They improved again in 2006–2007, with a final of 33 wins and 49 losses. Did Michael Jordan’s involvement have anything to do with that improvement? Possibly — after all, Jordan’s role was to give a final okay to all decisions related to building the franchise.
But throughout the season itself, he did his best to keep a low profile. He didn’t sit courtside at games, for instance, in part because he didn’t want the Bobcats to be seen as a “Michael Jordan” team, as he once put it. After all, he reminded reporters and fans, “I’m not playing.”
There may be another reason he preferred a behind-the-scenes role that season. In late December 2006, he and his wife, Juanita, decided to divorce. The split was amicable, but still, Jordan didn’t want to subject his wife or three children to any more media attention than was absolutely necessary.
Despite this setback in his personal life, he was a strong presence for the Bobcats, attending practices and shootouts. In the 2007 off-season, he faced significant challenges, including hiring a new coach and strengthening the Bobcats’ roster through the draft, trades, and international recruitment. Just how sound his decisions were will be seen when the Bobcats’ fourth season begins in November of 2007.
Before then, Jordan had plenty of other commitments to fulfill. One of those was overseeing the Jordan Brand All-American Classic.
First held in 2002, the Classic has become the premier high school all-star game in the country. The top teenage players are selected for one of two teams; the teams meet for a single game in April. College and professional scouts as well as basketball fans and celebrities come to the games to see the next generation of NBA stars. Past players include LeBron James, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2007, the roster of one team included a familiar last name: Jordan.
Seventeen-year-old Jeffrey Jordan is the oldest of Michael Jordan’s three children. Not surprisingly, he had learned the sport of basketball at an early age. By all accounts, he’s a good player, although so far he’s drawn more attention for who he is rather than for his skills on the court.
“I’m probably a bigger target than anybody out there just because of my last name,” Jeffrey once said, adding that his opponents “go at him a little harder” when they discover who he is.
Prior to the Classic, the media attacked Air Jordan’s heir apparent pretty hard, too. Some people went so far as to claim that Jeffrey had been selected for the Classic because of his father, not his skill. But whatever the case, Jeffrey earned the respect of his peers with his solid play in April. In his twenty-three minutes on the court, he scored nine points and had one assist and two rebounds.
Whether Jeffrey Jordan will eventually follow in his father’s footsteps — or even wants to, for that matter — is unknown. After all, Michael Jordan’s shoes are bigger than most. Filling them would be quite an achievement.
EPILOGUE
Michael Jordan has been an American icon for nearly a quarter of a century. His years in the NBA redefined the game of basketball and inspired hundreds of young players to be “Like Mike.” His Air Jordan basketball shoes, now in their twenty-second style, continue to be top sellers. His Jordan Brand athletic clothing line outfits kids and adults throughout the world.
But Jordan’s scope reaches far beyond the court, to the diverse worlds of motorcycle racing and golf. He has appeared in movies, television shows, and is the author of several books and the subject of countless others. He has lent his name to charity events and restaurants; his instantly recognizable smile and shaved head have helped sell products from underwear to hot dogs.
But what does the future hold?
“In all honesty, I don’t know what’s ahead,” he says in his most recent book for adults, Driven from Within. “You ask me what I’m going to do in five years, I can’t tell you.”
One thing, at least, seems certain: Whatever Michael Jordan chooses to do, he’ll give it his all.
“I couldn’t have imagined everything that has happened. But dreams are like that,” he says in his book. “Dreams are realized by effort, determination, passion, and staying connected to that sense of who you are.”
“Why me?” he adds. And with his answer, one can almost see his impish grin: “Why not me?”
His answer also seems to imply something more, too, something that every person who aspires to greatness should ask themselves:
Why not you?
