This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/21/2006.
Many would argue that Michael Jordan is the greatest single athlete to ever play a professional sport in this country, and surely there is much to back up that claim. Selected as the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 draft, Jordan quickly began to take shape as the incredible star and leader he has come to be, building on his reputation at the University of North Carolina. While wearing this jersey in his rookie season of 1984-85, Jordan amassed an astounding 2,313 points, which incredibly was his lowest total for any of his 11 full seasons as a Bull. His list of accomplishments is far too long to catalog here, though he was most valuable in an intangible sense as the unquestioned leader of six championship teams. In his last six full seasons as a Chicago Bull, Jordan took his team to the promised land each year, treating his beloved city of Chicago to two three-peats. Jordan was a five-time league MVP as well as the MVP in each of his six NBA Finals appearances. He ranks first all-time in average points per game with 31.0, second all-time in steals with 2,391 and fourth all-time in total points scored with 30,652. He's tied with Wilt Chamberlain as the only person to lead the league in scoring in seven consecutive seasons, and he was the league leader in points a total of ten times, the NBA record. In addition, Jordan is the Bulls' franchise leader in almost every category imaginable including points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, games, field-goals made and attempted and free throws made and attempted. Jordan may be most proud however, of his Defensive Player of the Year award, received in 1987-88, as it showed the offensive giant to be a force on both sides of the ball. Through all of his records and all of his championships though, the greatest player basketball has ever seen should be most remembered for his unadulterated love of the game. After all, it took him three retirements before he could get himself to finally walk away from the game. Across the front of the jersey is "Chicago" screened on in black on white. Below that on the left abdomen, and on the back is the player number "23" screened on in black on white. Inside the back of the collar is the "Rawlings" manufacturer's tag with wash instructions, and jersey size "42" on it. Across the back above the number is "JORDAN" screened on in white. The jersey is autographed between "Chicago" and "23" on the front in black marker rating an 8. The jersey shows game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind. The autograph comes with a letter from James Spence Authentication.