Retired Jersey Number #23 Michael Jordan

Lore & Background

Jordan played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels, winning a national championship in 1982. He was selected by the Bulls with the third overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft. He won his first NBA title in 1991 and followed with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a three-peat. After a brief retirement to play Minor League Baseball, he returned in 1995 and led the Bulls to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. He retired again in 1999, then returned for two seasons with the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed with a low frequency, illuminating the polished hardwood floor where legends had once danced. In the rafters above center court, jersey number 23 hung suspended in silence, its red fabric catching the beam of a spotlight. It was no longer worn by the man who could fly; instead, it watched over the new generation below. A young fan stood courtside, looking up with wide eyes, tracing the outline of the retired number as if trying to summon the ghost of the greatest scorer in history.

Reader's Guide

Jordan's jersey number 23 was adopted during his senior year of high school.

Did You Know?

• Jordan was named the 20th century's greatest North American athlete by ESPN in 1999.
• He holds the NBA records for career regular season scoring average (30.1 ppg) and career playoff scoring average (33.4 ppg).
• Jordan was twice inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: in 2009 for his individual career and in 2010 as part of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team.
• The NBA Most Valuable Player Award trophy is named in his honor.