Michael Jordan’s Year-to-Year NBA Statistics
Year Team Games Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks Points Season
Average
1984-85 Chicago 82 534 481 196 69 2,312 28.2
1985-86 Chicago 18 64 53 37 21 408 22.7
1986-87 Chicago 82 430 377 236 125 3,041 37.1
1987-88 Chicago 82 449 485 259 131 2,868 35.0
1988-89 Chicago 81 652 650 234 65 2,633 32.5
1989-90 Chicago 82 565 519 227 54 2,753 33.6
1990-91 Chicago 82 492 453 223 83 2,580 31.5
1991-92 Chicago 80 511 489 182 75 2,404 30.1
1992-93 Chicago 78 522 428 221 61 2,541 32.6
1993-94 -------- -------- -------- Retired -------- -------- -------- --------
1994-95 Chicago 17 117 90 30 13 457 26.9
1995-96 Chicago 82 543 352 180 42 2,491 30.4
1996-97 Chicago 82 482 352 140 44 2,431 29.6
1991-98 Chicago 82 475 283 141 45 2,357 28.7
1998-2001 -------- -------- -------- Retired -------- -------- -------- --------
2001-02 Washington 60 339 310 85 26 1,315 22.9
2002-03 Washington 82 497 311 123 39 1,640 20.0
TOTAL 1,072 6,672 5,633 2,514 893 32,292
THE #1 SPORTS SERIES FOR KIDS: MATT CHRISTOPHER®
Read them all!
Baseball Flyhawk Dirt Bike Runaway
Baseball Pals Dive Right In
Baseball Turnaround Double Play at Short
The Basket Counts Face-Off
Body Check Fairway Phenom
Catch That Pass! Football Fugitive
Catcher with a Glass Arm Catching Waves
Center Court Sting Goalkeeper in Charge
Centerfield Ballhawk The Great Quarterback Switch
The Comeback Challenge The Hockey Machine
Challenge at Second Base Halfback Attack *
Comeback of the Home Run Kid Ice Magic
Cool as Ice Johnny Long Legs
The Diamond Champs The Kid Who Only Hit Homers
Dirt Bike Racer Lacrosse Face-Off
Line Drive to Short ** Snowboard Champ
Long-Arm Quarterback Snowboard Maverick
Long Shot for Paul Snowboard Showdown
Look Who’s Playing First Base Soccer Duel
Miracle at the Plate Soccer Halfback
Mountain Bike Mania Soccer Scoop
Nothin’ But Net Stealing Home
Penalty Shot The Submarine Pitch
The Reluctant Pitcher The Team That Couldn’t Lose
Return of the Home Run Kid Tennis Ace
Run For It Tight End
Shoot for the Hoop Top Wing
Shortstop from Tokyo Touchdown for Tommy
Skateboard Renegade Tough to Tackle
Skateboard Tough Wingman on Ice
Slam Dunk The Year Mom Won the Pennant
All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company
Matt Christopher®
Sports Bio Bookshelf
Muhammad Ali Randy Johnson
Lance Armstrong Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant Yao Ming
Jennifer Capriati Shaquille O’Neal
Dale Earnhardt Sr. Jackie Robinson
Jeff Gordon Alex Rodriguez
Ken Griffey Jr. Babe Ruth
Mia Hamm Curt Schilling
Tony Hawk Sammy Sosa
Ichiro Tiger Woods
Derek Jeter
LEGENDS IN SPORTS
MICHAEL JORDAN
MATT CHRISTOPHER
Michael Jordan electrified the basketball world from the moment he b
urst onto the scene in the early 1980s. His grace under pressure, his seeming ability to defy gravity, his pure love of the game—all were unparalleled. When he retired, he left a gaping hole that many have tried to fill. And while some have come close, none may ever jump as high into the basketball stratosphere as His Airness once did.
Matt Christopher is the name young readers turn to when they’re looking for the best sports biographies on the shelf. Check out:
For a complete list of Matt Christopher titles, please see the last pages of this book.
* Previously published as Crackerjack Halfback
** Previously published as Pressure Play
Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports Page 10
