Jordan, Michael

Jordan, Michael (Jeffrey)

(1963– ) basketball player; born in New York City. He played for the University of North Carolina (1982–84) and in 1982 led them to a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championship. In a National Basketball Association (NBA) career that began in 1985, he became one of basketball's most exciting players as a guard for the Chicago Bulls. In 1991 he led the Bulls to a NBA championship and was the league Most Valuable Player. He played for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and for the "dream team" of the 1992 Olympics, taking the gold medal both times. His basketball fame won him numerous commercial endorsements throughout the world. Jordan shocked the basketball world by retiring from the game in 1993, after which he pursued a professional baseball career.