His leaping ability, demonstrated by slam dunks from the free throw line, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness".

One of the NBA's greatest dynasties, the Jordan-led Bulls won six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats. All six of their championship teams featured Jordan along with fellow Hall of Famer Scottie Pippin and coach Phil Jackson.

Although much more than just a scorer, it was Michael's ability to put the ball in the hoop that made him such a feared player. He holds the record for regular season scoring average with a mammoth 30.12 PPG, as well as the playoff record with an astonishing 33.45 PPG.

Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five league MVP Awards, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, ten scoring titles, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections, three All-Star Game MVP Awards, three steals titles, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Not only was Michael Jordan the first player in NBA history to lead the league both in scoring and steals in the same season, but he did it three times: 1987-88, 1989-90, and 1992-93.

On November 1, 1994, his number 23 was retired by the Bulls in a ceremony that included the erection of a permanent sculpture known as The Spirit outside the new United Center.

Michael Jordan developed a habit of sticking his tongue out as he drove in for a basket. Some saw it as an expression of "in-your-face" contempt. Others saw it as a symbol of pure, childish abandon. Jordan says he inherited the habit from his father, who used to stick out his tongue while repairing the family car. He later adopted it as his own signature, displaying his tongue when absorbed in his own special work.

Jordan's father was murdered on July 23, 1993, at a highway rest area in Lumberton, North Carolina, by two teenagers who carjacked his luxury Lexus bearing the license plate "UNC 0023". His body was dumped in a South Carolina swamp and was not discovered until August 3. The assailants were traced from calls that they made on James Jordan's cell phone. The two criminals were caught, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life in prison.

On October 6, 1993, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball, then further surprised the sports world by signing a Minor League Baseball contract. He later stated this decision was made to pursue the dream of his late father, who had always envisioned his son as a Major League Baseball player. In 1994, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, batting .202 with three home runs, 51 runs batted in, and 30 stolen bases.

In the live-action/animated sports comedy film Space Jam, Michael Jordan is enlisted by Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang to help them win a basketball match against a group of aliens who have stolen the talents of NBA players Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues.