From jaw-dropping feats to little-known struggles, these moments reveal the full story of basketball’s greatest legend
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest athletes to grace the basketball court. Being one of the major reasons why the NBA’s popularity grew like wildfire around the world, the former Chicago Bulls legend is considered a basketball demigod by many fans from around the world.
Examining his amazing highlights and his overly-stacked resume, it is unsurprising why MJ is regarded by many as the undisputed GOAT. Playing 15 seasons in the NBA from 1984 to 2003, “His Airness” was able to build up one of the most distinguished resumes in the history of the game.
Considered to be one of the most gifted basketball superstars of all time, MJ’s trophy case included 11 All-NBA selections, 5 MVPs, 14 All-Star appearances, 6 Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles, 1 DPOY, and 6 championships, among a long list of other accolades.
Aside from being the greatest sportsperson of all time, Mike is also a very astute businessman, a philanthropist, and even an actor.
1. The Highest Vertical Jump in NBA History
Michael Jordan holds the undisputed title of the greatest leaper in NBA history. He lived up to his nickname “His Airness” by displaying an unbelievable 48-inch vertical jump on the court. MJ’s reported hang time of 0.92 seconds meant he could adjust his body in mid-air to his advantage.
His iconic dunk from the free throw line during the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Competition cemented him as the best jumper of all time. To appreciate how special Jordan is, the free throw line is 15 feet away from the rim, and he was able to keep his vertical height intact while floating the entire distance.
Usually, if somebody is able to do that, the dunk is pretty weak at the end. But MJ could have floated another couple of feet and still been above the rim. The ability to fly runs in the family as his brother Larry, who stands at just 5’8″, has a whopping 44-inch vertical.
2. Has Bigger Hands Than Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is well known for having one of the biggest hands in the history of the NBA. He has had several memes made about his hand size. However, it might be surprising to a lot of people to learn that MJ actually has bigger hands than Kawhi.
Kawhi’s hands, when measured from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger, is 9.75 inches. His hands, when measured from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky finger with his hand outstretched, is 11.25 inches.
MJ has the same hand length as Kawhi, but his hand width is slightly wider at 11.375 inches. Jordan’s massive hand size gave him a huge advantage and was one of the reasons he was able to finish so well at the rim.
It’s mind-boggling that Wilt Chamberlain’s hands are 2.6% shorter than Jordan’s despite being seven inches taller.
3. The Worst Player Ever at the Three-Point Contest
Michael Jordan was asked to join the 1990 Three-Point Contest in Miami, which he agreed to. While Jordan was not known for his long-range marksmanship, he was having the best season of his career shooting beyond the arc.
He ended that season shooting 37.6%, going 92-for-245. Unfortunately, the Chicago Bulls star had a catastrophic time in the 1990 Three-Point Contest, knocking down five 3-point shots out of 30 attempts.
He missed 25 shots and shot just 16.7%, implanting his name as the all-time worst contestant ever. It was Jordan’s first and last 3-point competition. MJ came face to face with some of the best shooters in NBA history, including Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Craig Hodges, and Mark Price.
His Chicago Bulls teammate Craig Hodges was victorious that year, and Hodges would go on to finish first in the following two seasons as well.
4. Didn’t Come From a Tall Family
None of Jordan’s immediate family members were above 5’9” in height. His dad was no more than 5’9″, and his mom was around 5’5″. When Michael Jordan entered E.A. Laney High School in 1979, he was only 5’8”.
He had grown to a height of 5’11” his sophomore year of high school. This made him taller than his two older brothers. He and his childhood friend, Harvest Leroy Smith, tried out for the lone sophomore opening on the varsity basketball team.
Smith, who was 6’7″, was selected because of his height, while the 5’11” Jordan was sent to the JV basketball team. Michael would astonishingly grow to 6’3″ the following summer before finally beating all odds to reach his adult height of 6’6″.
Michael had an older cousin who was 6’7″ that lived with the family shortly while he was in high school. He worked on basketball with the younger boys. This is proof that there were genes for tallness somewhere in his family line. Michael was just very fortunate to have inherited those genes.
5. Punched Steve Kerr in Practice
Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr played 231 games over four seasons together with the Chicago Bulls. They had enormous success as a pair and would win three championships together.
However, Jordan and Kerr’s relationship didn’t exactly start off in the best of ways. During a Bulls practice in 1995, Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr got into a heated argument that resulted in MJ punching Kerr in the face.
Jordan was then thrown out of practice by head coach Phil Jackson. MJ knew he crossed the line and called Kerr after punching him to apologize. It meant a great deal to Kerr for the best player in the game to call him to say he was sorry.
