Michael Jordan rivals LeBron James as the greatest basketball player of all time.
For many N.B.A Fans, no one can top Air Jordan, who went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and won five NBA MVP awards.
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Michael Jordan produced scoring nights that are still legendary four decades laterCredit: AFP – Getty
In 1984, he was admitted to the league as the No. 3 overall pick from North CarolinaMichael Jeffrey Jordan changed the NBA and became an international icon.
Jordan’s net worth is estimated by Forbes at $3.5 billion.
He has long been associated with Nike and teamed up with Gatorade.
MJ became one NASCAR co-owned the team in 2020, and sold his majority stake in the NBA Charlotte Hornets in 2023.
In 1990, the best basketball player in the world scored almost 70 points in a game.
“I didn’t think anyone was capable of doing what Michael did to us,” says one stunned Larry Vogel said in 1986.
“He’s the most exciting, great player in the game today. I think it’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
Here’s talkSPORT’s look at the highest-grossing NBA games in Jordan’s unprecedented history.
10. 56 points – Bulls 93, 76ers 91 on March 24, 1987
Charles Barkel and the Philadelphia 76ers were no match for Jordan as the young Bulls star began to make the big leap.
Barkley had a huge double-double with 17 points and 25 rebounds, including a whopping 11 offensive boards.
But Jordan was different, scoring 56 points on 22 of 32 shooting.
Even more impressive was the fact that only one of MJ’s field goal attempts was a three-pointer.
Allen Iverson looks back on one of his most iconic moments in NBA history with Michael Jordan
He added eight steals, seven rebounds and three assists while overcoming seven turnovers.
Jordan played 44 of the 48 minutes at Chicago Stadium.
On a night when Gene Banks was the second-highest scoring Bull with 13 points, Air Jordan literally carried Chicago to victory.
“I think this guy might be better than me,” Barkley says remembered told his daughter during the 1993 NBA Finals.
“I’ve never said that about another basketball player in my life.”
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Charles Barkley saw firsthand how explosive MJ could beCredit: Getty
9. 56 points – Bulls 119, Heat 114 on April 29, 1992
Rony Seikaly and Glen Rice led Miami in scoring.
Their combined 47 points couldn’t match Jordan’s masterful 56 in a game where Chicago poured in 40 points in the fourth quarter to claim the victory.
Miami led 33-19 after the first period.
MJ overcame this deficit by making 20 of 30 shots from the floor.
He didn’t attempt a 3, but hit 16 of 18 attempts from the free throw line.
Throw in five assists, four steals, two blocks and just two turnovers, and it was an incredibly efficient 43 minutes from the repeating champion.
Scottie Pippen added 31 points for the Bulls.
8. 57 points – Bulls 107, Bullets 98 on December 23, 1992
Two days before ChristmasJordan took over Chicago Stadium.
Chicago outscored Washington 52-39 in the second half as Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, BJ Armstrong and MJ all reached double figures in their scoring.
This game showed a new side of His Airness.
Jordan drilled 6 of 8 3s.
His 37 field goal attempts were also more than double Grant’s 16, which was second to the Bulls.
As Christmas approached, Jordan took over completely.
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Jordan and Scottie Pippen became a championship duo for the BullsCredit: AFP
7. 58 points – Bulls 128, Nets 113 on February 26, 1987
Maybe Jordan wanted to send a message to Orlando Woolridge, who scored 20 points for New Jersey, but used to play with the Bulls.
Regardless, MJ scored almost 60 during a season in which he averaged a career-high 37.1 points.
Jordan had almost four times as many points as the Bulls’ second leading scorer (John Paxon with 16).
Even more impressive was his precision from the line.
On a night when MJ was 16 of 25 from the field, he was a near-perfect 26 of 27 on free throws.
6. 59 points – Bulls 112, Pistons 110 on April 3, 1988
What makes Jordan’s 59 points in this game so impressive is that the defense dominated in the fourth quarter.
After Chicago scored at least 30 points in each of the first three periods, the Pistons and Bulls combined to score just 37 points in the fourth.
