On February 17th, fifty-seven years ago, Michael Jordan was born. We celebrated the birthday of the greatest basketball star in history by remembering his five highlights and collecting the sneakers that helped him reach these historic milestones.
Dunk Contest (1988)
Three decades ago, Jordan shocked the world with his incredible jump in the NBA Math Competition. Equipped with an Air Jordan 3 ‘White Cement’, the player took the impulse from the opposing basket to rise from the free throw area on the other side of the court. A jump of almost five meters that gave him the perfect score.
First Championship in NBA (1991)
“No one can ever take this away from me”, said an excited Michael Jordan, wearing a Jordan 6 ‘Black Infrared’, after his first victory in the NBA Finals with the Chicago Bulls. The team played the Los Angeles Lakers in a series that pitted the two best teams in the league against each other. It was the most expected duel: Michael Jordan on one side, Magic Johnson on the other.
Space Jam (1996)
Warner Bros. recruited Michael Jordan to star in a movie with the funny characters of the Looney Tunes. The film was a success and became a cult symbol for a whole generation that today keeps that film with nostalgia and looks at the Air Jordan 11 that accompanied him in his adventures with different eyes.
Flu Game (1997)
One of Jordan’s greatest achievements came in the 5 game of the NBA Finals in Utah. The player fell ill the night before, with a high fever and as significant weakness that the Bulls medical staff to treat him with intravenous lines to hydrate him. According to some rumors, someone poisoned the pizzas Jordan ordered for dinner. Everything pointed to the player being unable to play, but Michael Jordan played. In a visibly poor state, Jordan led an impressive win for the Bulls. At his feet, the Jordan 12 ‘Flu Game’.
The Last Shot (1998)
In Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz in 1998, wearing Air Jordan 14, Michael Jordan shot one last basket with 5.2 seconds left in the game. That final shot would mark a winning result and the sixth NBA championship for the Chicago Bulls. But not only that: it was also Jordan’s last hoop as a player of the team from Chicago.