britannica on "Michael Jordan (American athlete)"...

Student Britannica Articles (Ages 11 and up) on "Michael Jordan (American athlete)" from the Britannica Online Student Edition

Jordan, Michael
(born 1963). Both literally and figuratively, Michael Jordan soared higher than any National Basketball Association (NBA) guard before him. His high-leaping slam dunks inspired his nickname, “Air Jordan.” He was the NBA's top scorer for a record-breaking 10 seasons. Also outstanding at defense, Jordan was one of the greatest all-around players in the history of the game. He led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in the 1990s. He was considered the most recognizable athlete in the world at the time, and his long list of product endorsements reflected his popularity.
Jordan, June
(1936–2002). U.S. author June Jordan investigated both social and personal concerns through her poetry, essays, and drama. Much of her work focused on the experiences of African Americans, but her poetic gifts and moral courage garnered the admiration of people from a myriad of backgrounds. One of the most-published African American writers, Jordan was instrumental in reviving the use of Black English as a medium for African American literature.
Black Americans, or African Americans
The whites-only barrier was broken in major league baseball by Jackie Robinson in 1947. Today African American athletes dominate most of the professional team sports. Some of the many outstanding African American basketball players were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. In football Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Jim Marshall, and Emmitt Smith set records. Hank Aaron held baseball's career home run record from 1974 until 2007, when he was surpassed by another African American, Barry Bonds. Rickey Henderson broke baseball's stolen-base record in 1991 and set a record for the most career runs scored in 2001. Since Joe Louis became the heavyweight boxing champion in the 1930s, black Americans have been among the world's top heavyweight fighters. Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, and Venus and Serena Williams were at the top of the game of tennis. Since Jesse Owens won four Olympic gold medals in 1936, African Americans have excelled in track and field sports. In 1960 Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three track gold medals in a single Olympics. Florence Griffith Joyner and Jackie Joyner-Kersee won medals at the 1988 Olympics. Carl Lewis, Butch Reynolds, Edwin Moses, Bob Beamon, Michael Johnson, and Gail Devers also set track records. In 1997 Tiger Woods, the son of an African American father and a Thai mother, became the first golfer of either African American or Asian descent to win the prestigious Masters Tournament.
Lee, Spike
(born 1957). U.S. film director, writer, producer, and actor Spike Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee in Atlanta, Ga., on March 20, 1957. Lee became one of the first African American filmmakers to succeed in Hollywood and to appeal to a mainstream audience. He grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. Intent on becoming a filmmaker, he then attended New York University's Institute of Film and Television. His thesis at the institute, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads—which first demonstrated his off-center focus, won the student academy award.
name
A nickname is an informal, often descriptive name given to a person by other people. Some nicknames are so commonly used of historical personages that they are often believed to be the real names. The Roman emperor Caligula's name means “little boot.” His real name was Gaius Caesar Germanicus. The second name of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick Barbarossa means “red beard” and is obviously a nickname. Comedian Richard “Red” Skelton got his nickname from his red hair.
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Children's Encyclopedia Articles (Ages 8-11) on "Michael Jordan (American athlete)" from the Britannica Online Student Edition

Michael Jordan(from the Jordan, Michael article)
(born 1963). Named the most valuable player (MVP) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) five times, Michael Jordan was one of the best basketball players of all time. He helped the Chicago Bulls win six championships during the 1990s. The 6-foot, 6-inch (1.98-meter) guard earned the nickname Air Jordan because he often looked like he was flying through the air when he leaped up to make a basket.
Early life(from the Jordan, Michael article)
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He enjoyed playing sports while growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina. He eventually became a star on his high school basketball team and earned a college scholarship.
History(from the basketball article)
James A. Naismith invented the game in the early 1890s. The game caught on quickly in the United States. At first it was played with nine players on a team and a peach basket for the goal. In 1896 the first college basketball game with five team members on a side was played at the University of Iowa. During the 1930s several rules were changed to speed up the game.
Influences on fashion(from the fashion article)
Fashion shows exhibit clothing, hairstyles, makeup, and jewelry. Most people cannot afford the items displayed by top designers at shows in places like France, Italy, and New York. However, sometimes designers sell their ideas to manufacturers. Companies then make large quantities of cheaper versions of the same type of items to sell to the general public.
More Children's Encyclopedia results...
For a definition of "Michael Jordan (American athlete)", visit  Merriam-Webster.
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