Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. He would grow up to become the greatest basketball player who ever lived.
We all know the story: Jordan tried out and didn't make the varsity high school basketball team his sophomore year at Laney High School in North Carolina. He was deemed too short. But that motivated Jordan and he dominated before eventually averaged a triple-double his senior year and becoming an All-American. Seriously, his stats read: 29.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists.
Jordan would attend the University of North Carolina and play under coach Dean Smith. Jordan was a Freshman All-American and will be forever remembered for hitting the game-winning shot in the 1982 National Championship Game against Patrick Ewing's Georgetown team.
During his three seasons at North Carolina, he averaged 17.7 points per game on 54.0% shooting, and added 5.0 rebounds per game. He was an All-American in 1983 and 1984, and the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year award winner.
The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan No. 3 overall in the 1984 draft. That draft will forever be known for the Portland Trail Blazers' decision to take Sam Bowie over Jordan. Hakeem Olajawon was the No. 1 pick.
Jordan went on to have arguably the greatest career in NBA history. His list of accomplishments is stunning: Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances, three All-Star Game MVP Awards, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also holds the NBA record for highest scoring average in regular season history at 30.1 points per game and for the playoffs at 33.4 in his 15-year career with the Bulls and late career with the Washington Wizards.
And how's this for his last shot in his Chicago Bulls career:
Jordan's jumper in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz will forever live in NBA lore. He hit the game winner with 5.2 seconds left in Utah to avoid a winner-take-all Game 7.
Here's to you, Michael Jordan. Happy Birthday
