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Legends profile: Michael Jordan . Although, a summary of his basketball career and influence on the game inevitably fails to do it justice, as a phenomenal athlete with a unique combination of fundamental soundness, grace, speed, power, artistry, improvisational ability and an unquenchable competitive desire, Jordan single- handedly redefined the NBA superstar. Even contemporaneous superstars recognized the unparalleled position of Jordan. Magic Johnson said, . He burst into the league as a rookie sensation scoring in droves with an unmatchable first step and acrobatic drives and dunks and concluded his career as a cultural icon.

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Along the way, he became a true champion who spearheaded the globalization of the NBA with his dynamic on- court abilities and personal sense of style that was marketed to the masses. He was an accessible star who managed to maintain an air of mystique.

He was visible as . However, he would vanish into retirement twice only to return until hanging up the sneakers for the last time after the 2. Although Brooklyn born, Jordan was bred in the more tranquil North Carolina. The son of Delores and James Jordan, he shared a special bond with his father, which included baseball being both of their first love.

However, following his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized and was a spectacular athlete in his own right, Jordan began to play basketball. He attended Laney High school in Wilmington, North Carolina, but as a 5- foot- 1. The summer before his junior year, he grew to 6- foot- 3 and began his path to superstardom. A Tar Heel at heart, the high school All- American attended the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he played somewhat in the shadows of upperclassmen James Worthy and Sam Perkins. However, he shone in the spotlight of the NCAA championship game against Georgetown and another great freshman, Patrick Ewing, whom Jordan would foil future NBA championships for as well.

Jordan scored 1. 6 points, grabbed nine rebounds and made the winning basket on a 1. As a sophomore, he was named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News. As a junior, he received that award again as well as the Naismith and Wooden Awards. After his junior year he was chosen with the third overall pick in the 1. NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. The Houston Rockets selected 7- foot center Hakeem Olajuwon form the University of Houston with the No. The Portland Trail Blazers, however, with the No.

Sam Bowie from Kentucky, which was not as anticipated. Bowie had suffered several injuries while in college but the Blazers bypassed Jordan because just the year before the team selected another exciting shooting guard in Clyde Drexler. Although Drexler went onto to be a star, Bowie was an injury prone player with a journeyman pro career. Jordan, coming off a gold medal performance at the 1. Olympics, prospered in the pro game with a fabulous first season, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

He averaged 2. 8. Bernard King and Bird) 6. He also was selected to the All- NBA Second Team. Perhaps more important, the Bulls improved to win 1. Jordan averaged 2. Bulls lost in four games to the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first season, he did not have outstanding shooting range and was thought to roam too often on defense, resulting from playing trapping defenses in college according to his first NBA coach, Kevin Loughery.

Yet, his medium game - - eight- to 1. Improvement in both areas would come and he would ultimately be regarded as threat from anywhere on the floor and one of the best ever one- on- one defenders. Even in the exhibition season before his rookie campaign, players and coaches were sure that the Rockets and Blazers would regret their picks. King, the eventual leading scorer for that upcoming season, seemed sure as well when he spoke to Hoop magazine after a 1.

Jordan's greatness and likeabilty was apparent in just his first season. Home attendance at the venerable Chicago Stadium and on the road rose dramatically. Fans of opposing teams were seemingly content to see their team lose if in return Jordan put on show. Jordan's personal style was equally authentic and unique as his basketball skills.

Nike signed him to a major shoe deal because of his anticipated appeal, but he surpassed even the loftiest of expectations. One version of the sneakers he wore in his first preseason was an unseen before blend of his team's red and black colors that the NBA initially considered in violation of the . He continued to wear the shorts of his beloved North Carolina basketball uniform under his Bulls uniform. This may have led him to wear longer game shorts although he has said that the extra length allowed him to bend at the waist and tug at the hem for a good resting position. Either way, the trend toward the baggy shorts was started and the entire league and sport would follow. The rookie's mesmerizing effect was even suggested to have extended to referees as it was said that he was getting veteran preferential treatment allowing him to take that additional step on route to the basket rather than being whistle for a travelling violation. Many assessed that he eluded defenders so easily that he had to be travelling.

However, video break down established that his first step was just so quick and that he was not in violation of the rulebook. Despite all the attention, Jordan retained a sense of humility.

He did not ridicule the Blazers for not taking him. Early on in his first season, he told Sports Illustrated, . Masterminds Tv Show Full Episodes there.

They have an overabundance of big guards and small forwards. There, he probably faced one of his first professional obstacles. The media ran with the idea that Eastern All- Star teammate Detroit Pistons' Isiah Thomas, had led a .

The affair grew a life of its own over the years, but Thomas refuted such accusations. The whole ordeal would come full circle when Thomas, as the coach of the 2. East All- Star squad, persuaded Toronto Raptors' Vince Carter to relinquish his starting role to Jordan in his last midseason classic. Three games into his second season, he broke a bone in his left foot. He was voted to the All- Star team but could not play as he was sidelined for 6. However, he came back late in the year to score a NBA playoff- record 6. Lost The Series Survivors. Celtics. The Bulls lost that game 1.

Jordan averaged 4. If there were any doubters to that point about Jordan's ability, surely there were no more.

Starting with the 1. NBA record book. That year saw him average 3.

Jordan scored 4. 0 or more points in nine consecutive games and 2. NBA record. At the All- Star Weekend, he won  the first of  two consecutive Slam Dunk competitions. However, again, the Celtics swept the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. That offseason, the Bulls began assembling a championship caliber team by drafting power forward Horace Grant and acquiring the versatile small forward Scottie Pippen from tiny Central Arkansas in a draft day trade with the Seattle Super.

Sonics for former University of Virgina center Olden Polyinice. In 1. 98. 7- 8. 8, Jordan won every major award including MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All- Star MVP. With the help of his teammates, Jordan led the Bulls to a first- round playoff win over the Cleveland Cavaliers before falling to the Pistons in five games in the conference semifinals. The Pistons, known as the . Utilizing a defensive scheme developed by head coach Chuck Daly and his staff known as the . The Bulls, however, were nudging to a championship as each successive season the team would get closer. In the 1. 98. 8- 8.

Jordan's best statistical campaign, he led the league with 3. He also ranked third in steals with 2.

Jordan propelled the Bulls past the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs in the decisive Game 5, scoring the memorable buzzer- beater floating jumper over Craig Ehlo for a 1. Prior to the beginning of the 1. Sports Illustrated published an article on Jordan's emerging golf game and his thoughts about joining the PGA Tour after his NBA career was over.

Chicago management, however, was making other moves.