Jordans return with the Wizards was often frustrating, as he was unable to carry the team to the 2002 or 2003 playoffs. Kwame Brown, right in October 2002, was the top pick in the 2001 draft but didnt help much.
Jordan now owns the Bobcats and pays close attention to young stars such as Kemba Walker, who he works out with before drafting in June 2011.
Jordan starred in Space Jam in 1996 with Bill Murray and Bugs Bunny. The movie grossed more than $230 million worldwide and helped solidify Jordans popularity during his first comeback, with the Bulls.
Jordan showed some emotion during his Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech in September 2009, though he also offended some with his curt comments.
Watching his Bobcats hasnt always been the easiest chore for Jordan, as the team that he took majority ownership of in 2010 has had the NBAs worst record the past two seasons.
Jordans greatest single-game regret might be UNCs loss to Indiana in the 1984 NCAA tournament. The Tar Heels were the top-ranked team in the country, boasting a 28-2 record entering the Sweet 16 game. But Jordan, the consensus National Player of the Year, picked up a few early fouls and never found a rhythm, finishing with 13 points in his final college game. The whole thing swung on those foul calls, though, as Dean Smith sat Jordan for a big chunk of the first half. USA TODAY Sports Mike Lopresti wrote about the game in 2009, with Jordan telling him, I thought we were the best team in the country, but in one game, that can be swept away from you. Thats especially true when the referees arent playing by the Jordan rules.
Jordan, shown March 2003, played two seasons for the Wizards and averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game.
Jordan loves golf and plays in all sorts events, such as this pro-am with Tiger Woods in May 2007.
Jordans final shot with the Bulls, a deaway over the Jazzs Byron Russell to seal the 1998 Finals victory, is one of the most memorable in NBA history.
After defeating the Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals, Jordan holds up six fingers for the six NBA Championships the Bulls won during his career.
Jordan returned to the NBA after three seasons away in 2001-02 with the Wizards, who he had an ownership stake in. He announced his plan to return Jan. 19, 2000.
Jordan handles the ball during the 1996 All-Star Game. Jordan was named to 14 All-Star teams over the course of his career.
Perhaps the most incredible part of Jordans six-championship run with the Bulls was the teams complete lack of help at the games premier position. Had Jordan not been around, the 1990s would have been the era of the center, with Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and young Shaquille ONeal leading a stacked group. The Bulls, meanwhile, were starting Bill Cartwright and Luc Longley at the pivot for their championship seasons. Imagine Dikembe Mutombo or Alonzo Mourning, second-tier centers at the time, manning the paint on those teams? Or at least, it would have been decent enough to give him some big-man help in his final playing years, with the Washington Wizards.
Jordan joined friends and superstars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson as the ces of the Dream Team in 1992.
Jordan the college standout: A friendlier ref
Chicagos Michael Jordan celebrates with coach Phil Jackson after winning a fifth NBA Championship by defeating the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals.
PHOTOS: Michael Jordan through the years
Jordan the teenager: An earlier growth spurt
The greatest of all time, they call him. Michael Jordan exemplified the characteristics we look for in our NBA superstars when he was with the Chicago Bulls, and he shows that fire even now as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Here, we look through his career, one photo at a time.
HES TRYING: To get back into playing shape
Jeffrey, left, and Marcus Jordan, Michaels sons shown in January 2007 at Loyola Academy in Chicago, played college basketball at South Florida.
Jordan won six titles with coach Phil Jackson and the Bulls, and he took home Finals MVP honors all six times.
Weve all heard the story of how Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore. The primary reason was because he was short, a 5-10 scoring guard. Jordan grew to be 6-6 by the time he hit the University of North Carolina, and he would have been the star of the 1978-79 Laney (Wilmington, N.C.) boys basketball team had he been even close to that tall at age 15. The downside to this gift, of course, is Jordan used the snub to motivate him the rest of his life. But a hyper-competitive guy would find something else to fuel him.
