Michael Jordan | Biography, Stats, & Facts - Britannica

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• Introduction & Top Questions
• Education and Olympics
• NBA career
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Washington Wizards
• Final retirement and business ventures
• Other activities

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• What sports teams has Michael Jordan owned?
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Contents Sports & Recreation Basketball

Michael Jordan American basketball player Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print print Print Please select which sections you would like to print:

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External Websites

• CNN Sports - Michael Jordan was �horrible player� and �horrible to play with,� says former Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen
• The New York Times - Michael Jordan Was an Activist After All
• African American Registry - Biography of Michael Jordan
• NBA History - Legends profile: Michael Jordan

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• Michael Jordan - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Michael Jordan - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Air Jordan, MJ, Michael Jeffrey Jordan Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 11, 2025 •History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Top Questions

What is Michael Jordan famous for?

Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest all-around basketball players in the history of the game. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association championships (1991–93, 1996–98), and he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998).

How many times was Michael Jordan in the Olympics?

Michael Jordan won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. basketball team. He won his first gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and his second came as part of the Dream Team at Barcelona in 1992.

How tall is Michael Jordan?

During his playing career, Michael Jordan stood 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) tall.

What is Michael Jordan’s nickname?

Michael Jordan earned the nickname “Air Jordan” because of his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers. His nickname is also the name of his widely popular Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes, a milestone in the history of sneakers.

What sports teams has Michael Jordan owned?

Michael Jordan had an ownership stake in the NBA’s Washington Wizards from 2000 until 2001, when he relinquished that stake to play for the Wizards. In 2006 he purchased a share of the team now known as the Charlotte Hornets and became its head of basketball operations, and from 2010 to 2023 he owned a majority interest in the team. Jordan became a co-owner of a NASCAR Cup team in 2020.

News •

NASCAR settles federal antitrust case, gives all teams the permanent charters they wanted • Dec. 11, 2025, 7:07 PM ET (AP) ...(Show more) NASCAR chairman Jim France stands firm on charter stance, citing parents' advice • Dec. 10, 2025, 7:36 PM ET (AP) NASCAR chairman refuses to budge on team charters in testimony during Michael Jordan's lawsuit • Dec. 9, 2025, 8:02 PM ET (AP) Shohei Ohtani is the AP's Male Athlete of the Year for record-tying 4th time • Dec. 9, 2025, 1:00 PM ET (AP) Economist says NASCAR owes $364.7M to teams in antitrust case • Dec. 8, 2025, 6:57 PM ET (AP) Show less

Michael Jordan (born February 17, 1963, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) is an American former collegiate and professional basketball player widely considered to be one of the greatest all-around players in the history of the game. Jordan’s unmatched athleticism and competitive drive revolutionized the sport. He won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (1991–93, 1996–98), and he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998).

(Read James Naismith’s 1929 Britannica essay on his invention of basketball.)

Education and Olympics

Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. As a freshman, he made the winning basket against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA national championship game. Jordan was named College Player of the Year in both his sophomore and junior years, leaving North Carolina after his junior year. He led the U.S. basketball team to Olympic gold medals in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. The players who competed in the latter Games became known as the Dream Team.

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NBA career

Chicago Bulls

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In 1984 Jordan, a guard standing 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters), was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. He quickly became known as an exceptionally talented shooter and passer and a tenacious defender. In his first season (1984–85), he led the league in scoring and was named Rookie of the Year. After missing most of the following season with a broken foot, he returned to lead the NBA in scoring for seven consecutive seasons, averaging about 33 points per game. He was only the second player (after Wilt Chamberlain) to score 3,000 points in a single season (1986–87). Jordan was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) and was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 1988.

In October 1993, after leading the Bulls to their third consecutive championship, Jordan retired briefly and pursued a career in professional baseball. He returned to basketball in March 1995. In the 1995–96 season Jordan led the Bulls to a 72–10 regular season record, the best in the history of the NBA (broken in 2015–16 by the Golden State Warriors). From 1996 to 1998 the Jordan-led Bulls again won three championships in a row, and each time Jordan was named MVP of the NBA Finals. After the 1997–98 season Jordan retired again.

Career Stats

• Points per game: 30.1
• Total points: 32,292
• Steals per game: 2.3
• Total steals: 2,514
• Total games: 1,072

During this time Jordan earned the nickname “Air Jordan” because of his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers, and his popularity reached heights few athletes (or celebrities of any sort) have known. He accumulated millions of dollars from endorsements, most notably for his Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes.

(Read about Jordan’s role in the rise of sneaker culture.)

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Washington Wizards

Jordan remained close to the sport, buying a share of the Washington Wizards in January 2000. He was also appointed president of basketball operations for the club. However, managing rosters and salary caps was not enough for Jordan, and in September 2001 he renounced his ownership and management positions with the Wizards in order to be a player on the team. His second return to the NBA was greeted with enthusiasm by the league, which had suffered declining attendance and television ratings since his 1998 retirement. After the 2002–03 season, Jordan announced his final retirement. He ended his career with 32,292 total points and a 30.1-points-per-game average, which was the best in league history at that time, as well as 2,514 steals, then the second most ever.

Final retirement and business ventures

In 2006 Jordan became a minority owner and the head of basketball operations of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets). He bought a controlling interest in the team in 2010 and became the first former NBA player to become a majority owner of one of the league’s franchises. Jordan sold his majority share in 2023, although he continued to hold a minority stake in the team.

In 2020 Jordan and American race car driver Denny Hamlin formed a NASCAR Cup team, 23XI Racing. In 2024 23XI Racing and another team filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. After an eight-day trial in December 2025, the parties agreed to a settlement.

Quick Facts In full: Michael Jeffrey Jordan (Show more) Byname: Air Jordan (Show more) Born: February 17, 1963, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. (age 62) (Show more) Awards And Honors: Olympic Games Most Valuable Player Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016) Basketball Hall of Fame (2009) National Basketball Association Championship (1998) National Basketball Association Championship (1997) National Basketball Association Championship (1996) National Basketball Association Championship (1993) National Basketball Association Championship (1992) National Basketball Association Championship (1991) (Show more) See all related content

Other activities

Jordan made a successful film, Space Jam (1996), in which he starred with animated characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. In 1996 the NBA named him one of the 50 greatest players of all time, and in 2009 he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Do you know…? Which player has won the most NBA championships? Who was on the Dream Team? What team has the most NBA titles? When did Air Jordans first go on sale? The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.