The two made up and went on to help the Bulls win three straight titles in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
6. Was Once Almost Cut In Half
During the summer of 1982, when Michael Jordan was just a rookie, he was once almost cut into two while attempting a fancy stunt. MJ joined former NFL player turned evangelist Bill Glass in a prison ministry tour.
To make things interesting, Glass invited a martial arts expert by the name of Mike Crain to showcase his famous sword trick. Crain requested a basketball player for his main act, and the 19-year-old Jordan confidently climbed on the stage.
A large watermelon was placed on Jordan’s belly, and Crain put his blindfolds on before proceeding with the act. Although Crain was able to successfully cut the watermelon, his sword hit Jordan’s navel, causing a gash. Jordan required three stitches just to close the wound after being quickly rushed to the emergency room.
7. Scored 38 Points With 103-Degree Fever
On June 11, 1997, Jordan awoke with a serious bout of the flu before the fifth game of the NBA championship series. He still managed to score 38 points against the Utah Jazz to help Chicago defeat the team 90–88 despite having a 103-degree fever.
Jordan has had some breathtaking performances in his career. However, what he did that night in Utah was truly inspiring. MJ was so sick that he could hardly sit up during timeouts, and he was reportedly injected with fluids and painkillers at halftime.
The basketball legend’s sudden illness had been attributed to a nasty bout of influenza or, depending on whom you ask, a nasty hangover. Jordan himself revealed in 2020 that it was bad pizza, not the flu that left him so ill during the 1997 NBA Finals.
The so-called flu game not only showcased Jordan’s tenacity but also added an unforgettable chapter to his legacy with one of the most iconic performances in NBA Finals history.
8. Was a Three-Sport Athlete in High School
Michael Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he stood out in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. Because he didn’t focus solely on basketball, MJ didn’t have a lot of basketball fundamentals coming out of high school.
According to James Worthy, he was actually a better baseball player upon entering college. Jordan entered college as a raw basketball player before eventually drilling down the basics because of his dedication to his craft.
9. Had His Jersey Number Retired by a Team He Never played For
Michael Jordan never played for the Miami Heat, but the franchise retired his №23 jersey in April of 2003 as a token of respect to him and his accomplishments.
This made MJ the first player in the history of the NBA to have his jersey retired by a team that he never played for. Mike is considered among the greatest athletes in the globe, not just in basketball.
What he did for the game of basketball might not ever be repeated by any individual for the remainder of sporting history. It should come as no surprise that a franchise he never played for decided to bestow upon him the ultimate post-career honour.
Years later, when the superstar of the next generation would come to play for the Miami Heat, he would switch his jersey number in honour of Jordan. LeBron James, who had always played with no. 23 till then, switched to no. 6 when he became a member of the Miami Heat in 2010.
10. Started Drinking at 27 to Battle Insomnia
In the first episode of The Last Dance, Jordan recounted going unannounced to the hotel rooms of rookies only to witness his teammates smoke weed and do cocaine. MJ was straight as a die back then, and he never engaged in any illicit activities.
He didn’t even drink alcohol, and his only weakness was energy drinks and juices. Things took a turn around 1990 when a doctor recommended a couple of beers to help him fall asleep because the 6’6” guard was fighting insomnia.
Since then, MJ took up drinking and it wasn’t just to fall asleep. It’s no secret that he drank before games as well. His friend Scottie Pippen confessed that he and Jordan drank a beer or two in the locker room before some exhibition games.
According to NHL great and avid golfer Jeremy Roenick, Jordan once dropped 52 on the Cavs after drinking a ton of beer and playing 36 holes of golf.
11. Has Small Feet for His Height
Jordan is 6’6″ but wears a size 13 shoe, which is pretty small for a man his height. Andre Iguodala stands at the same height as MJ, but he wears a size 17 shoe. Interestingly, Donovan Mitchell has significantly bigger feet than Jordan despite being barely 6’3”.
The Chicago Bulls legend wears the same shoe size as Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo, and Trae Young, who are all no taller than 6’1”. Smaller feet (especially relative to height) allow for more nimble and graceful movement.
Surprisingly, His Airness’ left foot (size 13.5) is bigger than his right (size 13). Jordan’s unusual foot size accounts for his lightning footwork and creativity in using his feet on the court.
12. His Career Almost Ended in Just His Second Season
In only his second season, a 22-year-old Jordan had already established himself as one of the most dominant players in the NBA. Unfortunately, in just the third game of his second season, MJ landed awkwardly during the second quarter. He suffered a fractured bone in his left foot that sidelined him for six weeks.
Jordan’s status as the greatest of all time (GOAT) was nearly threatened. When doctors advised that there was a 10% chance Jordan could suffer a career-ending re-injury, Bulls ownership wanted to shut down MJ for the remainder of the season.
