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UNC Basketball in the NBA: The time Michael Jordan went from ‘Mike’ to ‘Michael’

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 7: Former player Michael Jordan of the North Carolina Tar Heels is honored during a halftime ceremony during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Dean Smith Center on March 7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 7: Former player Michael Jordan of the North Carolina Tar Heels is honored during a halftime ceremony during a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Dean Smith Center on March 7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Michael Jordan tells the story of when he went from ‘Mike’ to ‘Michael’ after hitting the biggest shot in UNC Basketball history

Sunday night makes the long awaited debut of ESPN’s newest film in their 30-for-30 series titled “The Last Dance.” The 10-part documentary will focus on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team that would go on to win their sixth NBA Championship and complete their second three-peat.

The documentary will break down the season as well as Jordan’s career leading up to that final year in Chicago.

But before the documentary airs, Jordan did a special sit-down interview with Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America” and revealed a good story that dates back to his time at North Carolina.

Jordan breaks down a story from when he went from “Mike” to Michael” and it’s a moment Tar Heels fans will never forget. The 1982 Championship saw Jordan and the Tar Heels battle Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas. Jordan would go on to hit the game-winning shot late in the second half and it ended up being the moment to jump start his career.

He detailed that in the interview:

"“Up until that point, no one knew who I was,” Jordan said during his interview. “Outside of the university, I was just known as ‘Mike Jordan.’ When I hit that shot, my whole name became ‘Michael Jordan.’“It resonated with a lot of people outside of UNC,” Jordan added. “And I just started piling on that name itself fro the successes that I endured throughout the rest of my career. It wasn’t about Mike. It was more about Michael then.”"

The shot delivered the Tar Heels their first title since 1957 and the first in Dean Smith’s legendary career. From there, Jordan’s career took off and it’s been history ever since. Jordan went on to win six NBA titles with the Bulls and ended his career as the GOAT.

You can watch the full interview here:

We can’t wait to see and hear all of the stories in this documentary on Jordan and the Bulls with reportedly over 10,000 hours of footage from that season.

Next. Coby White earns Rookie Honors from CBS Sports. dark

For more on Michael Jordan and the UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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