Michael Jordan is not just a name; it’s a legend engraved in the annals of NBA and basketball history.
From soaring through the air for gravity-defying dunks to clutch performances in the most crucial moments, Jordan’s career is an epitome of greatness. His impact transcended the court, shaping the culture of basketball and inspiring generations of players worldwide.
Here are five insane statistics that encapsulate the unparalleled brilliance of His Airness.
Five Regular Season MVP Awards
Jordan’s individual brilliance matched his team success. Throughout his illustrious career, he was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) title five times.
His MVP awards came in the seasons of 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998, showcasing his unparalleled impact on the game. Jordan’s ability to dominate both ends of the floor, coupled with his unmatched work ethic and competitiveness, made him a force to be reckoned with every time he stepped onto the court.
Six Finals MVP Awards, Undefeated in NBA Finals
On the ultimate stage of basketball, the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan shone brightest. Jordan participated in six NBA Finals and emerged victorious in all six, earning the Finals MVP award on each occasion.
His ability to elevate his game when it mattered most earned him the reputation of being the ultimate clutch performer. Whether it was his iconic game-winning shot against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 Finals or his legendary “Flu Game” performance in 1997, Jordan’s indomitable will to win solidified his status as the greatest player to ever grace the hardwood.
Career Points Per Game Average of 30.1
When it comes to scoring, no player in NBA history has been as prolific as Michael Jordan. Throughout his career, Jordan maintained an astonishing average of 30.1 points per game, the highest in NBA history.
His ability to consistently put up points against the toughest defenses is a testament to his unparalleled skill and determination. Jordan’s scoring prowess wasn’t just limited to the regular season; he elevated his game in the playoffs, where he holds the record for the highest career points per game average with 33.4 points.
Six NBA Championships in Six Full Seasons
Michael Jordan’s dominance in the 1990s NBA is unparalleled. His Chicago Bulls secured six NBA championships in just six full seasons that he played.
From 1991 to 1993, Jordan led the Bulls to three consecutive titles, then shocked the world by retiring to pursue a baseball career. However, he returned to the NBA in 1995 and promptly led the Bulls to another three-peat from 1996 to 1998.
This feat not only solidified Jordan’s legacy as the ultimate winner but also cemented his Bulls as one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.
Ten Scoring Titles in Just Eleven Seasons
Scoring came naturally to Michael Jordan. His unparalleled offensive arsenal and relentless attacking mindset made him one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history.
Jordan led the league in scoring for ten seasons out of the eleven full seasons he played with the Chicago Bulls. His scoring prowess reached its pinnacle during the 1986-87 season when he averaged a staggering 37.1 points per game, the second-highest single-season scoring average in NBA history.
Jordan’s ability to score at will, whether driving to the basket or pulling up for a jump shot, set him apart from his NBA peers.
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Back in 2017, the Boston Celtics made two major moves that would define their future, though not in the way anyone expected. First, they used the No. 3 overall pick to draft Jayson Tatum, a polished scorer from Duke. Then, in free agency, they signed All-Star forward Gordon Hayward to a lucrative deal. At the time, Hayward was entering his prime and coming off an All-Star season with the Utah Jazz. Tatum was the rookie with promise, while Hayward was expected to be the go-to forward. But fate intervened, and everything changed on opening night. Years later, on FanDuel TV, Hayward opened up about the dynamic between him and Tatum. He acknowledged that Tatum felt like he might have to leave the Celtics because of him. “I think, like I said, I was coming off of, I was an All-Star, felt like I was at the brim of my career. Like, we played the same position." "Coach Stevens probably would have been drawing plays for me instead of drawing plays for JT or JB or whoever else me or Kyrie. And, you know, because I got hurt, now he's getting the ball, he's getting more opportunities, and that sometimes is all it takes.” Hayward suffered a devastating leg injury just five minutes into his Celtics debut, an injury so gruesome that it instantly changed the Celtics’ hierarchy. Jayson Tatum was thrust into the spotlight as a rookie and seized the opportunity, eventually helping Boston reach the Eastern Conference Finals that same season. In short, Hayward admitted that if he hadn’t gotten hurt, Tatum wouldn’t have had the ball in his hands as often, or as soon. The offensive pecking order would’ve prioritized Hayward, a proven star with experience under Brad Stevens from their Butler days, over the unproven rookie. From Tatum’s perspective, that likely raised serious questions about his future. If the Celtics were building around Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and later Kemba Walker, where did Tatum fit in? It wasn’t personal, it was positional. Tatum and Hayward both operated as wings who needed touches and space to create. There’s only so much oxygen in an NBA offense, and Hayward being healthy might’ve delayed Tatum’s breakout. That tension, while never explosive, was quietly real. And according to Hayward’s comments, it was enough for Tatum to contemplate leaving Boston altogether early in his career. Thankfully for the Celtics, Hayward’s injury opened the door for Tatum, and Tatum never looked back. He’s now a six-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection, and the face of the franchise. He helped lead Boston to an NBA championship and is widely viewed as one of the league’s top five players. Though he is currently recovering from an Achilles tear suffered during the playoffs, Tatum’s place as the Celtics’ cornerstone is unquestioned. Ironically, what once seemed like a roster logjam may have been the unexpected twist that launched a superstar’s rise.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb reminded teammates to keep their cool after the team had multiple skirmishes during the first two days of training camp. Rookie defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford got involved in a brief scuffle on Tuesday. At the following practice on Wednesday, a fight broke out between safety Markquese Bell and TE Tyler Neville. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer then stopped practice and pulled the whole team together. He said the next player who threw a punch would be kicked out of practice (via Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News). "We've got to be professional," Lamb said of the incident after practice, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "I get it that we have a lot of animosity and tension between us and understanding that we want to proclaim our dominance and show like aggressiveness on both sides of the ball, but then again, to what extent?" Fighting in training camp isn't uncommon. It's an intense environment. Many are trying to prove themselves before teams trim their rosters to 53 players. However, too much brawling can threaten to tear a locker room apart. A lack of discipline was also one reason the Cowboys replaced Mike McCarthy with Schottenheimer this offseason. According to NFLPenalties.com, Dallas drew the league's sixth-most flags (128) last season. Per Archer, there were no more fights after Schottenheimer pulled the team aside. Still, the incidents raise questions about his ability to maintain control. The coach spent Wednesday morning's meeting discussing two plays where DE Sam Williams was too physical and sent to the sideline. His players must not have received the message. It's good for Dallas that Lamb seems to be echoing Schottenheimer's sentiments, but the rookie HC still must get through to his team. Rebounding from a 7-10 season could already prove challenging for the Cowboys. As of Wednesday, ESPN's Football Power Index gives Dallas a 34.5% chance to make the playoffs. Infighting will make that even more difficult.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had their first training camp practice ahead of the 2025 season on Thursday, and it was the first time fans got to see newly-acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers participating in team drills. The quarterback seemed to be shaking off some rust as his first pass of the day was intercepted, but that is expected as he is facing one of the best defenses in the NFL on a daily basis. Overall, it is hard to take much from the first practice of training camp, but new acquisitions have Pittsburgh's eyes set on competing within the AFC. There is good reason to be skeptical about the 2025 Steelers due to the sheer amount of roster turnover, but Pittsburgh brought in a ton of talent. Defensively, the additions of Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay could be huge in the secondary, as could the young guys up front that were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. The offense has been in question over the last several seasons for Pittsburgh, but Rodgers seems to have faith in his unit. He spoke to the media after practice on Thursday, and he shared that he has high hopes for his team going into 2025. The veteran quarterback feels as though the Steelers should be considered contenders for the Super Bowl on paper, but it is all going to come down to coaching and execution. The roster is good, but that doesn't mean anything if the team cannot perform during games, or if Pittsburgh goes through another late-season collapse like it did in 2024. The Steelers definitely have some wild cards when it comes to how the team can succeed in 2025. The offensive line is one of them, as that group is going to have to take a big step forward as a whole in order for the team to reach expectations. Rodgers is going to have to play like he did with the New York Jets at the end of the 2024 season, and the unit is going to have to be consistent. The Steelers have been plagued by slow starts on offense, and that is something that needs to be avoided in 2025.In order for Pittsburgh to set itself up to win the Super Bowl, it is going to have to take care of things within the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens are the favorites to win the division, while the Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most potent offenses in the league. The Steelers will have to be competitive against those two teams in order to keep pace in the North, and in turn, set themselves up for any postseason success. The Steelers have to find a way to avoid the seven-seed in the AFC, which is something they have been stuck with in the past two seasons. Steelers' Rodgers Wants To End His Career On A High Note The past two seasons with New York have been rough for Rodgers. He barely played in 2023 as he suffered a devastating season-ending injury, and he was a bit rusty to begin the 2024 season. He played well down the stretch, but it was far too late for the Jets to salvage their season. He has only ever played in one Super Bowl, when he beat the Steelers as a member of the Green Bay Packers. He has already stated he will probably be retiring after the 2025 season, and ending his career while hoisting the Lombardi Trophy would further cement his Hall Of Fame resume.
New York Jets fans understandably panicked when it was learned on Thursday morning that quarterback Justin Fields was carted off the practice field with an apparent lower right leg injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra) later reported that "the initial diagnosis is that Fields suffered a dislocated toe," which isn't his big toe. ESPN's Rich Cimini offered more positive news regarding the situation, claiming that a source revealed "that the injury is not considered significant and that the quarterback should not be sidelined for long." The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed in March to be their starting QB after he spent last summer competing with Russell Wilson for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 gig. Fields went 4-2 as Wilson spent the first six weeks of the 2024 season recovering from a lingering calf problem before Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin started Wilson from Week 7 through the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Jets can escape Fields' contract as soon as next offseason, meaning backup Tyrod Taylor theoretically could give first-year head coach Aaron Glenn something to think about by performing well in Fields' absence. Gang Green opens the regular season with a home game against the Steelers on Sept. 7. "I think the most important part is, if anything does happen to Justin, I don't think there's any drop-off as far as what we want to do when it comes to play," Glenn said on Thursday about having to turn to Taylor temporarily. If Fields' injury is worse than feared, the Jets could give the Cleveland Browns a call about the status of Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Cleveland is expected to carry rookie signal-callers Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the active roster through September, meaning either Flacco or Pickett could be deemed surplus by the end of the preseason.