Michael Jordan and Related Topics

North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball

College basketball team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Coach Nathaniel Cartmell and the 1910–11 men's basketball team

The Tar Heels' Lennie Rosenbluth cuts down the nets after winning the 1957 title.

Larry Miller led UNC to Final Four appearances in 1967 and 1968.

Michael Jordan in action v the Villanova Wildcats, February 1982

Tyler Hansbrough became the ACC's all-time leading scorer in 2009

Joel Berry II scored 20+ points in consecutive national title games in 2016 and 2017.

North Carolina hosts Florida State in an ACC Men's Basketball conference game on February 23, 2019

Harrison Barnes played for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.

Bynum Gymnasium, the first home of the team

The program has produced many notable players who went on to play in the NBA, including four of ESPN's top 74 players of all-time: Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Vince Carter, and Bob McAdoo (tied for most with UCLA and Georgetown).

1993–94 NBA season

The 48th season of the National Basketball Association.

Just before the start of the season, Michael Jordan shocked the world by announcing his retirement from the NBA following the passing of his father. Jordan would not be back on the court until March 1995.

Jerry West, the inaugural recipient, is the only player to win the award while being on the losing team.

NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award

Annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1969 NBA Finals.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won twice in 1971 and 1985, holds the record for the longest gap between awards

Magic Johnson is the only player to win the award as a rookie.

Michael Jordan has won the award a record six times.

Shaquille O'Neal is the only player other than Michael Jordan to have won the award three times consecutively.

Tony Parker was the second player born outside the US to win the award, joining Hakeem Olajuwon.

LeBron James (pictured) is the only player to win the award with three different teams.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (pictured) is the most recent winner and the first player from Greece to win the award.

Michael Jordan is a record six-time award winner.

A ticket for Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Lakers and the Trail Blazers.

1984–85 NBA season

The 39th season of the National Basketball Association.

Michael Jordan became the only rookie in NBA history to lead a team in four statistics (points, assists, rebounds, steals).

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, formerly known as Lew Alcindor, has been on 11 All-Defensive teams.

NBA All-Defensive Team

Annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season.

Walt Frazier is the only player to have been on all of the first seven All-Defensive first teams.

Patrick Ewing is the only Jamaican-born player to have been on an All-Defensive team.

Dennis Rodman has been on the All-Defensive first team seven times.

Scottie Pippen has made the All-Defensive first team eight consecutive times, from to.

Gary Payton has the record for the most NBA All-Defensive first team selections consecutively, with nine, from to.

Dikembe Mutombo, who has won four NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, has been selected into the All-Defensive first and second team three times each.

Tim Duncan is the all-time record holder for most All-Defensive team selections (15).

Kobe Bryant has made a total of 12 All-Defensive teams, more than any other guard.

Ben Wallace, who has won four NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards in five years, has been selected into the All-Defensive first team five times in six selections.

Rudy Gobert, who has won three NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards in four years, has been selected into the All-Defensive first team six consecutive times.

Certificate presented to Bobby Jones for All-Defensive honors in 1981–82.

Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Garnett and Bryant share the record for most NBA All-Defensive first team selections with nine.

Bill Russell (left) won the award five times in his NBA career. Wilt Chamberlain (center) won the award four times in his career.

NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1955–56 season to the best performing player of the regular season.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record-setting six times in his career.

Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career.

Hakeem Olajuwon (right) is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season.

Tim Duncan, of the San Antonio Spurs, won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in the '01-02 and '02-03 seasons.

Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22.

Stephen Curry won back-to-back MVP awards and was the first unanimous winner in the 2015–16 season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo won back to back MVP awards in 2018–19 and 2019–20. He became the first player to win League MVP and the NBA Most Improved Player award.

Nikola Jokić won back to back MVP awards in 2020–21 and 2021–22. He became one of only two players to be selected in the second round of the NBA draft to win the award.

Both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan won the award five times, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James won the award four times.

Dean Smith

American men's college basketball head coach.

Dean Smith (right) during the UNC v. North Carolina State game in 1964.

Michael Jordan and Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2007 game honoring the 1957 and 1982 men's basketball teams.

Bust of Dean Smith at the Dean Smith Center.

Smith (right) during the UNC v. North Carolina State game in 1964

Smith's first national championship occurred with his 1981–82 team, which was composed of future NBA players such as Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins.

Michael Jordan is one of five players to have won both an MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year award in their career.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award

Annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the best defensive player of the regular season.

David Robinson won the award in the 1991–92 NBA season.

Gary Payton was the first point guard to win the award.

Dwight Howard won the award in three consecutive years (2009–2011).

Rudy Gobert won the award three times in four seasons.

Only eight perimeter players have been honored: Moncrief, Alvin Robertson, Michael Cooper, Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Ron Artest (known now as Metta Sandiford-Artest), Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Smart.

Slam Dunk Contest

Annual National Basketball Association (NBA) competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Chicago's Michael Jordan won back-to-back dunk contest victories in 1987 and in 1988.

23XI Racing

American professional auto racing organization that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Wallace's No. 23 car during the 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Kurt Busch in the No. 45 at Auto Club Speedway in 2022

It is owned and operated by Hall of Fame basketball player Michael Jordan, with current Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin as a minority partner.