Michael  Jordan  Printable  Reading  Comprehension Name___________________

Michael  Jordan  was  born  on  February  17,  1963,  in  Brooklyn,  New  York.  Soon  after  he  was  born,  his  parents  
moved  the  family  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  Michael  excelled  at  sports  from  an  early  age.  Although  he  was  
cut  from  the  Laney  High  School  varsity  basketball  team  his  sophomore  year  in  high  school,  he  grew  four  
inches  over  the  summer  and  averaged  25  points  per  game  as  a  junior.  During  his  senior  year,  he  became  the  
only  player  in  high  school  basketball  history  to  average  a  triple-­double  (at  least  10  points,  10  rebounds,  and  10  
assists  per  game).  That  year,  1982,  he  was  named  a  McDonald’s  High  School  All-­American  and  received  a  
scholarship  to  play  basketball  at  the  University  of  North  Carolina.  Michael  quickly  became  a  star.  During  his  
freshman  year,  he  hit  the  game-­winning  shot  against  Georgetown  University  that  resulted  in  a  national  
championship.  After  his  junior  year,  Jordan  decided  to  leave  North  Carolina  to  enter  the  NBA  draft.  

In  the  draft,  the  Chicago  Bulls  picked  Jordan  third  overall.  Jordan’s  impact  on  the  NBA  (National  Basketball  
Association)  was  legendary.  During  his  rookie  season  with  the  Bulls,  he  scored  40  points  or  more  seven  times.  
In  addition,  Jordan  made  the  NBA  All-­Star  team  and  won  the  Rookie  of  the  Year  award.  After  sitting  out  much  
of  the  1985–1986  season  because  of  a  foot  injury,  Jordan’s  exploits  on  the  basketball  court  continued  to  
astound  fans,  coaches,  and  fellow  players.  In  the  1986–1987  season,  he  averaged  an  unheard  of  37.1  points  
per  game,  which  was  the  highest  of  his  career.    

From  making  spectacularly  unimaginable  shots,  to  winning  slam-­dunk  contents,  the  high-­flying,  tongue-­
wagging  Jordan  soon  became  the  most  popular  athlete  in  the  world.  Intimidating  and  extremely  competitive,  he  
had  a  knack  for  hitting  game-­winning  shots  and  playing  tenacious  defense.  He  established  marketing  deals  
with  some  of  the  world’s  largest  companies  such  as  Nike,  Haines,  Gatorade,  McDonald’s,  Wheaties,  and  MCI.  
Nike’s  Air  Jordan  shoe  line  became  one  of  the  most  popular  of  all  time.  One  Gatorade  commercial  that  
featured  Jordan  and  the  song  “If  I  Could  be  Like  Mike,”  is  one  of  the  most  recognizable  commercials  involving  
a  professional  athlete  in  TV  history.  He  even  starred  in  the  Disney  film  “Space  Jam.”  

Despite  his  success  both  on  the  court  and  off,  Jordan  and  the  Chicago  Bulls  failed  to  make  the  NBA  Finals  
until  1991,  when  they  finally  defeated  the  rival  Detroit  Pistons  in  the  Eastern  Conference  Semifinals.  That  year,  
they  defeated  the  Los  Angeles  Lakers  to  win  the  NBA  championship  and  Michael  Jordan  was  named  MVP.  
Jordan  and  his  Chicago  Bulls  teammates  went  on  to  win  three  consecutive  championships  from  1991–1993.  
Michael  won  the  Most  Valuable  Player  in  the  NBA  finals  each  time.  He  also  won  an  Olympic  gold  medal  
(actually,  his  second)  as  one  of  the  captains  of  America’s  “Dream  Team”  in  1992.  