Jordan chose to look at this 90–10 odds as a glass-half-full scenario, rather than looking at the small chance that it might end his career.
While most NBA players would choose to err on the side of caution, Jordan was simply glad to have a 90% chance to play as usual. He went on to return for the final 15 games of that season.
13. His Used Underwear Sold for Over $3K
Even MJ’s personal items seem to be in high demand as any game-worn shoe or basketball trading card. One fan purchased the superstar’s used underwear for $3,340.80 at a Leland’s auction.
Remarkably, there were 19 bids for the boxers, which began at $500. According to the listing, the underwear shows signs of “definite use,” which fortunately only means there were some loose threads evident at the seams.
Funnily enough, Jordan’s used underwear was described as “about as close to greatness as one can get.” This underwear comes from a family member of Jordan’s security guard John Michael Wozniak, who many will remember from his epic scene on The Last Dance where he is pitching pennies against the GOAT.
Wozniak was given the underwear directly by Jordan along with other items, including ties, belts, and jackets.
14. Lost $5 Million in a Single Gambling Session in Las Vegas
Jordan loves gambling, which emanates from his fierce competitiveness. His intense desire to win made him try some ridiculous forms of gambling.
While waiting at the airport, MJ bet his teammates that his baggage would arrive first. Jordan won the bet, but his teammates had no idea Mike had actually bribed the airport staff to see to it that his bags came first.
However, gambling is a big risk, no matter how sly you may be. Things didn’t always work out for the Chicago Bulls legend. His gambling habits lost him $5 million in a single night in Las Vegas at the craps table.
Of course, this is peanuts for one of the highest-paid players in NBA history. Knowing the mindset the GOAT has, he was probably more bothered about losing than actually taking a hit to his bank account.
15. First Professional Athlete to Rank Among America’s 400 Wealthiest People
Jordan’s estimated $3 billion net worth makes him the first professional athlete to break the Forbes 400, a list that put together America’s richest individuals.
Having bought the Hornets for about $275 million in 2010, Jordan sold his majority ownership stake for $3 billion, which catapulted him onto the Forbes 400 list. Across his 15 NBA seasons, MJ only managed to bring in $94 million in salary and signing bonuses despite being the league’s highest-paid player in 1997 and 1998.
Off the court is where MJ raked in most of his money. He has earned an estimated $2.4 billion in pre-tax earnings over his career with brands such as McDonald’s, Gatorade, Hanes, and, most importantly, Nike.
The Chicago Bulls legend earns royalties every year from Nike, with his 2022 annual check coming in at $260 million, according to Forbes.
16. Would Have Been a Weatherman If He Didn’t Play Basketball
In 2015, the best player in Chicago Bulls history revealed to the young athletes at his Michael Jordan Flight School camp in California that he would have been a weatherman if his basketball career hadn’t taken off.
MJ studied cultural geography, which is a variation of meteorology, at the University of North Carolina. Although he left the university after his junior year after being selected in the 1984 NBA draft, Jordan did receive his degree in 1986.
Knowing what we know today, it’s pretty difficult to visualize the 6’6” guard standing on TV and reporting the weather. However, Jordan is not the only NBA superstar to be attracted to meteorology.
One of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Kevin Durant, also desired to be a weatherman. He has a whole line of weather-themed Nike shoes and related apparel.
17. Air Jordan’s Were Banned Upon Introduction by the NBA
It’s difficult to conceive these days, but the Air Jordan I came along with a lot of controversies when it was first introduced in 1984.
Jordan’s debut sneaker didn’t go well with NBA bosses as the red and black and red and white designs broke the league’s uniform policy, which required that shoes had to be at least 51% white. Jordan wore the shoes anyway and was fined $5000 for every game he played in.
Nike recognised they were into something monumental. Instead of adjusting the design to fit with the league policy, they paid the fines for Jordan.
The hype of the “banned shoes” accelerated sales and affirmed the old adage that all press is good press. Taking care of Jordan’s fines proved to be a good investment for Nike, who sold $70 million (£55m) worth of Air Jordans by May of 1985.
18. The Only Player MJ Admitted Was Better Than Him Stands at 5’8″
Given the extremely competitive nature of Michael Jordan, it’s difficult to swallow that he would say anybody could potentially be better than him. Yet MJ admits that his toughest opponent to date is his older brother, Larry Jordan, who stands at just 5’8”.
Jordan says he would’ve been known as ‘Larry’s brother’ had Larry grown past 6’0″. Michael was motivated as a kid by Larry who also played basketball. They would always go 1-on-1, and Larry would destroy Mike every time.
But then everything changed. From Michael’s sophomore to junior year of high school, he had a massive growth spurt in the summer. He went from being just 5’9″ to 6’4″ in under a year. It gave MJ the advantage over his brother for the first time.
