Slam Dunk!

It was 1978 in Wilmington, North Carolina. A teenager was trying out for his high school’s top basketball team. He played as hard as he could—but he didn’t make the team.

If he had quit playing basketball, you probably wouldn’t be reading this story right now. But he didn’t quit. In fact, he went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.

Maybe you’ve heard of him. His name is Michael Jordan.

It was 1978 in Wilmington, North Carolina. A teenager was trying out for his high school’s top basketball team. He played as hard as he could. But he didn’t make the team.

If he had quit playing basketball, you probably wouldn’t be reading this story right now. But he didn’t quit. In fact, he went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.

Maybe you’ve heard of him. His name is Michael Jordan.

The summer after he didn’t make the team, Jordan grew 5 inches taller and practiced every day. He was determined to improve, and his hard work paid off. The next year, Jordan made the top team at his high school!

Coaches at the University of North Carolina later brought Jordan onto their team. He became a star, making the winning shot in a championship game!

Professional teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) noticed Jordan’s skills. In the early 1980s, the NBA wasn’t as popular as it is today. Not many people went to games. That was especially true in Chicago, Illinois, where the Chicago Bulls played.

The people in charge of the Bulls had a plan. If they brought a young star like Jordan onto their team, games might get more exciting. Then more people might come watch. So the Bulls chose Jordan for their team in 1984.

A shoe company called Nike also had big dreams for Jordan. Nike created special sneakers for him: Air Jordans. It paid Jordan millions of dollars to wear these shoes. Nike hoped that fans would want to buy the same shoes he had. It was a big risk.

Could a new player become so famous that fans would buy tickets to his games—and sneakers named after him?

The summer after he didn’t make the team, Jordan grew 5 inches taller. He practiced every day. He didn’t give up. His hard work paid off. The next year, Jordan made the top team at his high school!

Coaches at the University of North Carolina watched Jordan play. They brought him onto their team. He became a star. He made the winning shot in a championship game!

Professional teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) noticed Jordan’s skills. In the early 1980s, the NBA wasn’t as popular as it is today. Not many people went to games. That was especially true in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bulls played there.

The people in charge of the Bulls had a plan. They could bring a young star like Jordan onto their team. The games might get more exciting. Then more people might come watch. So the Bulls chose Jordan for their team in 1984.

A shoe company called Nike also had big dreams for Jordan. Nike created special sneakers for him called Air Jordans. It paid Jordan millions of dollars to wear these shoes. Nike hoped that fans would buy the same shoes he had. It was a big risk.

Could a new player become so famous that fans would buy tickets to his games and sneakers named after him?

The answer was a gigantic yes! Jordan became a sensation. He dazzled fans with his slam dunks. He jumped so high it looked like he was flying. He dodged defenders and dribbled around them. Nobody had seen anything like it. Season after season, Jordan racked up points. Ticket and sneaker sales boomed.

But there was still a problem. No matter how well their star played, the Bulls could not win the biggest prize: an NBA championship. Did Jordan care more about himself than the team?

The answer was a huge yes! Jordan became a sensation. Fans loved his slam dunks. He jumped so high it looked like he was flying. He dribbled around defenders. Nobody had seen anything like it. He scored many points every season. Ticket and sneaker sales boomed.

But there was still a problem. No matter how well their star played, the Bulls could not win an NBA championship. That was the biggest prize in the NBA. Did Jordan care more about himself than the team?

It was time for a new plan. The Bulls hired a different coach who wanted Jordan to pass more. Jordan was reluctant. He liked being the star.

But he started to follow the plan. He learned that he could trust his teammates, like Scottie Pippen, to score too. The Bulls became an unstoppable team. In 1991, the Bulls finally won the NBA championship. It was an incredible accomplishment. And they didn’t stop there. The Bulls won five more championships with Jordan!

Jordan left the Bulls in 1999. He won five Most Valuable Player awards and two Olympic gold medals. He helped Air Jordans become the most successful sneaker in history. Many people think Jordan is the GOAT of basketball. That means the greatest of all time.

And just think: He didn’t make the best team at his high school in 1978. If Jordan had quit then, none of this would have happened. His story is a reminder to never give up on your dreams.

It was time for a new plan. The Bulls hired a different coach. He wanted Jordan to pass more. Jordan was reluctant. He liked being the star.

But he started to follow the plan. He learned that he could trust his teammates, like Scottie Pippen, to score too. In 1991, the Bulls finally won the NBA championship. It was an incredible accomplishment. And they didn’t stop there. The Bulls won five more championships with Jordan!

Jordan left the Bulls in 1999. He won five Most Valuable Player awards and two Olympic gold medals. He helped Air Jordans become the most successful sneaker in history. Many people think Jordan is the GOAT of basketball. That means the greatest of all time.

And just think: He didn’t make the best team at his high school in 1978. If Jordan had quit then, none of this would have happened. His story is a reminder to never give up on your dreams.