Michael Jordan Biography

Michael Jordan is a former American basketball player and entrepreneur. Explore this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Quick Facts

Also known as: Michael Jeffrey Jordan (English), Jeffrey

Gender: Male

Birthday: 17 February 1963

Nationality: American

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Spouse/Ex-: Yvette Prieto, Juanita Vanoy

Father: James R. Jordan, Sr.

Mother: Deloris Jordan

Siblings: Larry Jordan, James Jordan Jr., Roslyn Jordan, Deloris E. Jordan

Children: Jeffrey Jordan, Marcus Jordan, Ysabel Jordan, Victoria Jordan

Education: Emsley A. Laney High School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Awards: NBA Most Valuable Player Award, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, NBA Rookie of the Year Award, Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Naismith College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, NBA Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Most Valuable Player Award, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, ACC Athlete of the Year, NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA All-Defensive Team, All-NBA Team, All-NBA Team, NBA All-Rookie Team, All-NBA Team, All-NBA Team, NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA All-Defensive Team, Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, All-NBA Team, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, All-NBA Team, NBA All-Defensive Team, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, Best Male Athlete ESPY Award, Best NBA Player ESPY Award, NBA All-Defensive Team, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, All-NBA Team, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award, All-NBA Team, NBA All-Defensive Team, Best NBA Player ESPY Award, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, All-NBA Team, NBA All-Defensive Team, All-NBA Team, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, Best NBA Player ESPY Award, Best NBA Player ESPY Award, NBA All-Defensive Team, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Associated Press Athlete of the Year, FIBA Hall of Fame, L'Équipe Champion of Champions, Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year

Michael Jordan ruled the world of basketball from the mid-1980’s to the late 1990’s. Considered one of the best basketball players ever, he led the Chicago Bulls to six national championships and earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award more than five times. Although he has retired from professional basketball, he is still considered an asset by the NBA. He grew up in Washington and had a very modest upbringing and developed a competitive edge from a very early age. After he was selected for his school’s basketball team, he made his first professional appearance at the Olympic Games as a member of the honorable U.S. Olympic Basketball team. Since then, his career has only rocketed sky-high. He began breaking new ground on court and by the time he began playing for the Bulls, he quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Known for his agility, speed and power, Jordan was a terror in the basketball courts and was also known for his domineering leadership qualities. This rising NBA superstar was once a graduate in geography and grew to become one of the most valuable players in the NBA; an honor he went on to earn more than 4 times. Apart from basketball, he has also performed a couple of stints in films and is currently an entrepreneur. If you would like to learn more, scroll further.

Childhood & Early Life

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. However, he grew up in Wilmington, New Carolina and was interested in basketball since he was a young boy.

He attended Emsley A. Laney High School and tried out for the varsity basketball team during his sophomore year, but was deemed too short for the team at 5’11”.

He developed a competitive edge and became the star performer of the Laney’s junior varsity squad and trained rigorously. He grew four inches the following summer and averaged about 20 points per game since.

He was selected into the McDonald’s All-American Team as a senior and in 1981, he earned a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

His team won the NCAA Division championships in 1982 and Jordan scored the final basket, leading his team to victory against Georgetown University.

Career

He made his first professional appearance as a basketball player during the 1984 Summer Olympics, representing the U.S. basketball team.

He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls and he achieved the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was selected for the famous, All-Star Game.

In 1985, he completed his bachelor’s degree in geography and continued to play basketball professionally.

He made headlines in the 1986-1987 seasons and became the first player after Wilt Chamberlain to score more than 3000 points in a single season. The following year, he received a number of awards and NBA titles.

By the late 1980’s, the Bulls quickly rose to fame, fueled by Jordan’s contributions. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1990 and won their first NBA championship the following year, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 1992, the Chicago Bulls beat the Portland Trail Blazers to win their second NBA championship title. The following year, Chicago Bulls saw their third win during the NBA championships.

He retired from basketball and pursued baseball, where he played for the minor league team, Birmingham Barons, as an outfielder.

In 1995, he returned to Basketball and rejoined the Chicago Bulls, leading his team to a win in the 1995-1996 season. The same year, he branched out and appeared in a movie, ‘Space Jam’, starring himself, in 1996.

For the 1996-1997 seasons, Jordan averaged 30.4 points per game and clinched the NBA title, defeating Utah Jazz.

He retired after the 1997-1998 season, but could not stay away from the sport for two longs. He joined the Washington Wizards and became the president of basketball operations for the team. He quit in 2003 after two seasons for good.

He is currently the majority owner and the head of the basketball operations for ‘Charlotte Bobcats’.

Major Works

Michael Jordan starred in the film ‘Space Jam’ along cartoon legends, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The film mixed live action and animation and became a huge hit among the masses earning $230,418,342. It opened at #1 in the U.S. creating history.

Awards & Achievements

5 MVP Awards

10 All-NBA First Team designations

9 All-Defensive First Team Honors

3 All-Star Game MVP awards

6 NBA Finals MVP Awards

ACC Player of the Year, 1984

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, 1988

He was named the Greatest North American Athlete by ESPN, 1999

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 2009

Personal Life & Legacy

He married Juanita Vanoy in September 1989 and they have three children. The two filed for divorce on January 4, 2002, but reconciled shortly after. They were finally divorced on December 29, 2006.

In 1991, he purchased a plot in Highland Park, Illinois to build a 56,000 square foot mansion.

He proposed to his girlfriend, Yvette Prieto in 2011 and the couple is currently engaged and are to be married in March, 2013.

Nike created a signature shoe in his name called, ‘Air Jordan’.

Outside work, he is engaged in several businesses, including running a couple of restaurants. He is also involved in a number of philanthropic works, including organizing the ‘Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational’.