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Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest player of all time to play the game of basketball. Much of his success was attributed to his failures, Jordan has always said failing is what made him try harder and become a competitor while in the process made him the player that he was in the NBA.
We all know the story Jordan tried out for his high school basketball team in Wilmington North Carolina as a skinny 5’11 Sophmore only to get cut. Then before the summer of his Junior year, he had a growth spurt and grew to 6’4. You could say this is where it all started the path to greatness but not quite.
How Jordan Was Recruited
Jordan during his high school was starting to hold his own his Junior year, he was an athletic 6’4 averaging over 25 points a game. He was being looked at by the North Carolina Asst coach at the time Roy Williams because the athletic director from the school district told him to come and see this Jordan kid he something special.
Roy Williams came and watch Jordan’s game and didn’t think he was anything special. Jordan was shooting long-range Jumpers and Roy could see he was extremely athletic.
The University of North Carolina had a summer I.D. camp with all potential highschool players and prospects and invited Michael but didn’t think he would be making the team until the players started to scrimmaged.
Players were rotating for 2o minutes in groups between gyms on the University Campus. When Roy saw Jordan play for those 20 mins he thought he saw something special. He told Jordan to stay back and play again because he was amazed at how good Jordan was. Jordan played for another 20 and surprised Roy even more.
By the end of the camp, Roy Williams said that Michael Jordan was the best High School player he had ever seen. Michael Jordan wanted to stay close to home, so it was an easy decision for both sides. But when did Michael become the Jordan we all know in basketball?
North Carolina 1981-82 Season
Michael Jordan earned a full-ride scholarship at the University of North Carolina playing under Head Coach Dean Smith, becoming only the fourth freshman ever to be in the starting lineup. Some other notable players on that 1981 team were future Lakers star James Worthy and Sam Perkins both had very good careers in the NBA. they were the known stars on UNC. but slowly that was about change for Jordan.
Jordan’s Freshman year at UNC was nothing short of amazing, this is where Mike becomes Michael Jordan:
- 1982 – Receiving ACC Rookie Of The Year
- 1982 – All-ACC Tournament – 1st Team
- 1982 – NCAA All-Tournament Team.
During his Freshman year, Michael Jordan averaged 13.5 pts and 4 rebs a game while shooting a 53.4% from the field helping UNC to an impressive32-2 record for the year.
The Defining moment when Jordan greatness began, came in the Championship game during the NCAA Tournament. UNC played the Georgetown Hoyas which was lead by Patrick Ewing. Ewing a dominant big man was a lottery pick in the NBA going first overall in the 1985 draft.
The Championship game was a nail bitter with no team leading by more than a couple baskets, with 15 lead changes in the game, everyone knew this game was going down to the final minute. The Hoyas were leading the Tarheels 62-61 with around 30 seconds left on the clock in the second half.
Smith had called a timeout, to draw up a play that had Jordan shooting the last shot. Smith thought they were going to heavily guard Sam Perkins and James Worthy which would leave Michael open. With 15 seconds on the clock, Jordan follows through on the play by his coach and knocks down the jumper 63 to 62 for the Tarheels. North Carolina ends up winning the championship game. Michael averaged 17 pts and 7 rebs a game for the tournament and was named to the All-Final Four Team.
Dean Smith saw something in Jordan, he drew up a brilliant play and put everything on the line for this rookie and Michael followed through. Michael Jordan has gone on record to state that after making that shot things changed for him, it was a major turning point in his game.
North Carolina 1982-83 Season
With James Worthy leaving for the NBA, Jordan lead UNC in scoring during his sophomore year, with Same Perkins still on the team, UNC sported a 28- 8 record. During the season Jordan had a career-high 39 points against Georgia leading UNC to a victory. Jordan was showcasing his athleticism with highlight plays and even tying the single-game record of 6 in one game for a Carolina player.
The Tarheels won their Conference Championship but only made it to the elite 8 on the road to the National Championship, losing to Georgia in the East Regional Final Jordan put up 26 points in a losing cause. He was named to the 1983 East Regional Team and the Second-Team All-ACC Tournament Team.
Jordan averaged 20 points through all 36 games and also received 1983 National Player of the Year honors, along with USA Basketball Athlete of the Year. If you are wondering why Jordan didn’t enter the draft after this year, remember things were different back then players were playing for at least 3 or 4 seasons before entering the draft. Plus you are increasing the likelihood of being a higher pick and signing for more money as generally every year in college your numbers get better.
North Carolina 1983/84 Season
Playing with one of the best North Carolina teams in the 1983-84 season with 6 future NBA stars ( Sam Perkins, Kenny Smith, Brad Daugherty, Joe Wolf, and Dave Popson). Jordan lead UNC in scoring with 19.6 and 5 rebs, numbers were around the same from the previous year, but with the amount of studs on the team, that is impressive.
Unfortunately, things didn’t look as good on the court as they did on paper. UNC went undefeated in ACC play with a 14-0 record only to lose in the ACC tournament semi-final. Things didn’t get better in the National Tournament as Jordan and the Tarheels were out in the sweet sixteen.
Jordan won the ACC Player Of The Year, another Consensus first-team All American and USA Basketball Athlete of the Year making it two years in a row.
During his 3 seasons with the Tar Heels Jordan put up almost 18 ppg and 5 rebs shooting a 54% from the field. With an overall record of 88 wins and 13 losses with UNC.
Jordan declared for the NBA Draft in 1984, Shortly After winning the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year award. Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 3rd overall pick, and the rest is history.