The GOAT: Michael Jordan

 Michael Jordan is not only the Greatest Basketball Player of All Time, Michael Jordan IS basketball. Like Wayne Gretzky in hockey, or Babe Ruth in baseball, Michael Jordan is truly the face of his sport. When you think of basketball, you think of Jordan. In fact, other than perhaps Pele or Diego Maradona, I would say Michael Jordan may be the most recognizable athlete in the world, ever. His biography on the NBA website quite literally says "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time", and that's all you need to know about that.

MJ spent his childhood in North Carolina and played basketball with his brothers. In High School, he was one of the hottest prospects in the country, and he would attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there MJ became one of the best college players in the US and a hot NBA prospect. He played a full 4 years at NC and won the NCAA Championship in 82. In 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls. A lot of people don't know that MJ went 3rd overall, behind Hakeem Olajuwon,  who would go on to be one of the best players of all time, so it is understandable, and Sam Bowie, who never really achieved much due to leg and feet injuries.

MJ quickly became mega popular due to his exciting play style and huge dunks, earning the nicknames  "His Airness" and "Air Jordan". After being joined by young small forward Scottie Pippen in the late 80s, MJ and the Bulls became one of the best teams in the NBA, and between 1991 and 1993 the won 3 Championships in a row. How after the 1993 season, Jordan "retired" to pursue a baseball career because his recently deceased father had always wanted him to play baseball. He played baseball in the White Sox minor league system for 2 years and wasn't very good.

In 1995, after realizing he was way better at basketball, he returned to the Bulls, and they would go on to three peat again between 1996 and 1998. He retired again in 1998, and bought part of the Washington Wizards. In 2001 he returned to the court and played for the Wizards for 2 years, but we're just gonna pretend that never happened.

MJ finally actually retired in 2003 and now spends his time owning the Charlotte Hornets and being a billionaire.