Michael Jordan • GOAT LEGACY • Documentary

He blew the layup. The rebound is off and they get it to Jordan. Score! Past Petrovic. Oh! Oh yes! Yes! You can't believe that! What Jordan has done, the blueprint that he has laid is incredible and it's amazing. Here it is again. Michael Jordan is my GOAT. I play basketball because of Michael Jordan. Listen, Michael's the best I've ever seen. Maybe the top player of all time. I mean, I hold him in that kind of regard. Michael's one of the greatest players that ever played the game. You know, growing up in the 90s, Michael Jordan. Will always be the GOAT. Always. I don't care who comes along. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17th, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. But it was in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he honed the skills that would one day make him a basketball icon. Ahead to Scottie. Had to run out and catch it. Now throws it back to Michael. Caught it with one hand. Drifted it off the board. His early life in a competitive family environment laid the foundation for his relentless work ethic. You know, my competitive nature went right into the pros. Kevin used to take practices and put me in starting five. And we, you know, he'd make it a competitive thing where the losing team had to run. So now I'm on the winning team and halfway in the game, halfway in the situation, he would switch me to the losing team. And by nine times out of 10, the second team would come back and win no matter what he did. The story of Jordan being cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore often serves as the first chapter in the legend of his career. Got cut from the varsity team. I mean, this is a sad story. It sounds sad, but it's true. Maybe it's my fault that you didn't see that failure gave me strength. That my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God-given gift and not something I worked for every single day of my life. This rejection fueled his determination, leading to a summer of intense training that would see him not only make the team the following year, but also star in it. In the 10th grade, he made a team, played JVs, and then his junior, senior year, he played on the varsity team. And as they say, the rest is history. I failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Showcasing early signs of his trademark competitive spirit and dedication to improvement. When Michael Jordan was selected for the prestigious McDonald's All-American Game in 1981, it was a clear sign that a star was on the rise. This event, held annually to showcase the best high school basketball talent in the nation, was the perfect stage for Jordan to display his burgeoning skills and competitive spirit. I think for me at that time it was very helpful for my confidence to play against players who were the best on my level all over the world. As he worked so hard in practice every single day. As a senior in high school, he played in the McDonald's Classic, the nation's premier schoolboy all-star game. Reflecting on that game, it's clear that Michael Jordan was not just another high school basketball player. He was a young man on a mission, driven by an insatiable desire to be the best. That game was a glimpse into the future, a preview of the greatness that was to come. Every big college basketball program wanted him. Michael Jordan was one of the finest basketball players, obviously at Laney High School. During his senior year, he was rated the number one player in the nation. He was a pretty good ball player. Jordan made a choice that would shape not just his career, but the future of college basketball. He decided on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, drawn to its rich basketball history and the opportunity to play under the legendary coach Dean Smith. Jordan's college career at North Carolina under coach Dean Smith was pivotal. When Michael Jordan stepped onto the campus of the University of North Carolina, he was already a remarkable talent. But by the time he left, he had transformed into something even more extraordinary. College was where Jordan's skills, mindset, and understanding of basketball deepened. I just saw him on a Sunday afternoon and I thought, Oh my gosh, this may be the best six foot four inch high school player I've ever seen. He was just gifted, but he had a desire that was different from everybody else. He told me he wanted to be the best player ever at North Carolina. I said, well, you've got to work harder than you did in high school. And he said, I worked as hard as everybody else. I said, excuse me, I thought you told me you wanted to be the best. He worked tirelessly on his game, improving his shooting accuracy, defensive abilities, and overall game strategy. When he first came to us, he was one of the most confident freshmen I've ever seen. And two days later, he came back, said, I want to talk to you. And said, I'm going to show you nobody will ever outwork me. And nobody ever has to this day. He was just always just, you know, trying to test you. So that, that was his attitude. I knew he was going to be an all-star, but I didn't know he was going to be what he turned out to be, arguably the best ever played a game. My three years at North Carolina was very dear to me. I think that without those three years, I couldn't develop into the player and the person that I am today. Well, I remember recruiting Michael Jordan. I remember him coming in on a weekend and all I could hear was this big mouth. And it was Michael Jordan. I never thought he was arrogant, but he was full of confidence. And I was better than Michael Jordan for