What were the concerns about Michael Jordan's height during his early basketball days: All you need to know
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time. However, there were a lot of concerns about his height when he was a teenager. Jordan was famously cut from his high school varsity team during his sophomore year. He was deemed too short to play.
Despite entering the NBA at 6-foot-6, Michael Jordan's height was a sticking point among scouts before he started his college career. The story about Jordan getting cut from his high school varsity team is iconic. Jordan's height was 5-foot-11 at the start of his sophomore year. The team didn't have any use for a player that size.
Jordan took the concerns surrounding his height personally. He used it as motivation. Luckily, Jordan grew five inches between his sophomore and junior year. This forced the team to reassess their interest in Jordan.
Jordan had another growth spurt at the end of high school. He was listed at 6-foot-6 when he started college. Jordan won the NCAA championship with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1982.
Jordan's height was no longer a factor. His skills, athleticism, and work ethic allowed him to overcome any obstacles thrown his way.
Michael Jordan went to have a legendary career after his initial height concerns
Michael Jordan accomplished a lot during his career. He won six NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and an NCAA championship.
On an individual level, Jordan won five NBA MVP awards, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and a Defensive Player of the Year award. He also led the league in scoring 10 times. Jordan averaged 31.5 points on 50.5% shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists during his time with the Chicago Bulls.
Michael Jordan’s popularity grew the game of basketball on a global scale in the 1990s. He followed in the footsteps of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, who played a huge role in establishing the league's credibility in the 1980s.
Jordan became a global phenomenon and capitalized on its popularity by creating the "Jordan brand." It's still one of the most popular sports apparel brands today.
Michael Jordan has inspired generations of young kids around the globe to play basketball. The likes of Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant were hell-bent on being 'like Mike' when they entered the league. The generation of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony revered Jordan and viewed him as the gold standard in basketball.
Jordan is currently the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. His net worth is valued at $1.7 billion.