Michael Jordan stepped off an NBA court for the final time in 2003, yet he is still in the headlines. In December 2025 his 23XI Racing team, which he co-owns, settled its antitrust case against NASCAR, a long legal fight that ended with the team's charters in place for the 2026 season.
For basketball fans, though, Jordan will always mean the number 23, the tongue out, the gravity-defying dunks and six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Here is the story of the man many still call the greatest of all time. Shop the Michael Jordan collection as you read.
Michael Jordan Fact File
| Full name | Michael Jeffrey Jordan |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 February 1963 (age 63) |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward |
| Nationality | American |
| Current status | Retired (2003); co-owner of 23XI Racing |
| Shirt number | 23 (also 45 and, once, 12) |
| Nickname | Air Jordan, His Airness, MJ |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Points | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–93, 1995–98 | Chicago Bulls | 930 | 29,277 | 31.5 |
| 2001–03 | Washington Wizards | 142 | 3,015 | 21.2 |
| NBA career | 1,072 | 32,292 | 30.1 | |
Figures are NBA regular-season games and points. PPG is points per game; his career average of 30.1 is the highest in NBA history.
Early Years: Carolina Blue
Jordan made his name at the University of North Carolina, and as a freshman he hit the jump shot that won the 1982 NCAA title game against Georgetown. The Bulls took him with the third pick of the 1984 draft, and that summer he won Olympic gold in Los Angeles. He was an instant star in Chicago, scoring freely and flying higher than anyone had seen.
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The Breakthrough: The Shot and the First Three-Peat
In 1989 Jordan produced "The Shot", a buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo that knocked Cleveland out of the play-offs. Two years later the Bulls finally won it all, and they did so again in 1992 and 1993. In between he won a second Olympic gold with the 1992 Dream Team. Then, in October 1993, he shocked everyone by retiring and spent 1994 playing minor-league baseball for the Birmingham Barons.
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The Peak: The Second Three-Peat
Jordan returned in 1995, first wearing 45, and led the Bulls to three more titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The 1997 Finals brought the "Flu Game", when he scored 38 points in a 90–88 win in Game 5. His last shot for Chicago, a jumper over Bryon Russell with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals, sealed a sixth championship.
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Later Career: Washington
After retiring again in January 1999, Jordan came back one final time with the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003, averaging more than 20 points a game in his late thirties. He later became majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, selling that stake in 2023.
Honours
Team
- NBA champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- NCAA champion: 1982
- Olympic gold: 1984, 1992
Individual
- NBA MVP: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
- NBA Finals MVP: six times
- Ten scoring titles (a record)
- 14 All-Star selections
- Defensive Player of the Year: 1988
- Naismith Hall of Fame: 2009 (and 2010 with the Dream Team)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2016
Away From the Game
Jordan's partnership with Nike, which began in 1984, grew into Jordan Brand. He marked his 60th birthday in 2023 with a $10 million donation to Make-A-Wish, and today co-owns the NASCAR team 23XI Racing.
FAQs
How old is Michael Jordan?
Michael Jordan is 63. He was born on 17 February 1963.
Where was Michael Jordan born?
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in North Carolina.
How tall is Michael Jordan?
Jordan is 6 ft 6 in, or about 1.98 metres.
What teams did Michael Jordan play for?
He played college basketball for North Carolina, then in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. He also played minor-league baseball for the Birmingham Barons in 1994.
How many championships did Michael Jordan win?
Jordan won six NBA championships with the Bulls and was Finals MVP every time.
What was "The Shot"?
"The Shot" was Jordan's buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo in 1989 that won the Bulls their play-off series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shop the Michael Jordan Collection
From Bulls red to Wizards blue, there is a Jordan design for every fan.
See the full Michael Jordan collection, browse the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards ranges, explore our basketball collection, or create your own custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Pelé: The King of Football and His Three World Cups and Diego Maradona: The Genius, the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century.
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