Michael Jordan Influence On Society

The game of basketball may be one of the greatest and well-known games in the world today. Thousands of athletes have played the sport at the professional level, each of them contributing to the growth and influence of basketball in their own way. Some influenced the public outside of playing basketball games, while others left fans in awe with their unbelievable talent. One question lies in every basketball fan’s mind, however. Who is the greatest and most successful basketball player in the history of the game? For most, the name that comes to mind when asked the question is Michael Jordan. Jordan grew up in North Carolina, where he also attended college at the University of North Carolina. He grew up to be considered one of, if not the best

As a young athlete, Jordan’s competitive attitude and his hard work ethic provided a bedrock for the legendary player he is considered to be today. As he moved into high school, he began to show more competitiveness and athletic ability. His friends considered him to be one of the best freshman players in his school (Porter 3). His best friend in high school, Harvest Leroy Smith, was taller than Jordan and was also a very skilled basketball player. As sophomores, both of the boys attended a basketball camp run by the varsity coach, Clifton “Pop” Herring. Herring was impressed with how the two played, and decided to invite them to try out for the varsity team. They did, and Smith made the team. Unfortunately, Jordan was cut from the varsity roster and pushed back down to junior varsity. Jordan considered it to be one of the worst days of his teenage years (Porter 4). He was determined to

Michael Jordan was taken third overall in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls as a lottery pick (“Michael Jordan” 791). Once he was in the league, he entertained the fans with his raw talent and athletic ability. Fans from all around the country gathered around to watch him play his incredible games. His scoring numbers were high, and some of his plays left those watching in disbelief. After a successful rookie year, he won the Rookie of the Year Award, just passing another impressive rookie and future legend, Hakeem Olajuwon (“Jordan Top Rookie” A24). Throughout his career, it became expected of Jordan to play exciting basketball every night. This kind of talent led to many exceptional games. An example of one of these historic performances is Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Jordan woke up the morning of the game with flu-like symptoms, and was throwing up the entire day. Despite his illness, Jordan insisted on playing the game. The game was important, and the Bulls needed to win it. Fortunately for them, Jordan played exceptionally well, carrying the team and dropping thirty-eight points. Everything he did on the court seemed to make him more and more exhausted, but he continued to power through, and helped lead them to a crucial win (Roberts B24). This game was later