Jordan was on target the entire time, shooting 21 of 27 from the field and a super sharp 17 of 19 from the line.
He once again carried the Bulls, who battled Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer for a tough two-point win at the Silverdome.
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This photo sums up Jordan’s scoring dominanceCredit: Getty
5. 61 points – Bulls 125, Pistons 120 in OT on March 4, 1987
The final full month of the 1986–87 season produced some of Jordan’s best scoring outbursts.
He started March scoring 30 points, but dropped 61 points two games later.
Nights of 49, 44, 40, 40, 46, 56 and 40 points followed, as MJ announced to the basketball world that a new name was taking over.
On March 4, Jordan was nearly unstoppable at the Pistons’ home.
He played a team-high 43 minutes and produced 61 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks.
MJ shot 17 of 18 from the free throw line and scored at least 50 points better than all other Chicago starters.
The Bulls needed overtime — and all of Jordan’s 61 points — to stop Detroit.
4. 61 points – Hawks 117, Bulls 114 on April 16, 1987
Just a month later, Jordan poured in another 61.
Chicago was outscored 37-23 in the fourth quarter during a frustrating home loss to Dominique Wilkins and Atlanta.
But Jordan sank 22 of 38 shots and missed only four of his 21 free throws.
A unique double-double of 61 points and 10 rebounds was produced on a night when Chicago fell to 40-41.
A three-game playoff loss to Boston followed.
But Jordan had clearly announced that he would change the NBA forever.
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Air Jordan could be unstoppable with ball in handCredit: AFP – Getty
3. 63 points – Celtics 135, Bulls 131 in 2 OT on April 20, 1986
One of the most famous matches of Jordan’s legendary career ended with a painful defeat.
There were two overtime matches at the old Boston Garden Larry VogelKevin McHale, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and Bill Walton.
During a game where Bird had 36 points and 12 rebounds, while Walton added 10 points and 15 boards off the bench, MJ didn’t have enough help.
“Fifty points… 63 points, I just want to win,” Jordan said.
“The points mean nothing to me.”
He was by far Chicago’s best player, making 41 shots and 21 free throws.
“God disguised as Michael Jordan,” Bird said.
But his 63 points fell short and Boston was swept.
“Michael was doing so much and so well, I found myself wanting to just stop and watch him — and I was playing,” Bulls guard John Paxson said.
2. 64 points – Magic 128, Bulls 124 in OT on January 16, 1993
The NBA got an early idea of what basketball would be missing if Jordan were to retire for the first time.
Shaquille O’Neal‘S Orlando magic needed overtime to stop Jordan and the Bulls.
O’Neal had a monster game (29 points, 24 rebounds, five blocks), while future NBA head coach Scott Skiles led the Magic with 31 points.
An off night for the rest of Chicago’s offense was met by hardwood heroism from MJ.
He took 49 shots and made 27, with six rebounds and five steals.
Even more impressive was the fact that Jordan scored 64 points but only hit one three-pointer.
He was a one-man show versus Shaq’s Magic.
A third NBA championship — and pension leading to Minor League Baseball – would soon follow.
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Jordan’s scoring intensity and creativity remain unmatched in NBA historyCredit: AFP
1. 69 points – Bulls 117, Cavaliers 113 in OT on March 28, 1990
Overtime was often linked to Jordan’s best scoring nights.
This was the biggest blowout of his Hall of Fame career.
Cleveland used a 27-16 fourth quarter to extend the game.
While Mark Price and Craig Ehlo combined to score 57 points for the Cavaliers, Jordan unleashed 69 points to set his personal scoring record.
He was 23-for-37 from the floor, 21-for-23 from the free-throw line, and added two made 3s.
Eighteen rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block completed Jordan’s effort, who saw MJ on the court for fifty minutes.
Chicago would ultimately fall 4-3 to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
But Jordan built his legacy and the NBA took notice.
MJ took over and six world championships were about to belong to Air Jordan.
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