Article for fans of an NBA Legend–Michael Jordan turns 61: An eternal icon of the NBA in particular and basketball in general

One of the greatest athletes in world history has turned 61. And we would like to look back at the glorious and colorful career of Mr. Michael Jordan through some of the most outstanding photos.

Jordan made the whole world watch his every step and every jump at the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, when Jordan and Dominique Wilkins had an extremely tense duel over each dunk.

And here, he became a cult symbol when he performed the famous dunk: Jordan ran from across the field, accelerated, stepped on the free throw line at a distance of 12 feet, held the ball in his right hand, jumped. Aim straight for the basket and dunk before your feet touch the ground. The free-throw line dunk is one of the most difficult moves to perform, and very few people have ever done it successfully.

Also at the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest, Michael Jordan also performed other famous dunks, including the windmill leaning at a 45-degree angle. He ran from the left sideline, lowered his hands with the ball near his knees, jumped up, tilted his head forward, and returned his left hand so that his right hand could make a dunk. When the dunk succeeded, Jordan’s head grazed the basket net. NBA TV in 2005 considered this one of the 30 most beautiful dunks in history.

The moment Jordan sat on the court at the 1998 NBA Finals, the last final he attended.

Michael Jordan appeared in the NBA in 1984, was selected third in the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, and is still considered the most successful selection in NBA Draft history.

Jordan immediately captivated NBA audiences with his excellent scoring ability. In his first season, 1984-85, Jordan was voted an NBA All-Star, becoming one of the rare players selected as an All-Star in his first season of play.

Michael Jordan also made great changes in culture at that time. Basketball players in the past often wore short shorts and never wore black socks, but MJ pioneered the practice of wearing knee-length shorts and black socks. Today, NBA fashion hasn’t changed at all compared to when Jordan changed it.

Jordan immediately became a public symbol in Chicago, because before Jordan the Chicago Bulls had never reached the NBA finals. Jordan’s appearance changed the history of the Chicago Bulls brand.

Michael Jordan was awarded the NBA All-Star MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. Jordan has received this title 5 times, only less than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 6 times.

Although Jordan is not the tallest player on the field (his position is Shooting Guard), he has many, many ways to score points. Jordan can beat the opponent with a regular lay-up, a reverse lay-up, or even accurate lay-ups to the basket even when fouled by the opponent.

Jordan can do even more than that, he can jump over opponents to perform powerful dunks.

Overcome taller opponents by relying on technique and speed.

At the end of his career, Jordan also developed his playing style into post-up attacks, turning his back to the opponent and the basketball backboard to cover the ball, before turning around to perform a breakthrough move. perform the famous fadeaway jump shot (jump up, one leg stretched forward, leaning back while making the throw).

However, Jordan’s highlight comes from his dunks. MJ can dunk with one or two hands, reverse dunk, or even convert his dunk right in the air into a rebound lay-up.

Jordan’s jumping ability is amazing and he can beat any opponent, tall or short.

Michael Jordan’s talent is undeniable, but that’s why he became the target of his opponents’ siege. Jordan spent his first 7 years without a championship in the NBA until 1991.

To win the championship, Jordan changed from a scorer to a more team-based style of play, more willing to pass the ball if he saw his teammates had a chance.

Michael Jordan is also considered one of the most famous clutch experts in history. He made many important scoring shots late in the game to bring the Bulls victory.

Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA championship was the last. All 6 of Jordan’s championships are tied with coach Phil Jackson (right), the coach with the most NBA championships in history and the person who invented the famous Triangle Offense attack style.

Jordan was a king of the playoffs, defeating the NBA’s greatest opponents of his era, from the Utah Jazz of Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Seattle SuperSonics of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, to to Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers, Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns and Clyde Drexler’s Portland Trail Blazers.