19. His Jersey Is the Most Expensive Piece of Game-Worn Sports Memorabilia in History
In September 2022, Michael Jordan’s jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for over $10 million at an auction, making it the most expensive piece of game-worn sports memorabilia in history.
The Chicago Bulls jersey was worn by Jordan during what is considered to be the most memorable period of his illustrious career.
The famed 1997–1998 season, which is often referred to as “The Last Dance” after the 2020 ESPN/Netflix documentary chronicling Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in their pursuit to win their sixth NBA championship in eight years, saw Jordan reach the pinnacle of his potential.
Although the Chicago Bulls lost the opening game of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, they came back with a vengeance to win the championship series. The season helped the superstar cement his legacy as the greatest basketball player of all time.
20. His Superstition Accidentally Gave Birth to One Famous NBA Fashion Trend
Michael Jordan was highly superstitious. He somewhat believed that the shorts he played in during his time at the University of North Carolina had some sort of lucky charm.
Upon joining the Chicago Bulls, Jordan started to wear his UNC college shorts under his NBA shorts. The NBA shorts back then were often small and tight, and this made the wearing of the extra set of shorts uncomfortable for MJ on the court.
It was also very hard to hide his lucky North Carolina practice shorts under those small and tight Chicago Bulls shorts. So he went for a larger pair of Bulls shorts to pull it off. This would trigger an NBA fashion revolution.
Players began donning baggier shorts to copy Michael Jordan, starting a whole new trend in the NBA and throughout the world.
21. Was Rejected by Adidas Because He Was Too Short
What most people might not be aware of is that Nike wasn’t Jordan’s first choice. He dreamed of being signed by Adidas, but they rejected him because he was too short. At the time, Adidas had a well-established relationship with big men.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the first basketball player contracted by Adidas, stood at 7’2”. Nike was looking to make an impact in the basketball market, and they saw Jordan as their ticket.
They offered him a deal which was unprecedented at the time; $500,000 annually for five years and the option to tailor the sneaker to MJ’s liking. The 6’6″ guard still wanted Adidas, and he went to them once more to show them Nike’s offer.
They could in no way match the offer though. So Jordan signed with Nike at the advice of his agents and parents, and the rest is marketing history. Today, Nike is the clear number one in the global sneaker landscape thanks to MJ, with Adidas trailing behind Nike by a wide margin.
22. A Song Inspired by MJ Reached the Top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100
Michael Jordan has been the subject of several songs. One of those songs, “Jumpman” by Drake and Future, peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2015.
The song takes its name from the iconic Jumpman logo inspired by a 1984 photograph of MJ. Just as Jordan’s brand is synonymous with greatness, Future and Drake assert that their influence and impact are unparalleled in the realm of music.
As of March 2016, the song has sold 824,000 copies in the United States. In the UK, the song peaked at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of over 400,000 copies in the UK.
Many artists, including Jay-Z, Big Pun, Lil Wayne, Fabulous, and Nicki Minaj, compare themselves to His Airness in their lyrics to associate themselves with greatness.
23. Began His Smoking Habit in 1991
Although Jordan can be spotted with a cigar in his mouth on numerous occasions, it wasn’t a practice he took into the NBA with him. It wasn’t until MJ won his first championship in in 1991 that he cultivated the habit of smoking cigars due to the pressure of being a superstar.
By 1993, at the height of his pre-baseball career, MJ had become a daily smoker. He smoked before, after, and during games, during halftime, in the locker room, and on the team plane to ease stress and help him relax and focus.
His coach at the time, Phil Jackson, had no issue with Mike’s habit since it didn’t hamper his performance on the court. After retiring from basketball in 2001, Jordan quit smoking to be a healthy role model for his kids.
24. Set Some Remarkable NBA Records as an “Old Man”
Most NBA players have a very short career window. By age 32 or 33, they are examined carefully to ensure the smarts acquired over the years make up for the slight age-related loss of speed, agility, and hops.
By 35 or 36, players are considered old, and they need to bring something exceptionable to the table in order to continue to be on the court. So it’s quite remarkable what MJ achieved in the latter stages of his NBA career.
He is tied with Karl Malone as the only player to win an MVP award after turning 35. MJ is the oldest scoring champion ever at age 35, and he is the second oldest player to ever score 50 or more points in a game at age 38 in his first season with the Washington Wizards.
While most basketball players were over the hill by age 40, Jordan was still competitive. He is the only 40-year-old to ever score over 20 points per game and the only 40-year-old to ever score 40 or more points in a game.
25. Warner Bros. Built Jordan His Own State of the Art Training Facility While He Filmed ‘Space Jam’
During MJ’s 18-month divorce from the court, Jordan played professional baseball, which was a childhood dream of his. He went back to basketball with the Bulls at the tail end of the 1995 season, and he got right back into the swing of things.