about three weeks. I mean, he dunked on Sam Perkins and I one time, and I still know how he did it. 35 years ago, Michael Jordan, New Orleans. Sometimes I remember it like it was yesterday. His game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown was a sign of clutch moments to come. Georgetown went up by one, with less than a minute left to play. We're down one of 35 to 40 seconds to play. With 32 seconds left on the clock, Dean Smith called for a timeout. And he said, we're exactly where we want to be. We're going to decide who wins this game. As they were walking out, Coach slapped Michael on the rear end and said, if you get it, Michael, knock it in. That's the day that my name went from Mike Jordan to Michael Jordan. Before anything else happened, that shot gave me the idea that I could be better than what people think, you know, surpass any expectations that I may have for myself. At UNC, Jordan earned the Naismith College Player of the Year Award in 1984 and was a part of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team that won gold in Los Angeles, setting the stage for his entry into the NBA. Here comes Carolina, down to Jordan, yes! Because I didn't think he was going to be as good as he is now, to be honest. I really didn't think that. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. The Chicago Bulls pick Michael Jordan, University of North Carolina. In 1984, a young Michael Jordan, fresh out of the University of North Carolina, was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. His talent on the court was undeniable and his potential was sky high. At the same time, Nike, a rising company known for its running shoes, was eager to make a mark in the basketball world. This is why the people at Nike, especially Sonny Vaccaro, pushed to sign Jordan to a deal. Where I first saw Michael was when they beat Georgetown. That's the first time you ever saw him? That's the first time. Nike co-founder Phil Knight and marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro saw an opportunity in Jordan. They offered him an unprecedented five-year deal worth $500,000 annually, plus royalties. Nike promised Jordan creative control over his own line of shoes. A bold move that convinced him to join forces with them. What Michael Jordan did, he started a whole new world for athletes. Michael Jordan, to the world, should be remembered as starting an industry that was not there. There's no question about the superiority of what Nike. Michael Jordan did that. Expectations were high for Jordan, and he didn't disappoint. From the get-go, Jordan's impact on the court was undeniable. He brought an electrifying mix of athleticism, skill, and competitive intensity that the Bulls and, frankly, the entire NBA hadn't seen before. When he was at practice, he played practice like it was the last thing on earth. He's the type of player that when he goes into practice, he gives it his all, he works hard, and the games become easy for him. His rookie season was a showcase of his incredible talent, as he quickly became the team's leading scorer, averaging an impressive 28.2 points per game. This guy is tough. He's tough. Jordan's contract is with the Chicago Bulls. Since he arrived, the stadium, which used to be two-thirds empty, has been sold out every game. The difference right now is Jordan brings it up, 50 seconds remaining, Jordan with a seam. What a jam! When I play basketball, I play 110%, and a lot of things are done instinctively. Jordan's performances were a breath of fresh air for the Chicago Bulls, a team that had been struggling for relevance in the years prior to his arrival. One of the defining moments of his rookie season came during the All-Star weekend, where he participated in the Slam Dunk contest. Though he didn't win, his iconic free-throw line dunk left fans and fellow players in awe, cementing his status as a must-watch player. A shot that would be famously known as the Jordan Vault, after winning Rookie of the Year. The first award honors the new kid on the block, the NBA Rookie of the Year from the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan. His early years in the NBA were marked by breathtaking performances, including scoring 63 points against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs. And once, when an injury forced him to sit out 64 games, he came back and scored 63 points, and that while playing against the best team in the league. You know, when Michael came in, it was different because he was a scorer, he had a scoring mentality, and as he got better, they started getting better players around him, but I go, man, can this kid play? They keep talking about how good he is. Well, Jordan would give it a shot. He scored. And scored. He ended the night on 63 points. The legendary Larry Bird said this about Jordan after the game. You know, it's a great compliment, because I feel that he's probably one of the best in the game of basketball. However, success didn't come easy. In the late 1980s, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls faced their toughest challenge. The Detroit Pistons, known as the bad boys for their rough play. This rivalry was intense, with the Pistons employing Jordan rules to aggressively target Jordan and stop him at any cost. It's two o'clock in the morning, and I get a phone call, and it's Isaiah. And he says, I've finally figured out what we need to do to stop Jordan. Despite Jordan's incredible talent, the Bulls fell to the Pistons in the playoffs for three straight years. We were in total despair. They had done it to us again, they had beaten us. Fueling a burning desire in Jordan to overcome this obstacle. Very deserving championship team. Congratulations to you, the Pistons, and the city of Detroit. The turning point came in the 1990 to 1991 season. After years of physical and mental preparation, the Bulls were ready. In the earlier seasons, Jordan and the Bulls would break down against the Pistons. You would break down mentally and become individuals, which is the way they want you to be. But this year was different. As a unit, when everybody's contributing, we were very strong, and we were able to overpower them. We were tremendously excited because we felt we had gotten two young athletes. Two guys who could run and jump and were quick and had all the athletic skills we wanted. So, as the Bulls entered the playoffs against the Pistons, they had something to prove. We had to prove on the court what we had the year before that we could play under pressure. Phil's idea was to take advantage of Michael and Pippen, who just fly around like sleek Dobermans. He is splitting every trap, every help situation. Nice fake by Jordan. Goes to the scoop. Jordan rebounds. He has Pippen. Armstrong in the backcourt. Grant up front with Williams. And Pippen. Jordan changed his mind and was able to find Grant. And Pippen able to pick him up. After getting beat 4-0, in four games, the Pistons had had enough. As time runs down, they left the bench with only 7.9 seconds remaining. I think for the city of Chicago and for the organization, this is a big step for us. We can only go and move up. Right now, we are looking forward to the finals and trying to do our best. Paving the way for their first NBA championship. Defeating the Pistons was a pivotal moment for Jordan and the Bulls. It marked the end of the Pistons' dominance and the beginning of the Bulls' year. This victory wasn't just about advancing to the NBA finals. It symbolized Jordan's growth as a player and the Bulls' emergence as a dynasty. The hard-fought battles with the Pistons taught Jordan and the Bulls the value of perseverance, setting the stage for their legendary run through the 1990s. The Chicago Bulls have won their first ever NBA championship. I used to ask him, what's it like to guard Mike? Mike? You mean Black Jesus? So the level of fear that he inspired in others was insane. His ability to take over games, his ability to want to have that last shot. And demoralize you and scare the living hell out of you. I believe that every night he stepped on the floor, he put on a cape. Michael Jordan is the best player ever. Charles Barkley is a great, great player. But Michael Jordan is in a class by himself, clearly superior to anybody else in the league. Last year was a honeymoon. It was a kiss of the beloved almost. This is the 104th game of the year for the Bulls, including the playoffs and regular season. That's a long, long haul. And it could all end here this afternoon. Michael Jordan and the Bulls had made it to the NBA championship once again. For your world champion, Chicago Bulls! This year has been an odyssey. It's been a journey filled with travail and pitfalls. And it's been tough. It's been a real hard road. To become only the fourth NBA franchise to win back-to-back titles. Michael Jordan! And as the game began, it quickly became clear that once again, Chicago would be traveling on treacherous terrain. The Bulls were struggling to find a rhythm. Chicago has to really be careful, Joe, that they don't dig too big a hole here. But Michael Jordan once again showed why he later would be regarded as the greatest of all time. Shot clock at three. The Bulls were on the verge of completing one of the greatest comebacks in finals history. Superman is back in the building! Superman is back in the building! Shot clock at three. Yes! By completing one of the most heroic comebacks in NBA history. The Chicago Bulls have won the NBA championship for the second straight season. The following season, Michael Jordan and the Bulls would do it all over again. The first three-peat, that Michael Jordan. People say, who's the greatest player of all time? It's that Michael Jordan. No one has come close. The third title, the three-peat. He had a game, it was like a three-game stretch. Had 42, 44, then dropped 55 in game five. Another beautiful day in the Valley of the Sun. Jordan for three. Yes! Jordan passing magic for fifth place. Michael Jordan makes it 40 points. Charles Barkley, 42 points, 13 rebounds. Michael Jordan, 42 points, 12 rebounds. This game put the Bulls in front two to nothing in the series. Michael Jordan was unstoppable. Hitting point after point. The Suns stood with no chance. Barkley. Yes! Seven second disparity. The Suns won game five, which let the series into the sixth game. With ten seconds left, the Bulls were behind by two points. He trusts his teammate to make the shot. The Chicago Bulls had won their third consecutive championship. But not everything in Jordan's life went according to plan. Earlier in the season, during the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks, Michael was spotted in Atlantic City gambling. And, of course, that much-talked-about visit to an Atlantic City casino by Michael Jordan on Thursday. It's unfortunate that it has become an issue, and he's got to explain it away. But I don't think there was anything wrong with it. It's attacked in my private life, and I really didn't like it. I don't agree with it. He did not want to discuss his Atlantic City sojourn. He's going to take care of himself. And if he was out that night or not, whatever, he still came to play. And that's all that we're concerned about. But I felt a need to come out and express that and tell the