Michael Jordan: The Greatest Player in NBA History (part 1)

No other figure in sport has elevated his sport as significantly as Jordan.

The name Michael Jordan can invoke many feelings when heard. Some may think of the pricey shoes which make up 59 percent of all basketball shoe sales. Others may think of billionaire who brilliantly combined his physical, mental and social skills with smart decision making. Regardless, Jordan is more of a symbol than a human. For that reason alone, he has been seen as the greatest basketball player ever to have lived. Everything Jordon does makes U.S gambling news and sports news.

• Jordan didn’t make the Varsity basketball team his second year since he too short
• Jordan averaged a triple-double his last year of high school
• Bird said he saw Jordan as “God in the form of a basketball player”

ESPN named Jordan the “greatest North American athlete of the 20th century.” Associated Press listed Jordan, second to Babe Ruth, as the “athlete of the century.” The two-time Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer has marketed everything from underwear to hotdogs. Jordan holds the NBA record for the highest regular season scoring average at 30.1 points per game as well as the highest career playoff scoring average at 33.45 points per game.

Jordan’s journey from Brooklyn, New York to Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1963 as the fourth child of five children by Deloris and James Jordan Sr. Deloris worked in banking while James was an equipment supervisor. While Jordan was a few years old, the family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. During his childhood, Jordan played football, baseball and basketball. The latter of which he had the least talent in, would yield the greatest future or young Jordan.

Although he played all three sports when he entered Emsley A. Laney High School, Jordan failed to make the Varsity basketball team his second year because he was too short. As an alternative, Jordan became a star on the junior varsity team “pulling off” impressive 40-point games. Making his first major gamble outside U.S gambling laws, Jordan had a plan.

During the summer, Michael took on a potentially dangerous training regimen in order to get onto the varsity team in the fall. Fortunately, this training and the addition of 10 cm of height allowed Jordan to reach his goal. In two seasons of varsity basketball, Jordan averaged 20 points a game and ended with a triple double average his final year. After his selection to the McDonald’s All-American Team, numerous Universities were knocking at Jordan’s door.

In an effort by North Carolina colleges to keep him playing within the state, Jordan’s abilities were purposefully underrated. After being courted by schools like Duke, South Carolina and Syracuse, Jordan finally selected the University of North Carolina. Once at Chapel Hill, Jordan was put into Coach Dean Smith’s program where he would take on the role of a valuable team player. Jordan was still able to shine as he was named Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year.

From college to the pros “a star is born”

Averaging 13.4 points per game with a 54 percent field goal percentage, Jordan was instrumental in winning the 1982 NCAA Championship against Georgetown University and their NBA bound superstar Patrick Ewing. In three years time, Jordan averaged 17 points and five rebounds per game. Jordan decided to enter the NBA draft a year prior to his graduation.

Although his being third pick under Hakeem Olajuwon and Same Bowie surprises most people today, the team with the first selection needed a center and the second team had Clyde Drexler who was similar to Jordan. The Chicago Bulls drafted Jordan and made him an instrumental part of their team. Averaging at 28 points per game at 51 percent shooting, Jordan became a popular among fans in Chicago and other cities as well.

Jordan’s early popularity “ruffled feathers” as Isaiah Thomas led several veteran players to protest Jordan’s attention and soon a “freeze-out” was instilled on Jordan in which his teammates wouldn’t pass him the ball. Jordan still won Rookie of the Year titles and was voted an All-Star. Unfortunately, Jordan broke his foot during his second season forcing him to miss 64 games. Jordan was able to recover in time to debut his Nike “Air Jordan” shoes and the playoffs.

During the Eastern Conference Finals against Larry Bird and his Boston Celtics, Jordan scored a record 63 points in Game Two. Although Boston won the series, Bird told the press “he saw God in the form of a basketball player that night.” The next season elevated Jordan more, as he became the only player since Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season averaging 37 points per game making gambling news the world over.