While MJ was no doubt a gifted player, it was clear that he was not in the same physical condition he was pre-retirement. He needed to spend the off-season breaking his back to get back to his best.
The issue was that he’d already committed himself to the Warner Bros. movie Space Jam, which was scheduled for release the following year. As production for Space Jam escalated, Jordan struggled to keep up with his practice schedule.
He had a talk with the studio, emphasizing practice to be his prime concern. Fearing Jordan could likely stop production of the movie, the studio offered to build a practice space near the set for him.
The world-class training facility would later be known as the “dome.” It contained, among other things, a full-sized basketball court and a weight room.
26. His 1998 NBA Finals Sneakers Are the Most Expensive Shoes Ever Sold
In 1998, Michael Jordan laced up a pair of his iconic black and red Air Jordan 13s to bring home a Bulls victory during Game 2 of his final NBA championship. Those sneakers sold at auction in 2023 for $2.2 million, setting a new world record for the most expensive shoes ever purchased.
After the Bulls won Game 2 of the 1998 Finals, Jordan removed his Jordan 13 sneakers, signed them, and gave them to a ball boy, who sold them to the person who consigned them at auction in 2023.
They were the last pair of black and red Air Jordan 13 designs that Jordan ever wore on the court for an NBA game.
Air Jordans exploded in popularity after their release in the mid-1980s, so much so that in 1997, Jordan Brand began operating independently. And it has only grown more profitable. In 2022, Nike reported that it generated revenue of $5.1 billion.
27. Never Lost 3 Games in a Row From 1990 to 1998
The Chicago Bulls superstar set a lot of records during his 15-year career in the NBA. Some were more spectacular than others, but there is one that really sticks out. Jordan never lost three matches in a row for eight years.
The odd of this reoccurring is one out of 140 according to Ben Blatt of the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective. MJ had an impressive 626-game streak (including playoffs) without dropping three games in a row.
This number is already outstanding, but if you consider the gap between Jordan and his closest rival, these games attain a different magnitude. Steph Curry, who recorded 314 games (312 less than His Airness) without losing three games in a row, is the closest you can get to Jordan’s remarkable achievement.
It was an astonishing achievement for Jordan and the team that included 500 regular season games and 126 games in the playoffs.
28. LaMelo Ball Is Michael Jordan’s Neighbor
LaMelo Ball was chosen as the number three overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he has set the league on fire since then. The young point guard purchased a $3 million luxurious condo famously owned by Cam Newton, which makes him neighbours with NBA legend Michael Jordan.
It is located in The Trust Condos in uptown Charlotte. According to NBA veteran Gilbert Arenas, the reason LaMelo invested $3 million in becoming neighbours with His Airness was to avoid trouble.
Jordan is one of the most prominent sporting figures in the world, and he holds a considerable amount of power and influence even today.
Ball’s teammate Miles Bridges got into trouble with domestic violence charges levied against him, and Gilbert Arenas thinks this might be a factor in Ball’s decision to buy a house next to MJ.
29. Had the Most Expensive Athlete Divorce of All Time
MJ can boast of a lot of amazing records throughout his career, but holding the record for the most expensive athlete divorce settlement is definitely not one of them. Jordan married Juanita Vanoy in 1989.
Their marriage lasted 17 years. They divorced in 2002, reconciled, then divorced again in 2006 permanently. MJ’s separation from Juanita came with an agreement by which the GOAT paid about $168 million.
At that time, their divorce settlement was the most expensive celebrity divorce in history, and it is still the most expensive divorce in sports history even today.
30. A $350 Bottle of Cincoro Tequila Started His Final Text Chain With Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant had always regarded Michael Jordan as his role model and mentor. He tried copying Jordan in every possible way, from his mannerisms to his playing style on the court.
However, the relationship between Bryant and Jordan was more than that of student and teacher. They were friends who had a deep and profound relationship. MJ was understandably heartbroken after hearing the news of Bryant’s death.
In their last text messages, Jordan and Kobe chatted about family, basketball, and Jordan’s tequila brand, Cincoro, weeks before Kobe’s untimely death. When they chatted, Jordan had just launched his new tequila brand.
As a gesture of his love for The Black Mamba, MJ shared a bottle of his $350 tequila with him, who became a fan after the first taste. Here is an excerpt of the final conversation between Jordan and Kobe on texts. Kobe: “The tequila is awesome” Jordan: “Thank you, my brother.”
31. Starved His Teammate Simply for Playing a Bad Game
Jordan’s intense competitive drive is both legendary and notorious. He hated to lose, and he would do everything possible to come out victorious, including being tough on his teammates.
