Michael Jordan is a basketball legend. He has six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and 14 All-Star appearances. He won Rookie of the Year. He retired with the highest NBA scoring average.
These are just a few of Jordan’s outstanding accomplishments as a professional basketball player.
What makes all of this even more astonishing is that he was cut from his high school’s varsity basketball team during his sophomore season. He was offered a seat on the junior varsity team instead, but the disappointment of being rejected lingered.
Learn how Jordan overcame this setback to become one of the most decorated basketball players of all time!
Jordan’s Childhood
Delores and James Jordan gave birth to Jordan on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. Jordan’s parents relocated him and his four siblings to Wilmington, North Carolina.
Delores and James were engaged parents. Jordan and his siblings were trained to work hard. Jordan was expected to help with domestic tasks and avoid the dangers of street life.
Jordan and his father enjoyed sports, particularly baseball. Jordan’s lifelong enthusiasm for basketball was, however, fueled by his older brother Larry.
Jordan excelled in football and basketball during his middle school years. During high school, he excelled in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball.
Jordan’s pivotal moment
Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team during his sophomore year of high school. He was approximately 5′ 10″ tall and allegedly on the thin side. The coach chose another sophomore (Jordan’s close friend who measured 6′ 7″) for the varsity berth and assigned Jordan to junior varsity instead.
Jordan experienced a painful rejection. It was also a watershed event for him. He might leave basketball and pursue other sports, as many young players do in similar situations. Alternatively, he may accept his position on the JV squad, work hard, and try again the following year.
.jpg)
Fortunately for Jordan and the sport of basketball, he chose not to quit. He was a standout on the JV squad that year and continued to improve his abilities. He would practice in the school gym before class in the morning, which demonstrated his great work ethic. He was resolved not to get cut from varsity for the second time.
Jordan experienced a growth spurt over the summer prior to his junior year. He measured 6′ 3″ and made the varsity team.
Jordan scored 35 points in his first game and has never looked back. He was selected McDonald’s All-American. He led his team to first place in his senior year, but they lost the title game. Jordan’s statistics and skills, however, were impressive enough to earn him a scholarship to play for North Carolina.