How Long Did Jordan Play in the NBA?

It’s a question that often comes up – how long did Michael Jordan play in the NBA? The answer may surprise you.

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Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He was a dominant force in the NBA for almost two decades, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls and earning numerous other accolades. So how long did Jordan actually play in the NBA?

Jordan played a total of 15 seasons in the NBA, from 1984 to 1998 and then again from 2001 to 2003. He took a break from basketball in between to pursue a career in baseball. However, he ultimately returned to the Bulls and led them to another three consecutive championships. After that, he retired for good and has since been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In total, Jordan played 1,072 regular season games and 179 playoff games over the course of his career. He is one of only two players in NBA history to win six championships as well as MVP of the Finals for all six of those championship teams. He is also the only player in NBA history to score more than 30,000 points while also averaging more than five assists per game. Simply put, Michael Jordan was a once-in-a-generation talent who changed the game of basketball forever.

Jordan’s college career

Before Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft, he played three seasons of college basketball at the University of North Carolina. He helped lead the Tar Heels to an NCAA Championship in his freshman year, and was named the College Player of the Year in both his sophomore and junior seasons.

Jordan’s time with the Chicago Bulls

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player. He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. His biography on the official NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick. He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from standing positions or after initiating contact with defenders, earned him the nicknames Air Jordan and His Airness. He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a “three-peat”. Although Jordan temporarily retired from basketball before the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three additional championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. By winning three consecutive championships between 1996 and 1998, Jordan became one of only two players in NBA history to achieve a “three-peat”.

During this time period thoughout his carrer witht he Chicago Bulds Micahel Jordan also earned 6 MVP Awards

Jordan’s time with the Washington Wizards

Jordan’s second retirement came in 1999 after he spent a season with the Washington Wizards. He returned as part of an ownership group that included Ted Leonsis, who would later also become the owner of the NHL’s Washington Capitals. Jordan became president of basketball operations for the team, but he also suited up for the Wizards during his time there. In 2001, at age 38, Jordan became the oldest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in a game. He played two seasons with Washington before finally retiring for good in 2003.

Jordan’s Hall of Fame induction

Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame induction speech was one of the most memorable moments in NBA history. In it, he revealed that he never would have become the player he is if it weren’t for his late father. Here is an excerpt from that speech:

“My dad asked me one day how long I thought I could play basketball,” Jordan said. “I told him 15 or 20 years, and he just laughed at me and said, ‘No, you’ll play until you’re 48.’

“I’m still trying to figure out how he knew that.”

Jordan did indeed play in the NBA until he was 48 years old, retiring for good in 2003.