Because of how ruthless MJ could be, his teammates were afraid of him. Jordan had some brutal schemes for dealing with his underperforming teammates. After Horace Grant had a disappointing performance in a road game, Jordan told flight attendants not to let Grant eat on the plane.
It’s difficult to imagine Lebron James starving a teammate today. This just goes to show just how much the league has transformed since the days of Mike.
32. The Only Player in NBA History to Win Defensive Player of the Year While Averaging 30 or More Points per Game
Because of how amazing he was on the offensive end, it is often forgotten that Jordan was an elite defender when fans look back at his career.
The NBA first acknowledged its first Defensive Player of the Year in the 1982–83 season, and in the 40-plus years since, only one player has won that award while also leading the league in scoring.
That player is none other than MJ, who averaged 35 points per game while also winning the DPOY award in the 1987–88 season. This made Jordan the only player in NBA history to win Defensive Player of The Year while averaging 30 or more points per game.
The only player that came close was his fellow 1984 Draft class member Hakeem Olajuwon, who averaged 26.1 points per game in 1993, and 27.3 points per game in 1994, both years where he won DPOY.
Jordan is also one of only three NBA players to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, along with Hakeem Olajuwon and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is the most recent player to win both MVP and DPOY in the same season, but he did not lead the league in scoring like MJ.
33. Contrary to Legend, Jordan Wasn’t Cut From His High School Team
The story about Jordan being cut from his high school varsity basketball team doesn’t reveal the entirety of the story. The truth is that he was never dropped from his high school basketball team to be precise.
Jordan in fact did not make the varsity squad after trying out as a 5’11” sophomore at Laney High School. Laney was in urgent need of tall players, so Jordan’s childhood friend Leroy Smith, who was 6’7″, ended up getting the nod.
Jordan was put on the junior varsity team instead. However, he did feature on the team during his junior and senior years after spending his sophomore year on the junior varsity squad.
34. His Idol As a Child Was Magic Johnson
As a child, Michael Jordan idolized Magic Johnson and wanted to be as good of a basketball player as him one day. Jordan admired Magic so much he was given the nickname “Magic Jordan” by his friends in high school.
He even devised his own way to honour his idol by placing this nickname on a personalized license plate for his first car.
Despite the admiration, MJ admitted that he harboured a little bit of envy towards Johnson because the former Lakers guard was already a superstar when he made his NBA debut due to the huge success he enjoyed at Michigan State.
Jordan would join the NBA’s Chicago Bulls in 1984, and his long-term idol would become one of his biggest rivals. Despite the two basketball legends playing on opposing teams, MJ declared he still held Magic Johnson in very high regard.
35. Has a Strain of Salmonella Named After Him
Jordan’s influence on the world is not just restricted to his exploits on the court. He somehow managed to reach the world of virology in 1993. In the winter of 1992, Dr. Stanford Shulman, an avid basketball fan, treated a patient with salmonella.
After testing and a check with the Center for Diseases Control in Atlanta, the doctor discovered that the strain of salmonella the patient had was previously undiscovered.
Shulman was a huge MJ fan, and he even had a stand-up poster of him in his office. To show his love for the Chicago Bulls superstar, he decided to name the salmonella strain after him: Salmonella mjordan.
While this may seem weird, this is a traditional way that people have been honoured in the field of medicine.
36. The NBA Renamed the MVP Award After Him
The NBA MVP award was renamed The Michael Jordan Trophy in 2022. It’s no mystery that the NBA’s most prized individual award is the Most Valuable Player award.
It annually designates the best player in the NBA, the one player who excels above everyone else for that season. So it’s not farfetched to propose that the NBA rename the MVP award after Michael Jordan.
Besides standing 23.6 inches tall and weighing 23.6 pounds, the MVP trophy has many levels of numerical importance comparable to Jordan. Its five-sided base is a tribute to his five MVP awards.
The name badge is six-sided, one for each of MJ’s championships. Even more fascinating is the base, which is shaped at a 15-degree angle; a representation of the illustrious 15 seasons Jordan played in the NBA.
37. Never Lost in the NBA Finals
Getting to the NBA finals is no easy feat. It takes an exceptional team to win the series. So it’s extremely impressive that Michael Jordan went an impressive 6–0 in the NBA Finals through his 15-year career.
MJ led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, and in each of those championship seasons, the Bulls had home-court advantage in the NBA Finals. In the 1991 NBA Finals, the Bulls won all three home games against the Los Angeles Lakers to secure their first championship.
38. Kim Jong Il Had a Shrine to His Airness
Kim Jong Il was a huge admirer of Michael Jordan throughout the 1990s. He was said to have possessed a video library of nearly every game Jordan featured in.
Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright even gifted Kim Jong Il a basketball autographed by Michael Jordan back in 2000 during her historic visit to North Korea.
