Black History Month: Air Jordan

His Airness, MJ, Air Jordan, many nicknames for player known simply as “Jordan”. Many players want to be Jordan and the players who used to play him wanted to beat him.

When Jordan retired for the third and final time as a Washington Wizard in 2003, an era in the NBA ended. The era of Jordan was over (while coincidentally a new one began). When Jordan retired, he finished with career averages of 30.1 Points, 5.3 Assists, 6.2 Rebounds and, 0.8 Blocks per game over 15 seasons in the NBA playing between the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. Jordan was a 6 time NBA Champion winning the title from 1991-1993, and again winning it from 1996-1998. He was the Finals MVP every year he won it. He was also a 5 time NBA MVP, winning it in, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998. And he was on the All-NBA first team a total of 10 times, earning the selection from 1987–1993, and from 1996–1998.

Before winning his first championship, the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls were an average team at best, making the playoffs but always ended up being eliminated in the first round, either by the juggernaut Boston Celtics led by Larry Bird, or the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons led by Isiah Thomas. This continued until 1990, where the rise of Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant took place. After MJ won his second MVP award, The Bulls were heading fast into the playoffs for the first time ever, winning their division. The Bulls did what a bull does best, and they went full speed to the playoffs, beating the Ewing led New York Knicks in three, and the Charles Barkley led Philadelphia 76ers in 5. They once again came face to face with the “Bad Boy” Pistons again, and in dominating fashion, they end up beating the Pistons in a sweep, before going on to face the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers who had, Magic Johnson,  James Worthy, Vlade Divac, and Byron Scott. The Bulls shockingly beat the Lakers 4-1, and unknowingly establish one of the most iconic American sports franchise.