Michael Jordan: Greatest Athlete Ever?

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player who ever lived, was born on Feb. 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. Despite being Brooklyn born, Jordan was raised in North Carolina. The son of Delores and James Jordan, he and his father shared an undeniable passion for the game of basketball.

Jordan attended Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina, but was actually cut from the varsity basketball team as a sophomore. The summer before his junior year, Jordan hit sprouted and began his journey to legendary status. Seeing as he was raised there, it was only natural for Jordan to attend the University of North Carolina. Coming in as a high-school All-American, the expectations were astronomical. To the surprise of many critics, Jordan actually topped them when he hit the game-winning shot against Georgetown in the NCAA Championship game.

After his spectacular career as a Tar Heel, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. To describe verbally the impact that Michael Jordan had on the game of basketball during his NBA career is virtually impossible, but a complete list of his honors might be do-able. Jordan is a six-time NBA champion (1991-93, 1996-98); NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96, '98); 10-time All-NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); All-NBA Second Team (1985); Defensive Player of the Year (1988); Nine-time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Rookie of the Year (1985); 14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1988, '96, '98); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92).

The respect that Jordan's opponents had for him was unprecedented. He's been described as "God disguised as Michael Jordan" by Larry Bird. Magic Johnson had the view point that "there's Michael Jordan, and then there's the rest of us."

Michael Jordan has become one of the most easily recognized individuals in the world. His leadership captivated the imagination of many people, and his athletic skills, charisma, and competitive drive brought new life to the game that many people think can never be returned.

Sources:
Marc Stein, "Michael Jordan", Africana Online.
"Michael Jordan Bio", NBA.com