The character arc of Michael Jordan
Born 17 February 1963 in Brooklyn, raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. Between then and now sit a name left off the varsity list at fifteen, a title-winning shot in college, six championships across two three-peats, the murder of his father at the height of it all, a walk away to play baseball, and a two word return: I am back. The line below draws the story so far, in order.
Tap the line to pluck it. Hover or tap any mark for its card. Drawn from the public record of his life; the sources are at the foot of the page.
Who is Michael Jordan?
Cut, and he made it the whole point.
The story people tell is that he was cut from his high school team. What actually happened is that as a sophomore, at about five foot ten, he was left off the varsity list and placed on junior varsity, and he has said he kept the memory close and used the snub as fuel for years. Two years later he hit the shot that won North Carolina the national championship, as a freshman, and the fuel never really ran out.
He built the most decorated career the sport has known, six titles with the Chicago Bulls, but the line does not run straight up. The Detroit Pistons beat him and beat him before he broke through in 1991. In July 1993, weeks after a third championship, his father James was murdered, and Jordan walked away from basketball to play minor league baseball, a decision people mocked and he made in grief. He came back eighteen months later with a two word fax to the world: I am back, and won three more titles.
The mindset he actually preaches, in his own words rather than an advertising script, is simple: he can accept failing, because everyone fails at something, but he cannot accept not trying. His line is worth reading because the thing that was supposed to end it, the name left off the list, is the thing he says started it.
The moments
Michael Jordan's timeline.
The 1970s
Left off the varsity list
Setback, and it changed his direction. A sophomore at about five foot ten, placed on junior varsity. He said he kept it close for years.
The 1980s
The title-winning college shot
Milestone, and it changed his direction. A freshman, with the shot that won the national title and put his name on the map.
Drafted third by the Bulls
Milestone. Two teams passed on him. Both spent decades being asked about it.
The 1990s
Beaten again by the Pistons
Setback, and it changed his direction. A third year running that Detroit ended his season. He went home and rebuilt his body and his game.
Won his first championship
Milestone, and it changed his direction. Seven seasons in. He wept holding the trophy, and then won it twice more.
His father was murdered
Setback, and it changed everything. Weeks after a third title. His father had been the steady voice behind the whole climb.
Grieve away, or keep playing
Crossroads, decided.
The paths laid out: step away for baseball, taken, or play through the grief. He came back eighteen months later with a two word fax: I am back, and won three more titles.
Walked away for baseball
Setback, and it changed his direction. He left the game at his peak, in grief, to chase his late father's dream of baseball.
A season in the minors
Everyday. A .202 average in double A ball, riding buses, learning to fail in public at something new.
I am back
Milestone, and it changed his direction. A fax of two words ended the retirement. The second three-peat was ahead.
The flu game
Milestone. Barely able to stand, he scored thirty eight and was carried off. The image outlived the score.
The last shot
Milestone, and it changed everything. A sixth title on a final jumper, and, for a while, the perfect ending.
The 2010s
Bought the team
Milestone. The first former player to become majority owner of an NBA team, and later a billionaire from it.
The line reaches today still adding to itself, which is why it is drawn now rather than at the end. What it has set moving is already everywhere: the players who grew up wanting to be like him, and every person who was left off a list and decided to make that the beginning.
Your turn
Every story draws a unique line.
His is six decades in and still building. Yours is already further along than you think, and drawing it takes about three minutes.
Sources
- Roland Lazenby, Michael Jordan: The Life, 2014.
- The NBA Finals records, 1991 to 1998.
- The NCAA championship record, 29 March 1982.
- The NBA draft record, 19 June 1984.
- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.