Background


Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn New York, In 1968, he moved with his family to Wilmington, North Carolina. Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he highlighted his athletic career by playing basketball, baseball, and football. He tried out for the varsity basketball team during his sophomore year but, at 5'11", he was deemed too short to play at that level (Source Chicago Turbine).

Motivated to prove his worth, Jordan became the star of Laney's junior varsity team, and tallied several 40-point games. The following summer, he grew four inches and trained rigorously. Upon earning a spot on the varsity roster, Jordan averaged more than 25 points per game (ppg) over his final two seasons of high school play. As a senior, he was selected to play in the 1981 McDonald's All-American Game and scored 30 points, after averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per game for the season. Jordan was recruited by numerous college basketball programs, including Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia. Michael Jordan entered the basketball scene in the early '80s when he committed to go play for Dean Smith's North Carolina Tar Heels. Michael's dominance over his competitors was established early, as he made the game-winning shot over Georgetown to win the NCAA national championship in 1982.

Michael's game winning shot 1982 National Championship

Jordan was named ACC Freshman of the Year after he averaged 13.4 ppg on 53.4% shooting.
He was selected to the NCAA All-American First Team in both his sophomore (1983) and junior (1984) seasons. After winning the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year awards in 1984, Jordan left North Carolina one year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA draft. 


     Michael Jordan draft day 1984 

Jordan was drafted 3rd overall, behind Akeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie to the Chicago Bulls. And on this day forward, the NBA was about to be changed forever, as the best player of all time began his quest of greatness. 









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