Jordan, Michael

So Much More than Space Jam

By Taylor Thompson, Government & Heritage Library, 2020
From the NCpedia K-8 Collection

February 17, 1963 - Present

Think about the shoes you’ve seen others wear. Have you ever seen someone wearing Air Jordans? If so, you might know that they get their name from Michael Jordan. He is a legendary basketball player. But did you know that Michael Jordan is a famous person in North Carolina history? Take a look at this article to learn more about the famous “M.J.” and his contributions to sports history!

Though Michael Jordan grew up in North Carolina, he was born on February 16, 1963 in New York. Michael Jordan and his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was young. He loved both baseball and basketball from a young age. He bonded over sports with his father and brother. Michael Jordan played on the basketball team at his high school and college. Michael Jordan attended college at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Aand became a very popular basketball player. He was named “College Player of the Year” twice. And he scored the winning basket at a game against Georgetown University in 1982.

After college, Michael Jordan began playing professional basketball. The Chicago Bulls drafted him in the 1984 NBA Draft. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year award during his first season and helped his team make it to the NBA play-offs. He also helped the Chicago Bulls win their first ever NBA Finals, which they later won many times.

Michael Jordan also played basketball in the Olympics in 1984 and 1992. In 1992, the Olympic basketball team from the United States was called the “Dream Team.” Michael Jordan continued playing for the Chicago Bulls until 1993. He decided to take a break and play baseball. He returned to play basketball again in 1999 for the Washington Wizards until he retired in 2003. He has won many awards for playing basketball, including Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Michael Jordan became a basketball superstar. He used to wag his tongue and jump very high when playing the game. His slam dunks helped him earn the name “Air Jordan.” This name was given to his line of shoes that came out in 1984 and are still produced today. Michael Jordan even wore his old UNC shorts under his Chicago Bulls shorts. This started a trend for basketball players to wear long, baggy shorts. Michael Jordan also starred in the movie Space Jam in 1996. In this movie, he played basketball with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes characters.

In 2016, Michael Jordan received one of the greatest honors an American can receive -- the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He received it from President Barack Obama.

Many people think Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. In fact, he has inspired many current basketball players. Lots of kids have looked up to Michael Jordan! Michael Jordan helped the NBA and basketball gain popularity across the world. His story encourages us to remember that anyone can be successful if they are a team player. And he encourages us to believe in our dreams.

How can you be a better team player in your life?