Michael Jordan has inspired millions of basketball players and the best of the current generation’s players. When it comes to the discussion of the greatest players of all time, he’s the first name that is thrown into the arena, and Michael Jordan is the first name whom the newest greatest athletes are compared to. Have a look at these Facts About Michael Jordan!
Anyone fortunate enough to have followed him throughout his time in the sport will cherish vivid memories of his incredible talent and his fierceness in competition. Beyond the woods, MJ is a businessman and brand. There are many strings on his bow, making him an intriguing person.
Facts About Michael Jordan
10. For a Game in 1990, He Wore #12
In every sport, Jordan’s number 23 has become so famous that athletes are spotted sporting the number, even though they play in a different sport. The number is associated with “His Airness,” but it’s not the only one he was spotted wearing throughout his career. It’s a fact that he wore #45 for a short period following his return from the baseball game (this is due to the fact that his number 23 retirement).
However, there were other numbers he donned during his professional career because in one game, in the year 1990, he was obliged to wear an unidentified number 12 jersey. This happened during an away contest against Orlando Magic, and prior to the game, a person had been able to enter the locker room to steal his jersey number 23. It turns out that Jordan performs better when he’s mad, and the 49 points he scored in this game, but the Magic were as the victor.
9. He Holds the Record for Career Regular Season and Playoff Scoring Average
Michael Jordan enjoyed 15 seasons playing in the NBA and was extremely consistent after his retirement (although Jordan would undoubtedly slow down a bit when playing in Washington). However, he was much more than an average scorer. The ability to get the ball into the hoop made him a popular player. Jordan has the world record in the regular season scoring average: the colossal 30.12 PPG and the record for playoffs with an astounding 33.45 PPG.
A true scorer can adapt to scoring in a variety of different ways. Jordan is an excellent example of this since Jordan developed an almost unstoppable post-game after losing speed. This allowed him to keep making scores throughout his career and helped him average higher than players like LeBron, Kobe, Iverson, Shaq, Bird, Wilkins, and even Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain.
8. He Donated His First Year Wizards Salary to 9/11 Relief Efforts
Many NBA fans want to forget that Jordan was able to come out of retirement (for another time) and became a member of his team, the Washington Wizards. Resigning following the 1998 Finals could have been a perfect way to close; however, his return was a huge source of positives to basketball America and the entire world. He announced his return following the September 11th attacks and would declare that his first salary would be devoted entirely to the relief efforts.
The donation included $900,000 to various groups involved in the relief efforts and $100,000 to families who lost loved ones. Even though it was an injury-plagued season for MJ but his return did bring much-needed hope for the fans of sports, and he demonstrated that he was still an elite player when he led the Wizards in scoring (22.9 PPG) as well as assists (5.2 APG) and thefts (1.42 SPG).
7. He Has a Phobia of Water
In light of the accomplishments Michael Jordan has achieved in his career, you’d think that fear is something he is not feeling. In numerous instances, Jordan stepped up, made big shots, and dominated so numerous times. Although he doesn’t have any worries on the court, this isn’t the case when he is off the court. It appears that he’s human, after all, and is aware of the terror of being scared well.
Jordan is afraid of water stemming from a tragic event in his early years. He witnessed a friend drown when he was dragged into the water’s undertow. The incident inevitably scarred him for the rest of his life. A short time later, Jordan almost drowned whilst at a baseball camp and has suffered from fear since. He has a little bit overcome his fear; however, Jordan still feels uncomfortable on a small boat or near a large body of water.
6. He Once Recorded 10 Triple Doubles in 11 Games
This list shows that most of the amazing figures about MJ have to do with his ability to score. Jordan could be a star in other areas, too, and this was most evident in the 1988/89 seasons. In that season, the Bulls tried out Jordan as a point guard role (similar to the way LeBron is usually employed). Even though this didn’t go over well in terms of wins, it showed that Jordan could become a star player if he wanted to.
In the 11 games, Jordan posted an incredible ten triple-doubles that resulted in him averaging a staggering 33.6 PPG. He also posted 10.8 RPG and 11.4 APG. In the only game where he didn’t post triple-doubles, he had a stat-line that would make any player happy to record 41 points and 11 assists, and seven rebounds. He was also the league’s top scorer in scoring during that season.