BEST EVER? We rank dunk contests greatest
But since we dont have time machines, maybe the easiest thing to do would be to get the guy some decent clothes. The man could use them.
Jordan, shown here in November 1983, was a two-time all-American and national player of the year in 1983-84.
Jordan announced his retirement from basketball on Oct. 6, 1993, shortly after his ther passed away. Jordan played minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox organization from 1994-95.
Jordan, who now is majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats and won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s (do we really need to remind you of that?), might not want for much these days,new york asian escorts but we figured we could help in a unique way. First, you might need a time machine.
Jordan the executive: A draft expert
Jordan the owner: A younger version of himself
Jordans 1993 McDonalds commercial with Larry Bird was voted the greatest Super Bowl ad ever by USA TODAYs Ad Meter poll.
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Jordan, shown May 1998, is the NBAs all-time leader in averaging 30.1 points per game and was difficult to guard even for elite defenders such as the Hornets Bobby Phills.
In his seventh season in the NBA, Michael Jordan wins his first NBA title with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan, who average 31.2 points during the four game series, was named the NBA Finals MVP.
Michael Jordan turns 50 on Sunday, so friends, relatives and obsessive ns are stuck asking themselves that question. Jordan seemingly has it all: money, me, a dream job as NBA team owner and the respect of everyone in his world.
Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in the Bullss 117-113 win against the Cavaliers in 1993.
Jordan was in charge when the Wizards drafted Kwame Brown. Jordan was in charge when the Bobcats drafted Adam Morrison. These are the gaffes we remember, Birthday Gifts but they arent the only ones. Do you recall the stellar careers of Jared Jeffries, the Indiana standout picked 11th in 2002 by the Wizards, or Alexis Ajinca, taken 20th overall by the Bobcats in 2008? Didnt think so.
What do you get the greatest ever?
Jordan the superstar: A good center
The Jordan Brand Classic, sponsored by Nikes Jordan-based offshoot, brings together the best high school players in the country. Here, Jordan announces in February 2005 that the game will move to Madison Square Garden, its permanent home.
Jordan edged Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks to win the 1988 slam dunk contest, arguably the best ever, during All-Star weekend in Chicago. Jordan also won the 1987 contest.
Jordans teammates with the Bulls, shown here May 1998, had varied backgrounds but helped him win titles.
Here we go, taking a trip through Jordans basketball past to figure out what to get him at pivotal points in his life:
Jordans status as a pitchman for Gatorade, Nike, McDonalds and more was unparalleled. Here, he does a 2003 spot for Gatorade.
Jordan was emulated by most of the NBAs best players now when they were growing up, but none has approached his legacy to the level of the Lakers Kobe Bryant, who ced up against Jordan here in November 2002.
The Bobcats are bad. Last year, they were historically bad, posting the worst winning percentage in NBA history. This year, its more the normal kind of awful, as they are saddled with the worst record in the NBA. Part of the problem is the lack of a go-to scorer. Jordan was a pretty good scorer, finishing his career with the highest points per game average in NBA history. Part of the problem is a lack of defense. Jordan was Defensive Player of the Year and made the All-Defensive first team nine times. So yeah, the Bobcats would do well with Michael Jordan playing alongside Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Fighting flu-likeBirthday Gifts Michael Jordan turns 50 Five birthday gift suggestions symptoms, Michael Jordan hugs teammate Scottie Pippin during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.
Jordan, Matt Doherty, center, and Sam Perkins, shown in October 1982, played three seasons together for North Carolina coach Dean Smith, right front. They helped James Worthy and company win the 1982 championship.
Adi Joseph spent nearly three years as a copy editor, first for The Des Moines Register, then USA TODAY Sports, before taking over as NBA digital producer.
Ex-wife Juanita Jordan, shown with Jordan in Jan. 1999, received what was then the largest settlement in a celebrity divorce ever in their 2006 split.
