Michael Jordan: The early years. Michael Jordan was one of five children of James and Delores Jordan. He was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn. The Jordans felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe for raising a young family of five children. Instead of trying to endure the streets of Brooklyn, the Jordan family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. James got a job as a mechanic in Wilmington and Delores got a job as a teller at the United Carolina Bank. The Jordans have always emphasized the value of good manners to their children. The above examples characterize Michael Jordan's early years. Michael's first love. Michael always had an eye for baseball. He played as an outfielder and pitcher. At twelve years old, he was the best player in his league. Michael had his photo published in the Morning Star, Wilmington's newspaper. By the age of fifteen, he was no longer the baseball star he once was. He was still very good, but he had lost some of his concentration. Later, during his high school career, he gave up baseball to pursue another interest: basketball and Michael. When Michael was younger, he took up basketball. Mike worked with his father in the garage. While working with his father, Michael developed the habit of sticking his tongue out in an intense situation. When Michael reached ninth grade, he tried basketball. Coach Lynch, Michael's coach, eliminated Michael, making him perhaps the best player alive today. Michael then took basketball to another level. He played his brother Larry whenever he could. Michael didn't expect what would happen in the near future. The university years. Michael Jordan went to the University of North Carolina as a basketball recruit. Although... middle of paper... adership was back. In one match, Michael showed flashes of his former self. Michael scored 55 points in a game at Madison SquareGarden in New York. A few weeks later, Michael, a very superstitious man, lowered his number from 45 to 23. Although the Bulls were beaten by the Orlando Magic in the playoffs, the Bulls went on their best winning streak of the season. called the best basketball player of all time by MagicJohnson. Jordan led the NBA in scoring seven times. Jordan is only the second player to score 3,000 points in a season, the other being Wilt Chamberlain. Mike was voted Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. Jordan was a three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. He was named SportsIllustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1991. Jordan also received three MVP awards between 1988 and 1992.