The ball lies in North Korea’s Museum of International Understanding alongside a crocodile handbag from Fidel Castro, a rifle from Vladimir Putin, and various other gifts from world leaders.
In the year following Secretary Albright’s visit to North Korea, Jordan’s management team was asked if Jordan would want to visit the country and their dear leader.
Needless to say, Jordan never went. Kim Jong Il never did get to meet his basketball hero as he passed away in 2011, but at least his son got to meet Dennis Rodman, which is a fine consolation prize.
39. Has a Special Secret Tattoo
Tattoos have become pretty common among NBA players. Franchise players like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard now boast having multiple tattoos. However, going back to the 80s and 90s, this phenomenon wasn’t as generally accepted.
In fact, one of the reasons Jordan did so well as a product spokesman back then was that he had no visible tattoos while on the court. MJ does actually have a secret tattoo inked just above his left breast that fans may not have even noticed.
The only time the basketball legend made the tattoo public was for Bob Greene’s 1995 book Rebound: The Odyssey of Michael Jordan, where he appears shirtless on the cover.
His tattoo is of an omega horseshoe, and it is to honour his commitment to the Black fraternity Omega Psi Phi, which he joined while he attended the University of North Carolina.
40. Donated His Entire 2001–02 Salary to September 11 Relief Efforts
In September 2001, Jordan came out of retirement (for a second time) and joined the Washington Wizards.
Retiring from the Chicago Bulls in 1998 after winning his sixth championship would have been the ideal conclusion, but his return did bring a lot of upsides to the world.
Despite being paid only $1 million per year with the Wizards, Jordan proceeded to give up his entire year’s salary for a worthy cause.
While Jordan was playing for the Wizards, tragedy struck with the September 11 attacks. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, and there was at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.
After the attacks, Jordan pledged to donate his entire year’s salary to the victims of the incident. The first $100,000 went directly to children who lost parents, and the remaining $900,000 went to different organizations involved with the relief efforts.
41. The Habit of Sticking His Tongue Out Goes Far Back in the Family
It was quite common to witness Michael Jordan sticking his tongue out on the court. It was so prevalent that Mark Jackson once attempted to ridicule Air Jordan by sticking his tongue out after stealing a ball from Mike.
It turned out to be the biggest mistake Jackson ever made in his career. MJ made sure to exact revenge on Jackson and gave him a lesson about why you should never ridicule the GOAT.
A lot of basketball fans have wondered where this unusual habit originated from. Jordan acknowledges that he learnt it from his dad, James Jordan, who stuck his tongue out whilst fixing things in the house.
MJ’s dad actually clarified and said it went even farther back in the family tree. MJ’s great grandfather stuck his tongue out when concentrating and working as well, and that’s where James Jordan learnt it from.
42. Beat a Second-Overall Pick One-On-One at the Age of 50
Former Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist once confessed that an almost 50-year-old Jordan beat him in a one-on-one game. Kidd-Gilchrist was seven months away from turning 20 at the time.
This might be easier to understand if MJ had any obvious physical advantages over Kidd-Gilchrist. However, the 2nd overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft stood at 6’7” and weighed 232 pounds.
He was blessed with the same size and athleticism as the calibre of players who guarded the 6’6″ Jordan night after night for 15 seasons.
Jordan weighs far more than he did in his prime, so the extra weight might have helped him push the youngster around. Nevertheless, a nearly 50-year-old beating a 19-year-old in this game defies logic even if that player is Michael Jordan.
43. He’s Afraid of Water
Given the many milestones Jordan has reached in his career, fear is the last thing anyone would associate with him. It takes a special type of human being to step up and take over 900 game-winning shots.
Whilst MJ may seem like a superman on the hardwood, the same cannot be said off the court, and it turns out that he has his own fears like each of us. A terrible event in his childhood gave rise to a lifelong phobia of water.
He witnessed a good friend of his drown when he got sucked into the ocean’s undertow, and this unsurprisingly traumatised him for life. It didn’t end there. At age 11, he almost drowned while at a baseball camp.
The basketball legend has gotten control of his fear to some extent, but he still feels uncomfortable on boats and around large bodies of water to this day.
44. Quit Basketball to Play a Completely Different Sport During the Peak of His Career
Jordan’s decision to pursue a career in baseball was inspired by the murder of his father in an armed robbery. His father, James Jordan, was brutally shot dead by two teenagers while he slept in his car.
They discarded his body in a swamp in South Carolina, where it was found in Bennettsville. Baseball was James’ favourite sport, and he encouraged MJ to try it out for several years before his death.
James Jordan was a huge fan of Bo Jackson, the only professional athlete to be named an All-Star in both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL).
