NBA Illustrated: The Kings

Author: Xiao Zuo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-14
Features: He is a top sports star who embodies elegance, art, power, and improvisational ability. He possesses everything a man desires: wealth, glory, power, and fame.
On February 17, 1963, the fourth child of Doris and James Jordan was born in a Catholic hospital in Brooklyn, New York. This newborn boy brought joy and fulfillment to his parents, being the youngest of their three sons. Soon, they named him Michael Jordan. At that time, the couple had no idea that this name would later become famous and household.
Regarding her son's playful nature, his mother Doris Jordan recalled, "Michael was the most playful of all my children. He always liked to hang around in crowded places. If there was anything to try, he was always the first. He needed more discipline than anyone else. He also always deliberately went against us. If we told him the stove was hot and not to touch it, he would touch it anyway; if he saw a sign that said 'Painted,' he would reach out to see if it was really dry."
In June 1983, Michael Jordan, who had won the university's best player award, was selected by the Chicago Bulls as the third pick in the first round of the NBA draft. From then on, this man who could fly began his dream-like performance in the league. His arrival marked the beginning of a new era for the NBA.
A common trait among great figures is creativity. What made Jordan captivating was his extraordinary and breathtaking basketball skills. Jordan believed that basketball is a sport that requires comprehensive abilities, especially imagination and creativity.
Initially, there was a saying in the NBA: "The court belongs to 'Magic' Johnson, and the air belongs to Michael Jordan." At 1.98 meters tall, Jordan was considered of average height in the giant-filled NBA. However, his physical condition was exceptional: only 3% of his body fat, compared to the usual 5% that is considered a sign of athletic genius. This explains why Jordan was afraid of swimming.
After testing, Jordan's 100-meter sprint time was 10.5 seconds, his long jump was over 7.5 meters, his standing jump was 120 centimeters, and his running jump was over 150 centimeters. When he needed to demonstrate his jumping ability and strength, he could jump onto the shoulders of giants over 2 meters tall and dunk the ball over two people. When he needed to show his flying ability, he could jump from the free-throw line and score a basket—only three people in history could perform this feat, but only he did it with ease and grace. When he wanted to entertain the audience, he could cross his legs in the air, spin, and then dunk the ball with various tricks. Americans love watching dunks, and Jordan won the dunk contest twice in 1987 and 1988. His aerial style was unmatched!