In the picture, Jordan is surrounded by New York Knicks players. The Bulls – Knicks feud was one of the most intense feuds of the 1990s, but the New York Knicks never beat Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

The moment at Game 6, NBA Finals 1998. The Bulls led the Utah Jazz 3-2 after five games, but in game six the Jazz were leading 86-85 with 25 seconds remaining. In a clutch moment, Jordan stole the ball from rival Karl Malone, calmly dribbling the ball toward Utah’s half, which was now fully defensive. Jordan made a crossover shot past Bryon Russell before hitting a jump shot from 20 feet out to give the Bulls an 87-86 lead over the Jazz with five seconds remaining. The shot that gave Jordan the final championship, and that moment is known as “The Last Shot”.

Michael Jordan was still at the University of North Carolina. As a cultural geography major, Jordan received a scholarship to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Jordan led the Tar Heels to the 1982 NCAA championship, the second national championship in college basketball history.

Jordan (right) waits for the ball with Dwayne Washington of Syracuse.

Since his time in college, Jordan has shown his physical strength by performing very good dunks or lay-ups, attacking the basket fiercely.

Michael Jordan’s dormitory card at the University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus.

Michael Jordan in the colors of the US men’s basketball team at the 1992 Olympics. This is the team that gathers the most stars of world basketball in Barcelona, and this is also the first time the United States has sent a basketball team consisting of Professional players go to compete. Jordan previously won the 1984 Olympic Gold medal as a student player.

Along with famous players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing…, Jordan led the US team to the Gold medal after defeating Croatia in the final.

At the end of 1993, tragedy occurred when Mr. James Jordan, Michael’s father, was murdered by two teenagers during a robbery. The death of his father, who caused Jordan to have the habit of sticking his tongue out every time he went to the basket, made MJ decide to retire. He switched to playing baseball in a minor league, because baseball was his father’s wish when he was alive.

Jordan’s time playing baseball lasted just over a year. Jordan then returned in the most special way, one day in early 1995, and the Chicago Bulls office received a fax sent by Jordan, with the following content: “I’m Back! ”.

The baseball experience isn’t just Jordan’s second retirement. Retired in 1998, but Jordan returned in 2001 for the Washington Wizards, the club he also owned.

At the age of 40, Jordan is no longer strong enough to compete with the young generation, but MJ’s post-up attacks are unstoppable, and he still averages 22.9 points/game.

On February 21, 2003, Jordan became the first player 40 years old or older to score 43 points in a match. Michael Jordan in the 2003 season was selected as an NBA All-Star for the last time in his career, and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the highest scoring person in All-Star Game history.

In his final season, Jordan was honored by the entire NBA. He received four minutes of applause from the audience at the old roof of the United Center in Chicago, and his jersey number 23 was commemorated by the Miami Heat, a team for which he never played. Michael Jordan officially ended his career on April 16, 2003, and within 3 minutes after the match ended, teammates, opponents, referees and 21,257 spectators stood up to say goodbye. Bye to MJ.

Not only a famous basketball player, Jordan is also a great symbol of American culture. In 1996, the animated film Space Jam debuted with Jordan as the main actor alongside Looney Tunes. The film was a commercial hit and has a huge influence to this day: Robert Kelly’s song “I Believe I can Fly” – the theme song of Space Jam – is dedicated to Michael Jordan.

In 2009, Michael Jordan entered the American Basketball Hall of Fame.

Retired, but Jordan is still very busy. He is the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, a club playing in the NBA. And Jordan always goes to the gym to teach his players good moves.

Every year, the training camps set up by Jordan are always crowded with players. This is the Bobcats Fantasy Camp training camp held in 2011, with the participation of many professional players and students.

MJ still regularly appears on television. He had a conversation with Oprah Winfrey in 2011.

Jordan with his fiancee Yvette Prieto in Las Vegas.

In his free time, Michael Jordan goes to watch sports matches and attend charity golf tournaments.

The number 23 has become Jordan’s signature number, so much so that his golf club also has the number 23.