Included in this blog article are various statistics from each of those seasons, his achievements in that realm, and the roles he occupied during each period. We will guide you through Michael’s entire basketball journey in a step-by-step manner within this blog post.
On the international platform, solely MJ possessed the ability to elevate the NBA and the entire sport of basketball. Several argue that Michael Jordan is among the most exceptional basketball athletes to have ever competed, and he also happens to be one of the most polarizing figures in the world of sports. A question lacking intelligence, isn’t it?
The Early Days of MJ
Michael made his debut as a freshman at UNC, leading the scoring in the season with an average of 17 points per game. After receiving his high school diploma in 1981, he made the decision to play college basketball at the University of North Carolina. He eventually guided his high school squad to a state title in basketball. Michael was drafted into the NBA before.
UNC, despite losing twice in national finals, failed to secure an NCAA Championship. Additionally, Michael Jordan, who also experienced another defeat in 1986, garnered several accolades, including the College Player of the Year awards in 1984.
Michael, who excelled in cultural geography, joined the Chicago Bulls as their third overall pick after successfully completing his university studies with distinction!
Into The NBA
From 2001 to 2003, he served as a small forward for the Washington Wizards before resuming his career in Baseball with the Birmingham Barons, where he spent two seasons. From 2003 to 2003, 1994-1998, and 1984-1993, he occupied the positions of shooting guard and small forward for the Chicago Bulls.
Throughout his illustrious career, Michael received many awards, including fourteen All-Star appearances, three defensive player of the year awards, ten scoring titles, five regular-season MVPs (including one All-Star game MVP), and six MVP awards in total.
Michael Jordan | The Shooting Guard (SG)
Michael was an incredible scorer during his time in the NBA. He is currently second all-time behind Magic Johnson in Finals MVP awards, of which he has ten! He also has six MVP awards and played as a shooting guard, which was his main position.
Michael had the incredible ability to shoot accurately from anywhere on the court, regardless of the defenders’ location or the distance from his target.
During Michael’s time at SG, he consistently achieved an average of 32 points per game (PPG) with a remarkable true shooting percentage of 57%
In the 1986-1987 season, which was considered Jordan’s most exceptional season, he played for the Chicago Bulls as a Shooting Guard for a total of nine seasons. Throughout each season, he consistently averaged over 30 points per game, with five seasons surpassing an impressive 34+ points per game.
During this time, Michael holds a number of records for shooting guard. He also won two defensive trophies and three scoring championships for the year’s players.
Michael Jordan | The Point Guard (PG)
In the 1988-89 season, MJ was shifted to the point guard role. And indeed, he exceeded expectations.
On March 8, 1989, the Bulls finished the season with a worse record, ending up at a pace of 34-24. The Celtics, without Larry Bird, lost to the Bulls on the road 104-95. Similarly, the Bulls, without Jordan, lost to the Celtics.
Jordan, the six-time NBA champion, felt frustrated because he didn’t receive the help he needed at the end of the court. As the focal point of the offense, Jordan always kept in touch with his head coach Doug Collins. The next day, Jordan had a two-hour meeting with Collins to discuss his decision to move to a position that would better suit his fitness and embrace the challenges it would bring.
In opposition to the Pacers, he accumulated 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists within a mere 30 minutes during a triumphant 122-90 victory at home. A mere 48 hours later, he showcased his exceptional passing skills by delivering 15 assists in his debut game, propelling the Bulls to a convincing 105-88 win on their home court. Jordan thrived in his newfound position as the Bulls’ primary playmaker.
Throughout 24 games, Jordan maintained an average of 30.4 points, 10.7 assists, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.4 steals in 39.8 minutes. He persisted in his role as a point guard until the conclusion of the season.
On April 7, 1989, during a home game against the Pistons, Jordan experienced his sole instance of failing to achieve a triple-double in a 114-112 overtime defeat. Nevertheless, he concluded the game with an impressive stat line of 40 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds. Throughout the period between March 24 and April 14, Jordan managed to secure a triple-double in 10 out of the 11 games, with a remarkable streak of seven consecutive triple-doubles.
Michael Jordan | The Small Forward (SF)
Michael Jordan exclusively played for the Washington Wizards when he made his comeback.
To become a part of the active roster, Jordan declared his resignation as the basketball operations president of the team. This specific date, September 25, 2001, is not memorable for numerous supporters of Michael Jordan, who was 38 years old at that time.
Unfortunately, Jordan’s second comeback didn’t go nearly as well as his original three-peat with the Bulls, which included winning 37 games in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons in the playoffs.
During his first season with the Wizards, Jordan averaged 22.9 points per game. He also had 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. However, his shooting efficiency on the field dropped to 41.6 percent compared to his prime years. Despite this, he was still the top scorer on a team that lacked any sort of offensive firepower, except for Richard Hamilton, who was a young player.
Jordan, a 40-year-old, slowly descended down the field with a body that was breaking. In the previous season, he took fewer shots than the season before but hit them at a much better rate. In his final NBA season, 2002-03, Jordan played all 82 games and averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Conclusion
We could all agree that Michael Jordan could play any position on the court and dominate them all. It is not limited to playing basketball in a specific position.
During the early years of Michael’s career, he often played as a small forward for the Washington Wizards, but as time went on, he transitioned to playing as a point guard and averaged more points per game.
Jordan, the best basketball player on the court, will be remembered for his incredible skillset throughout every single part of the basketball court. He is truly a one-of-a-kind basketball player.