undefined
 |
For Michael Jordan, it was a sweet 16 years in the basketball spotlight, beginning in North Carolina and ending January 13, 1999 in Chicago, where he announced his retirement. Feb. 17, 1963 Jordan is born in Brooklyn, NY. March 1982 In his freshman year at North Carolina, Jordan hits the game-winning jump shot to give the Tar Heels a victory over Georgetown in N.C.A.A. championship game. It is North Carolina's first national championship under coach Dean Smith. June 1984 The Bulls make Jordan the No. 3 pick in that year's N.B.A. draft. Hakeem Olajuwan (Houston) and Sam Bowie (Portland) are taken ahead of Jordan. Oct. 26, 1984 Jordan scores 16 points in his first N.B.A. game, a 109-83 victory over Washington. April 1985 Jordan wins the N.B.A. Rookie of the Year award. April 20, 1986 Jordan scores 63 points in Boston Garden against the Celtics, a record for a playoff game. The Bulls lose, 135-131. |
 |
June 1988 Jordan wins his first most valuable player award.
May 7, 1989 Jordan's jumper from the key at the buzzer gives Chicago a 101-100 victory over Cleveland to win a five-game playoff series - a performance still referred to as the Shot in Cleveland. May 19, 1989 Jordan's Bulls knock off the Knicks in the playoffs for the first of five times in his career. The Bullsadvance to the Eastern Conference finals before losing to Detroit. June 12, 1991 The Bulls defeat the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson in five games for their first N.B.A. championship. June 14, 1992 Trailing by 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter of the title-clinching game, the Bulls prevail with a 97-93 victory over Portland to repeat as champions. June 1993 The Bulls defeat Phoenix, 99-98, in Game 6 of the finals for their third consecutive championship. |
 |
October 6, 1993 In a move as stunning as those on the court, Jordan retires from basketball before the 1993-94 season begins.
Feb. 7, 1994 Defying all the doubters, Jordan signs a minor league baseball contract and is invited to spring training with the Chicago White Sox. Sept. 1994 Jordan finishes his first and only season in the minor leagues with a .202 average in Class AA ball, with 51 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases. He can run, but ut doesn't appear he can hit. November 1, 1994 The Bulls retire Jordan's No. 23 jersey in a ceremony at United Center. March 10, 1995 With major league players still on strike, Jordan announces his retirement from baseball. March 19, 1995 Jordan, as No. 45, makes his return to the Bulls, scoring 19 points in 103-96 overtime loss to Indiana. He later returned to No. 23 in the playoffs against the Magic. March 30, 1995 Jordan underlines his return by scoring 55 points in a 113-111 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. |
 |
April 1996 Jordan leads the Bulls to a 72-10 regular-season mark, breaking the previous N.B.A. record of 69-13 set by the Lakers in 1972-73. May 1996 Jordan beats the Knicks in the playoffs for the fifth and final time. This time, the victory is by 4 games to 1 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. June 1996 The Bulls win their fourth N.B.A. title, over Seattle. June 1997 The Bulls win their fifth N.B.A. title, over Utah. The key contest is Game 5, when Jordan, sick with a fever, rallies the Bulls to a 90-88 victory at Utah. Dec. 30, 1997 Jordan scores in double figures for the 788th consecutive game, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's N.B.A. mark. June 14, 1998 With the Bulls trailing the Jazz by a point, Jordan hits the final shot of his career, a game-winning jumper with 5.2 seconds remaining as Chicago wins its sixth N.B.A. title, in six games. Jan. 13, 1999 Jordan announces his retirement in Chicago. |