He knew MJ had the potential to switch to baseball and excel there as well. And so when he died in 1993, Jordan took the opportunity to fulfil the dreams they always talked about.
He became a rookie with the Birmingham Barons at the age of 31 in the 1994–95 season even though he had not played baseball since high school.
45. Had His Own McDonald’s Burger
Michael Jordan was once honoured by McDonald’s with the best burger in the market, the ‘McJordan’. The value meal, which paid tribute to His Airness, was made up of a Quarter Pounder with bacon and barbecue sauce.
In 2012, a jug of the very same BBQ sauce was sold for nearly $10,000. In fact, the special burger came back in 2020 with the Travis Scott Meal, but it can also be made with a Quarter Pounder with cheese, no ketchup, and a side of BBQ sauce used for nuggets.
In 1992, the meal was exclusive to the city of Chicago, but today, if one were to carry out the above-mentioned tips, they would be in possession of a McJordan Burger in an instant.
46. Wore Three Numbers During His Career
Michael Jordan transformed the №23 into one of the most iconic jersey numbers in the history of sports. His number 23 is so legendary that players like LeBron James and Jimmy Butler wear the iconic number and are unquestionably the most talented players in their respective teams.
However, this is not the only number he donned during his illustrious career. He momentarily wore the number 45 when he played baseball, and for a brief period when he came back to the NBA in 1995. After a few games, Jordan ditched this jersey number for his well-known number 23.
When asked about this prompt decision, Jordan pointed out that he felt more at ease with 23 than he did with 45. Jordan again wore an unlikely number on Valentine’s Day in 1990 after his jersey was stolen from the locker room before the game.
Jordan tried on a fan’s replica jersey, but it didn’t fit. The equipment manager luckily discovered an extra jersey that had the number 12 that fitted him perfectly. The basketball legend oddly ended up being number 12 for the night and still scored 49 points.
47. His Dining Room Table Is Truly Special
One of Jordan’s most prized possessions is his custom-made dining room table with 32,392 holes drilled into it. While that number may seem weird, it represents the exact number of points that MJ scored throughout his NBA career.
The table is a work of art in its own right, and it is also a reminder of Air Jordan’s amazing achievements on the basketball court. The unique table was designed by the artist Enn Sirvet, a metal sculptor who is known for his unique and innovative designs.
It took him over a year to complete the task. According to reports, Jordan adores the piece so much that he exhibits it at his home. It is a symbol of MJ’s success and his dedication to the game of basketball.
48. Might Have Ruined a First Overall Pick’s Career
Kwame Brown stands as one example of a young talented phenom who never lived up to the hype. Michael Jordan, who was the general manager of the Wizards at the time, picked Kwame Brown with the first overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.
Despite being one of the most highly scouted players entering into the 2001 Draft, Kwame lacked confidence. He felt he didn’t deserve the number one pick, and he dreaded the huge expectations, especially from Jordan.
MJ, who had come out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards, made it incredibly tough for other players, especially for the number one pick. There were reports of Jordan reducing Brown to tears in front of the team, shattering the little confidence he already had.
It is well known that Jordan is one of the most ruthless and cruel competitors of all time. Kwame already had low confidence entering the NBA. After his first training session with Jordan, his confidence would have dropped to negative 1000.
49. Had the Most Odd Pregame Meal
Before games, many athletes load up on carbs for energy instead of protein so as to make sure they don’t feel sluggish during games. But that wasn’t the case with Michael Jordan.
He famously ate a 23-ounce steak four hours before every game. According to Jordan’s trainer, Tim Grover, carbs didn’t cut it for the NBA legend because of how intense his play was on the court.
The trainer also noted that carbs would often leave MJ feeling bloated and out of energy before the end of the game. So they had to devise a new plan for Michael, based on his body chemistry and schedule, his playing minutes, and the massive amount of energy he expended on the court.
Luckily, Grover found steak to be the perfect solution. The Bulls legend ate this somewhat unusual pregame meal right up until his retirement.
50. One of the Few Players to Win an NCAA Championship, an NBA Title and an Olympic Gold Medal
Very few college basketball players would have the chance to win an NCAA Tournament. The NBA championship sometimes eludes even the best players. And not every member of the USA basketball team has been fortunate enough to secure an Olympic gold medal.
That’s the nature of the game of basketball. Michael Jordan is only one of eight players throughout the history of the game who have been lucky enough to win an NCAA championship, an NBA title, and an Olympic gold medal.
Other notable players who have accomplished this feat are Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, and Anthony Davis. MJ led the North Carolina Tar Heels to the NCAA championship in 1982, and he was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Jordan was selected as a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball team for the first time in the summer of 1984. The team won the gold at the Los Angeles games that year. Jordan won his first NBA championship in 1991.