In  1994,  however,  Jordan  announced  his  (first)  retirement  from  basketball  to  pursue  his  dream  of  playing  
baseball.  He  played  for  the  Birmingham  Barons,  a  minor  league  affiliate  of  the  Chicago  White  Sox.  Michael  
was  less  than  successful  in  baseball.  He  only  batted  .203  and  was  never  called  up  to  the  Major  Leagues.  In  
1995,  Michael  Jordan  decided  to  come  back  to  the  NBA  and  briefly  wore  the  number  “45”  because  “23”  had  
already  been  retired  by  the  Bulls.  He  would  go  on  to  lead  the  Bulls  to  three  more  NBA  championships.  Once  
again,  he  was  selected  as  the  MVP  of  the  NBA  Finals  each  time.  On  January  13,  1999,  with  seemingly  nothing  
more  to  prove  or  accomplish,  Michael  Jordan  retired  for  a  second  time.  Despite  his  retirement,  Jordan  could  
not  let  go  of  his  competitive  urges.  In  2001–2002,  after  serving  as  an  executive  for  the  Washington  Wizards,  
Jordan  returned  to  the  court  as  a  guard  for  them.  Although  his  skills  had  declined,  he  averaged  22.9  points  per  
game.  On  February  21,  2003,  he  became  the  first  40-­year-­old  player  to  score  40  points  in  a  game.  On  April  16,  
2003,  Jordan  played  his  very  last  game  in  the  NBA  against  the  Philadelphia  76ers.  The  normally  harsh  
Philadelphia  fans  gave  him  a  three-­minute  standing  ovation.  In  addition,  the  Miami  Heat  retired  the  number  
“23,”  even  though  Jordan  had  never  played  for  them.  Jordan  retired  forever  after  the  2003  season.  He  ended  
his  career  as  the  NBA’s  third  all-­time  leading  scorer  with  32,292  total  points.  He  led  the  NBA  in  scoring  ten  
times  during  his  career  and  made  the  NBA  all-­defensive  team  nine  times.  

Today,  Michael  Jordan  is  still  involved  with  the  NBA  as  the  owner  of  the  Charlotte  Bobcats.  
1.   What  happened  between  Michael’s  sophomore  and  junior  years  in  high  
school?    
A.   He  scored  25  points  per  game  as  a  junior
B.   He  averaged  a  triple-­double  per  game
C.   He  grew  four  inches  
D.   He  was  offered  a  scholarship  to  Georgetown  University

2.   Which  of  the  following  was  true  about  Michael’s  college  career?  
A.  He  was  part  of  a  team  that  won  a  national  championship
B.  He  left  college  after  his  junior  year  to  enter  into  the  NBA  draft
C.  He  attended  the  University  of  North  Carolina
D.  All  of  the  Above
 
3.   Which  of  the  following  statements  best  describes  how  Jordan’s  NBA  career  
started?
A.  He  had  growing  pains
B.  He  fizzled  out  early  in  his  career
C.  He  was  an  immediate  star
D.  His  first  two  years  were  the  best  two  years  of  his  career

4.   If  the  answer  to  a  question  is  “1986-­1987,”  what  could  be  the  question?  

A.  In  what  season  was  Jordan  drafted?  

B.  In  what  season  did  Jordan  suffer  a  series  foot  injury?    
C.  In  what  season  did  Jordan  have  the  highest  scoring  average  in  his  career?    
D.  In  what  season  did  the  Bulls  make  its  first  NBA  finals?    
 
5.   Which  is  NOT  true  about  Michael  Jordan?    
A.  He  also  enjoyed  a  successful  baseball  career  
B.  He  starred  in  a  Disney  film  
C.  He  was  on  teams  that  won  six  combined  NBA  championships  
D.  He  won  two  Olympic  medals  
 
6.   Why  did  Michael  Jordan  retire  for  the  second  time?      
A.  He  was  getting  old  
B.  He  was  injured  
C.  He  had  nothing  left  to  accomplish  
D.  He  felt  his  days  of  winning  NBA  championships  were  over    
 
7.   Which  of  the  following  best  supports  the  notion  that  Jordan  was  one  of  the  
most  respected  athletes  of  all  time?    
A.  He  averaged  22.9  points  per  game  with  the  Washington  Wizards  
B.  He  became  the  first  player  to  score  40  points  in  a  game  at  age  40  
C.  Even  the  harsh  fans  in  Philadelphia  gave  him  a  standing  ovation  
D.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  the  Charlotte  Bobcats