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5. He Has Five Children From Two Marriages
In contrast to many professional athletes, Michael Jordan has always lived in a very private way (as he could). He was married in 1989. got married to Juanita Vanoy, and they had three children (Jeffrey Michael, Marcus James, and Jasmine). They divorced in the year 2006, and at that time, it was the biggest divorce in the history of Hollywood, and Vanoy was awarded $168m. In the year 2011, MJ proposed to his long-time partner, Cuban model Yvette Prieto.
The couple got were married in 2013 (Jordan required her to sign a prenuptial contract). One year later, Prieto gave birth to identical twins, Victoria and Ysabel. While Jordan has made every effort to keep his private life to his own, there has been a lot of interest regarding his sons and whether or not they will follow in their father’s footsteps. Marcus was a player with the UCF Knights but would leave the team. Jeffrey was in Illinois before joining his brother.
4. He is the Only Athlete Who is a Billionaire
Alongside being the most dominant player ever to be on the hardwood and also one of the best popular athletes of all time, “His Airness” is also an entrepreneur as well as a global brand. Every year, he makes an incredible amount of money. It is due to the Air Jordan brand and his association with Nike and entrepreneurial ventures that include opening a car dealership and several restaurants. And the fact that he continues to earn more endorsements than the current NBA stars.
He is also the main chairman and owner of the Charlotte Hornets, and after expanding his share of the Hornets in 2014, he was the sole billionaire athlete, according to Forbes. In fact, he’s not the only athlete to join the billionaire club because Tiger Woods was named the first in 2009, just two months prior to the scandal over his cheating. This led to Woods losing numerous sponsors and being stripped of his billionaire status.
3. He Won a League Best 10 Scoring Titles
It’s no fact it is no secret that Michael Jordan knows how to score the ball. He could slam past opponents for layups or dunks while in the middle of traffic, he could shoot shots outside the circle and pull-up to make a mid-range jump-shot, and he could also have the best post-up play for guards has ever been played. The defenders were forced to choose between two options, and in the majority of games, they would be able to score some points.
In the 15 seasons he played, MJ won an incredible ten scoring titles, which is a league record. He also won seven consecutively between 1986 and 1993, from 1986 to 1993, and Wilt Chamberlain was the only player to accomplish this. Furthermore, each time the Bulls took the title, Jordan was also scoring champion in that season. He scored the most points in 1986/87, where he scored an eerie 37.1 PPG.
2. He is the Only Player to Win the Scoring Title and DPOTY in the Same Season
Due to his remarkable ability to play offensively, It is often overlooked that Jordan was a top defensive player. His skill on both sides of the court ensured it would be a tough night for the team he played with. This was evident in the legendary 1987/88 season. He was the only player to earn the scoring award (a staggering 35 PPG) and the Defensive Player of the Year (DOTY) award during this same time frame (averaging the league’s highest 3.16 SPG as well as 1.6 BPG).
Naturally, he also took home the MVP award for the season. Over the years, there have been many outstanding players on the ball; however, they usually don’t make the same effort on the defensive side. Similar to the DPOTY is typically very limited offensively. Jordan’s capability as a master in both of these areas is what makes him such a renowned player.
1. In Six Finals Series, He Averaged 33.6 PPG and Won Every Series
If you’re deciding who the greatest player of the past is, you have to examine their capabilities on the stage. Michael Jordan has breathtaking statistics during the NBA Finals. The quick comparisons with Kobe or LeBron (who are often considered to be) confirm that Jordan, the Bulls legend, performed more in the Finals. In his 15 games, Jordan made it to the Finals six times, played in 35 games, and took home every series.
Throughout his 35 games, Jordan averaged 33.6 PPG and never more than 22. Kobe has appeared in seven games and has won five games, scoring 25.3 PPG. James has been on the court six times and only won two times, with an average of 26.4 PPG. Of course, you need to go a bit further beyond these numbers and context, but there’s been no player who has responded to the occasion greater than Jordan.
