This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 8/12/2011.
After a stand-out career at the University of North Carolina, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as one of the stars of the league, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line at Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation as 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". Though Jordan abruptly left the NBA at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995-96 season. Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances and three All-Star MVP, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA record for highest career regular season scoring average with 30.1 points per game, as well as averaging a record 33.4 points per game in the playoffs. In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. On the front right tail is the "Rawlings" size 42 manufacturers tag with wash instructions. Across the front is “CHICAGO" in black on white heavy vinyl lettering. Below on the left and on back is the player number "23' in black on white heavy vinyl lettering. Across the back is the player name "JORDAN" in white heavy vinyl lettering. This style was only worn by Jordan during his rookie season. There has been writing removed from this uniform. Autographed on the back number in silver marker and rates a 9. On the back inside waistband of the shorts is the "Rawlings" size 36 manufacturers tag with wash instructions. Next to this is the player number “23” embroidered strip tag. Autographed on front in black marker and rates a 9. The uniform shows game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind. Both autographs are accompanied by a LOA from JSA and UDA. This is as good an example of a MJ rookie as you will ever see. Please note that a correction and/or update has been made to this lot and the printed catalog differs from what is online.