‘His Airness’ Jordan
The American won gold medals at the 1984 and 1992 Games
For those growing up in the 80s and 90s, it was the time of the MJs. We swayed to Michael Jackson’s breathtaking moves, were left in awe of Magic Johnson, and leapt with joy to Michael Jordan’s slam dunks.
If the sport of basketball is where it is today, it is all thanks to Michael Jordan. The American made Chicago Bulls an household name across countries and continents. Jordan’s pyrotechnics in the NBA earned him the monikers ‘Air Jordan’ as well as ‘His Airness.’
To quote his contemporary Michael Johnson: “There’s Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us.”
Indeed it was in a career spanning close to two decades with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. The towering shooting guard earned legendary and iconic status during his time with the Bulls, guiding them to NBA titles from 1991 to 1993 and complete a “three-peat.”
After dabbling with baseball for a bit, Jordan returned to where he really belonged — basketball — securing three more NBA titles with the Bulls from 1996 to 1998 as well as thenrecord 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.
Jordan also went on to eclipse Magic Johnson’s record by clinching five NBA MVPs in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1998.
But his achievements were not just restricted to the NBA. Jordan left his indelible mark at the greatest sporting event on earth — the Olympics. He played in two Olympics — 1984 and 1992 — helping the USA win gold in both the editions.
As a college player in 1984, Jordan topped the scoring in a team featuring Patrick Ewing, Sam Perkins, Chris Mullin, Steve Alford and Wayman Tisdale, as the USA won the gold on home soil in Los Angeles.
Jordan also played a pivotal role in the USA winning gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He was part of the ‘Dream Team’ that included the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and David Robinson. Jordan was the only player to start in all eight fixtures and finished second on the team in scoring.
Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin became the only American players to win the Olympic gold as amateurs and professionals. Jordan, who was a two-time inductee to the Basketball Hall of Fame, was the most marketable athlete of his generation. The first billionaire NBA player also starred as himself in the 1996 flick Space Jam.
Jordan has left a lasting legacy on the NBA as well as the Olympics and continues to be associated with the sport even today — as owner of the Charlotte Hornets.
My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength. ” Michael Jordan