October 26th is a special day for the NBA. On a day like today, but in 1984, Michael Jordan made his American League debut, the beginning of one of the most incredible careers in sports.
Jordan, who came to the Chicago Bulls from the University of North Carolina, quickly became the team’s benchmark with his scoring ability and resolution ability at critical moments in games.
absolute leader
“Mike” had his first game against the Washington Bullets (now Wizards) at the old Chicago Stadium and had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The numbers are good, but they don’t compare to what he accomplished later in the season.
Jordan’s average data per game in his first year was higher than other rookies: 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals, and his shooting percentage was over 50%. The Bulls’ “23-year-old” showed all his talents and became the first rookie in NBA history to lead the team into these four divisions in league history.
He even scored over 40 points in 7 games and shot over 60%, showing his efficiency on the court. In addition, he scored 49 points against the Detroit Pistons, breaking the Bulls rookie scoring record.
This resulted in him being selected as a member of the Eastern Conference’s starting five via public vote and becoming the recipient of the Rookie of the Year award.
bulls in playoffs
In the last 25 games of the regular season, he improved his level, scoring 30.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.5 steals, helping the team advance to the next round. After not making the playoffs for three years, “his momentum” managed to get his team to the 1985 playoffs, where he showcased his unique talents, but his hard work remains his business card.
Jordan averaged 29.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists in his first playoff appearance, but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 1-3 in the first round.
Jordan and Nike
The same year Jordan debuted, Nike signed Jordan to a five-year contract that placed certain demands on the player that, if not done, could damage the alliance between the brand and the rookie.
In the contract, the company required “23” to win: the Rookie of the Year Award, become an All-Star, average more than 20 points per game, and sell more than $4 million in sneakers.
What did Jordan get? He was “ROY,” he played in the All-Star Game (he was one of the starters as a rookie), he averaged 28.2 units sold during the season and passed the $100 million sales mark.
There is no doubt that “Air Jordan” fulfilled his contract requirements and produced one of the best debuts by a player in NBA history.