truth so you guys can quit hallucinating. That's his business, and it shouldn't be publicized. Something like this is overblown, and I think it hurts his reputation, especially with kids, and that's too bad. In the summer after completing the three-peat, something would happen that would forever change Jordan's life. James Jordan, the father of basketball superstar Michael Jordan. Mr. Jordan had pulled off the side of the road to rest for a while. He was shot to death while in his car. Two 18-year-olds accused of murdering the father of basketball star Michael Jordan appeared in court. I think that I looked at the death of my father. Unfortunately, it happened at the hands of another human being. Investigators said they had concrete evidence linking Daniel Green and Larry Demery to the murder of James Jordan. But I had him for 32 years, you know, and he taught me a lot in 32 years. Word is Michael is planning a press conference Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the first time he will directly address the public since the murder of his father. I apologize. I didn't know if I was going to make it here. Basketball? I haven't even thought about basketball. I didn't even think about basketball before all this happened. Very few in today's society get the chance to spend that much time with their parents and get that type of influence. Michael Jordan's father was also the reason MJ stuck his tongue out when playing basketball. When Michael was a kid, he had observed his dad do it when he was engaged in projects. After playing nine seasons in the league, a 30-year-old Michael Jordan had decided to step away from basketball. In the NBA, when I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game of basketball. Michael Jordan decided to pursue a career in baseball, which was a surprise for many fans. The star of the day, the world's greatest basketball player, trying to make it in a major league. He only managed to play one official major league game, but played a total of 127 games in minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons. The White Sox gave me an opportunity just to go out there and see what type of skills I had. On the day of Michael's major league debut, the crowd was electric. There was a buzz like something special. Everybody wanted to see if Michael Jordan could make the switch from NBA superstar to a big league baseball player. The crowd even booed another White Sox player for not letting Jordan catch the ball. I've never seen a second baseman get booed for not letting the right fielder catch the ball before. On March 18th, 1995, two years after his initial retirement from basketball, Michael Jordan was back. Michael Jordan was pegged for the Chicago White Sox double-A club, but he refused to challenge the baseball union and Jordan left camp last week. We knew he was coming back and now we know when and the news is music to the ears of Bulls fans. Jordan, the former three-time MVP, has been practicing for the last couple of days with his old Bulls club. Michael announced his comeback in a two-word press release. It came in a two-word statement which is now just begging to have a Nike campaign built around it, quote-unquote, I'm back. Michael summed up his decision to return in two words, I'm back. Would you like to see him come back? Yes, I would. I think that he would be a good addition. In his comeback season, the Bulls had only managed a record of 34 wins and 31 losses. For 21 months, the NBA was without its supreme artist. The best in the world is back. Today, an artist returns to his true canvas, the hardboard courts of the NBA. Michael Jordan is back. But with Jordan back in the lineup, they went 13-4 in their last 17 games, leaving them with 47 wins and 34 losses for the season, which put them fifth in the Eastern Conference. Number 45, Michael Jordan. Still looking for his first field goal. Michael Jordan to field. Michael Jordan. In his first season back, he famously changed his number back to number 23 in the Eastern Conference playoffs. It felt like 45 wasn't natural. I wanted to go back to a feeling I had with 23. Tonight, and despite the prohibition of wearing number 23 by the NBA, Michael is wearing it anyway. I didn't have enough time to get my body back to a basketball body. Michael has not been able to sustain the effort over the course of a game. Does Jordan have the legs to last throughout the playoffs? You're looking at an exhausted Michael Jordan. Tough shot by Michael. Air ball. Of course, the biggest offseason news for the Chicago Bulls, besides the lockout, was the free agent acquisition of power forward Dennis Rodman. Good move, bad move, what's your take on it? I would say it's a gutsy move. Going into the 1995-96 season, the Bulls had signed controversial Dennis Rodman. Pushes Stacy, Stacy pushes back. Now what are they going to call him, double foul? Probably, yeah. Oh, Stacy went at him that time. But Rodman would turn out to become an instrumental player for the Bulls' second three-peat. That was one of Michael's lowest points is when they came back and they didn't win. The Bulls missed that power forward, that rebounder, that defensive presence with the loss of Horace Grant. All the offseason moves in the NBA, none got more attention trade of Dennis Rodman to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls team was looking much better than the previous season. With Jordan back in shape, an informed Stephen Kerr, a primed Scottie Pippen, and newly signed Dennis Rodman, they felt they had a good chance to go all the way. Having Michael back, we felt like this was going to be our opportunity to go for it