GOAT of the issue: Michael Jordan

GOAT+of+the+issue%3A+Michael+Jordan

Like Mike, Like Mike 2: Streetball, Space Jam, The Last Dance. What do all these incredible films have in common? They’re all products of Michael Jordan’s superstardom. Michael Jordan has been a household name since his NBA debut in 1984 and has since skyrocketed to become a sports legend known around the world. 

Jordan began his professional basketball career when he was drafted out of The University of North Carolina by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft. Jordan started strong, averaging 28 PPg (points per game) his rookie season. For the next 12 years. Jordan didn’t average under 30 PPG in a single full season. During this time, Jordan won five NBA championships. Four MVPs, five FMVPs, and made every All-Star game and All-NBA first team. In 1993, Jordan retired from the NBA to live out his dream of playing Major League Baseball. Two years of unremarkable baseball later, Jordan returned for the end of the 1994-1995 NBA season.

The 1997-1998 season cemented Jordan in basketball history. Outlined in the recent docu-series The Last Dance, the Jordan-led ‘98 Bulls, often considered the greatest NBA team of all time, defied all odds to three peat (Win three consecutive NBA championships) and give Jordan his sixth NBA championship ring. Following this legendary season, Jordan retired and never played basketball again.

Just kidding. Jordan came out of retirement for the second time to play for the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003. At the ages of 38 and 39, Jordan still averaged over 20 PPG and made both All-Star games. Since his third and final retirement in 2003, Jordan has stayed in basketball as the owner of the Charlotte Hornets.