John Kim 
Half a century ago, the greatest basketball player and perhaps the single most dominant athlete in his respective field was born. But it’s easy to forget that this man is of man and not of god, and that his greatness wasn’t handed down to him in some ritualistic manner. He fought for his right to earn the spotlight, even when he was cut from his High School varsity basketball team, when the athletic administration called him “Mike”, and when the NBA’s stars tried to shun him out of All-Star Games. From several retirements and several comebacks to basketball in a jersey and a suit, Michael Jordan’s life has been a incomparable storybook of success, failure, blessing, tragedy, redemption, and arrogance. It’s a story so heroic that we desperately force to keep it in our memories as if these events happened yesterday, and while it’s certainly impossible to summarize Jordan’s career completely, here’s our attempt to do so in fifty iconic photos. Happy Fiftieth Birthday to Michael Jordan.
Michael had hair. Once.
Michael’s father always wanted his son to play baseball.
MJ’s High School coach Pop Herring and the future legend playing some backyard 1-on-1.
Jordan attended Laney H.S., a name we’re familiar with thanks to some creative Air Jordan Retro colorways.
A family gathering – Left: Deloris. Middle: Michael. Right: James.
Jordan in Tar Heel blue playing some tight defense against the late Len Bias.
Jordan and rival Patrick Ewing meet at the apex during the 1982 National Championship Game.
A legend is born as Michael hits this late-game jumper to seal the Title win for UNC.
College was a great time for MJ. Here he is showing his lighter side early on in is junior year.
Michael’s first Olympic medal came during the 1984 Olympics.
Get that paper! Jordan signs a 5-year, $6 million contract with then Bulls GM Rod Thorn.
Before the Air Jordan, Michael wore a variety of Nikes – most notably the Air Ship.
2 Chainzzz! MJ doing his thing in the ’85 Dunk Contest. He would lose to Dominique Wilkins.
“It was God disguised as Michael Jordan.” – Larry Bird on Jordan’s 63 point performance in the Playoffs
Jordan returned to the Dunk Contest in 1987, taking home his first ever Dunk Contest trophy.
Air. This amazing photo was taken by Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr.
The Mars Blackmon era begins with Tinker Hatfield’s Air Jordan III.
Jordan wins the entire series with this floating jumper over Craig Ehlo.
A fan steals Jordan’s jersey before a regular season game. MJ is forced to wear a nameless ’12’ jersey.
One of the most acrobatic mid-air maneuvers in NBA history was the “mid-air switch” against the Lakers in the ’91 Finals.
Jordan breaks down in tears after winning his first NBA Title. Father James comforts his son.
More than just a sports star: Here is Jordan on the Letterman show, talking about his new shoes, his flashy threads, and his 63-point game.
Jordan also played host in a 1991 episode of Saturday Night Live. The highlight of the night would be Jordan and Swerki’s Super Fans dancing around in grass skirts and coconut-shell bikini tops.
Jordan became a hardcore businessman with his endorsements. Here he is presenting some Coca Cola.
The 3-pter was never part of Jordan’s arsenal. A torrid streak of 6 straight trifectas in Game 1 has Jordan himself baffled as he famously shrugs as he runs back to the other side of the court.
Jordan leads the Dream Team to a Gold Medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It wasn’t even close.
Despite being a competitive affair, the Dream Team members spent plenty of time joking around.
Jordan battles his close friend Charles Barkley in the ’93 Finals.
After the news of his father’s death, Michael wonders if there is anything left to conquer in the NBA. With everything proven, he chooses to retire…
…and take up baseball, which was his father’s wish when Jordan was a child.
A statue of Jordan is erected in the front of the United Center in November of 1994.
The Love of the Game is rekindled as Jordan announces a come-back to the Bulls. He’d wear the ’45’ jersey for the remainder of the ’95 season, dropping the “double-nickel” on the Knicks.
Michael debuts the Air Jordan XI without Tinker Hatfield’s consent. Necks are broken.
NBA officials didn’t approve of the colors on Jordan’s shoes. Here he is wearing a pair of Penny Hardaway’s Air Flight One.
How does Jordan respond to losing in the Playoffs? By leading the Bulls to the greatest regular-season record in history and a fourth NBA Title.
Emotions run extremely high as Jordan wins his fourth ring on Father’s Day. Some say Jordan “let” the Sonics win Game 4 and 5 so that he could win on the Father’s Day.
In November of 1996, the movie Space Jam debuts.
A big-time match-up between old and new as Jordan defends the diminutive yet equally ferocious Allen Iverson.
With a sickening flu invading his body, Jordan displays an out-of-body experience and goes for 38 points in what is now known as the “Flu Game”.
Jordan and Kobe go head to head in the ’98 All-Star Game. Many view this as the “passing of the torch”.
Going out his own terms.
Countless members of the media show up to attend Jordan’s press conference for his second retirement from the Bulls.
Jordan’s back, but with the Wizards. Also a part-owner, Jordan is named President of Basketball Operations in 2000.
Jordan puts the suit back in the closet and suits up for the Wizards while donating his player salary to 9/11 charity. The game certainly has changed since he last played: here he is greeting Yao Ming at the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.
Basketball fans were given two more seasons of MJ magic. His last game would be against the Philadelphia 76ers, where the crowd gave him a lengthy standing ovation.
The Jordan/Wizards era came to an end when the legend was fired from his position. Here is Jordan driving away from the Wizards facility for the very last time.
23 meets 23: The twenty-third Air Jordan sneaker comes to life.
Michael comes back to basketball again as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
After one of the most expensive celebrity divorces in history, Michael Jordan finds his next beau – former model Yvette Prieto.
Sports Illustrated celebrates fifty SI covers on the man’s 50th birthday.