again. This year, the last regular season game for the Bulls was surrounded Jordan. The Bulls had an amazing regular season, winning a record-breaking 72 games out of 82 possible. The trio of Chicago had found each other, and together they became unstoppable. Pippen going last. Scottie Pippen, out of one minute to go. What's unique about this team is that in years past, teams generally have had to take some time to gel. This year you've added Michael back to the mix, Dennis Rodman as a starter, and they came together so quickly. Nobody realized that this guy was back in his full force as the most dominant player in the game. The Bulls had once again made it to the NBA Finals. Approximately three years after Jordan's father was shot and killed, Michael Jordan would get a chance to secure his fourth NBA title on Father's Day. The Bulls had won the first three games of the 1996 NBA Finals Series, and with the Supersonics winning the following two, the series had gone into the sixth game. The Chicago Bulls was looking to once again become champions of the NBA, with Jordan, Pippen and Rodman leading the team to victory. The following two seasons saw the Chicago Bulls dominate the league as they had just done in 1996. My motivation was to show people that the first time wasn't a fluke, that we were going to be on top for a long period of time, and this is the way to do it. For example, to do it twice. Michael was capable of incorporating Scottie's abilities. Everything has been special because we've tried to take it to a higher level. And, you know, telling them sometimes you're going to help me out, and some nights I'm not going to have it, I'll help you out if you don't have it, and we'll tag-team this thing together. To become the greatest duo to ever play the game. Jordan and the Bulls had for the second time made it to the NBA Finals, two seasons in a row. In the lead-up to Game 5 of the Finals Series, something happened that potentially could lose the game for the Bulls. And that night, only one pizza place was open. And then, without thinking twice... Because of Jordan's illness, the Jazz was suddenly the favorites. But Jordan being Jordan, he wanted to play the game. The Bulls were trailing behind from the beginning of the game. In the last couple of minutes of that first quarter, just a little right-to-left move to easily save. Puts moves on Hornacek. Look at Michael Jordan, see the ice bag being applied to the back of the neck of Michael, who has been exhausted. I didn't want to give up. No matter how sick I was, how tired I was, how low on energy I was, I felt an obligation to my team, to the city of Chicago, to go out and give that extra effort. Right for the start. He's tied the game at 77. For no reason, they double-team Scottie down low and leaving Michael Jordan. He knocks down this three, gives him the huge lead. Chicago went up by three points, with only six seconds left to play. And the Jazz weren't able to come back. Jordan still hadn't fully recovered from his illness, but still took the lead in Game 6. The Bulls had a three games to two lead. If they win Game 6, they are champions once again. Watch your face. And Scottie Pippen. Jazz looking to tie the series, which would set up a 7th and final game here at the United Center on Sunday night. Pippen, yes. The Chicago Bulls are hoping to wrap it up here tonight, and Michael Jordan cuts it to a five-point Utah lead. Finishes with the fadeaway. Looking to help out on Jordan or Pippen. Jordan scoops it up on the steal. The Bulls was behind with nine points early in the fourth quarter, but they had worked their way back, only trailing by two points. As the 96-97 season went to a close, the future of the Chicago Bulls was uncertain. Many players on the roster were past their prime, and there were speculations that, whether or not, this was the time for the franchise to rebuild. We're entitled to defend what we have until we lose it. The Chicago Bulls entered the season as the reigning champions with five titles in the previous seven years. Yet storm clouds loomed over the team. Scottie Pippen, frustrated over his contract, delayed his surgery and missed the early part of the season. Meanwhile, coach Phil Jackson was informed by management that it would be his last season with the Bulls, creating an air of uncertainty. At 35, Jordan was not just a global icon, but also the epitome of a competitor. Leading the league in scoring with an average of 28.7 points per game, Jordan's leadership and relentless drive were the heartbeats of the Bulls. The playoffs began with the Bulls dominating the New Jersey Nets and defeating the Charlotte Hornets. The Chicago Bulls are the only team to sweep a first-round series. The Bulls did what they set out to do, knock out the Charlotte Hornets and not having to go back to Charlotte. However, the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers proved to be a grueling battle. The series went to a decisive Game 7, where Jordan's 28 points and the Bulls' staunch defense secured their passage to the NBA Finals. In the finals, the Bulls faced the Utah Jazz, led by Colm Malone and John Stockton. The series was a fierce contest of wills, with each game hanging in the balance. The defining moment came in Game 6 in Utah. With the Bulls trailing by three points in the final minute, Jordan scored quickly to cut the lead. Then, in a legendary defensive play, he stole the ball from Colm Malone. Dribbling down the court, Jordan executed a perfect crossover and the Bulls have won their first ever for the second straight season. Have won their sixth NBA championship and it's their second three-peat.