Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball Alumni: 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s first title

By Zack Pearson

Jun 1991: Guard Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers (bottom, left corner) shakes hands with guard John Paxton of the Chicago Bulls, right, as the Bulls celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals at the Great Western Forum in I
Jun 1991: Guard Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers (bottom, left corner) shakes hands with guard John Paxton of the Chicago Bulls, right, as the Bulls celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals at the Great Western Forum in I /
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After Michael Jordan left the UNC Basketball program following three impressive years in Chapel Hill, he went on to have a historic 15-year career in the NBA and is considered the greatest to ever play the game.

Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls No. 3 overall in the 1984 NBA Draft and while he got the franchise to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, he kept falling short. Whether it was the Boston Celtics or the Detroit Pistons, Jordan and the Bulls just couldn’t get over the hump of reaching the NBA Finals. Then year seven game.

The Bulls finished the 1990-91 at 61-21 with the best record in the Eastern Conference led by the MVP Jordan. They swept the New York Knicks in the first round before beating the Philadelphia 76ers and then the Detroit Pistons to reach the NBA Finals. Sweeping the Pistons was a monumental achievement for the franchise after Detroit had Chicago’s number in previous seasons. And while it was a feeling of getting the monkey off their back, they had the task of beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

With Los Angeles taking Game 1 93-91 backed by two former Tar Heels in James Worthy and Sam Perkins scoring 22 each, it would be the only game the Lakers would win in the series. Fueled by Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s play, the Bulls would go on to win the next four including the series clincher in Game 5 on June 12th, 1991 to win their first title.

It was the first of six titles for Jordan as he was able to finally reach the mountain top and continue his historic career:

Jordan and the Bulls would go on to win six total titles including 3-peating twice from 1991-93 and then 1996-98. He would finish his career with six NBA Finals MVP’s, five NBA MVP’s, 14 Al-Star Game appearances, 10 NBA First Team appearances, 9 NBA All Defensive First Team appearances and an NBA Rookie of the Year award among other honors in his career.

While Jordan did win five more titles, it’s always the first one you remember the most.

New Air Jordan 6 "UNC" set to release in 2022. dark. Next

For more on Jordan and other former UNC Basketball players in the NBA, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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