Editing Michael Jordan (section)

== Player profile ==
[[File:Jordan by Lipofsky 16577.jpg|thumb|upright|Jordan dunking the ball, 1987–88]]
<!--THIS SECTION IS FOR DESCRIBING HIS PLAYING STYLE AND STRENGTHS AS A PLAYER. ACCOLADES AND OTHER AWARDS GO IN LEGACY OR UNDER CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS.-->
Jordan was a [[shooting guard]] who could also play as a [[small forward]], the position he would primarily play during his second return to professional basketball with the [[Washington Wizards]].<ref name="br" /> Jordan was known throughout his career as a strong [[Clutch (sports)|clutch]] performer. With the Bulls, he decided 25 games with field goals or free throws in the last 30 seconds, including two NBA Finals games and five other playoff contests.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Many Has Michael Made? |url=http://www.nba.com/jordan/game_winners.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712152426/http://www.nba.com/jordan/game_winners.html |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2021 |website=NBA.com}}</ref> His competitiveness was visible in his prolific [[trash talk]] and well-known work ethic.<ref name="SBD">Donnelly, Sally B (January 9, 1989). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202055306/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956692-3,00.html "Great Leapin' Lizards! Michael Jordan Can't Actually Fly, But"]. ''Time''. Retrieved July 21, 2021.</ref><ref>Jackson, Phil (July 1998). [http://www.nba.com/jordan/is_philonmj.html "Michael and Me"]. ''Inside Stuff'' (June/July). {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211230443/http://www.nba.com/jordan/is_philonmj.html|date=February 11, 2007}}. Retrieved July 27, 2019.</ref><ref>DeCourcy, Mike (July 21, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080217041634/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=110400 "A suspension for talking trash? Mamma mia!"]. ''The Sporting News''. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Jordan often used perceived slights to fuel his performances. Sportswriter [[Wright Thompson]] described him as "a killer, in the Darwinian sense of the word, immediately sensing and attacking someone's weakest spot".<ref name="left">Thompson, Wright (February 22, 2013). [http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story?_slug_=michael-jordan-not-left-building&page=Michael-Jordan&redirected=true "Michael Jordan Has Not Left the Building"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807101149/http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story?_slug_=michael-jordan-not-left-building&page=Michael-Jordan&redirected=true|date=August 7, 2024}}. ''ESPN The Magazine''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> As the Bulls organization built the franchise around Jordan, management had to trade away players who were not "tough enough" to compete with him in practice. To improve his defense, Jordan spent hours studying film of opponents. On offense, he relied more upon instinct and improvization.<ref>Condor, pp. xviii–xx.</ref> Jordan's fierce competitiveness greatly impacted his teammates, sometimes motivating them but also leading to tension and alienation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Heisler |first=Mark |title=Jordan Ripped Into Teammates After Game 2 Loss to Pistons |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-24-sp-377-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 24, 1990 |access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Beslic |first=Stephen |title=BJ Armstrong says competition is a lifestyle for Michael Jordan |url=https://www.si.com/nba/bulls/old-school/bj-armstrong-says-competition-is-a-lifestyle-for-michael-jordan#:~:text=Everything%20was%20a%20competition,take%20it%20easy%20on%20him |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 5, 2023 |access-date=October 18, 2024 |archive-date=December 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201145423/https://www.si.com/nba/bulls/old-school/bj-armstrong-says-competition-is-a-lifestyle-for-michael-jordan#:~:text=Everything%20was%20a%20competition,take%20it%20easy%20on%20him |url-status=live }}</ref>

Noted as a durable player, Jordan did not miss four or more games while active for a full season from 1986–87 to 2001–02, when he injured his right knee.<ref name="br" /><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/26/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-s-knee-problems-may-force-him-to-sideline.html "Pro Basketball; Jordan's Knee Problems May Force Him to Sideline"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504121638/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/26/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-s-knee-problems-may-force-him-to-sideline.html |date=May 4, 2016 }}. ''The New York Times''. February 26, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Of the 15 seasons Jordan was in the NBA, he played all 82 regular season games nine times.<ref name="br" /> Jordan has frequently cited [[David Thompson (basketball)|David Thompson]], [[Walter Davis (basketball)|Walter Davis]], and [[Jerry West]] as influences.<ref>Jordan, [http://www.nba.com/jordan/forthelove.html p. 155]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610023640/http://www.nba.com/jordan/forthelove.html|date=June 10, 2014}}. Retrieved April 7, 2022.</ref><ref>DuPree, David (February 9, 2003). [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2003-02-06-dupree-team_x.htm "Jordan wears 'greatest' crown"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501165851/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2003-02-06-dupree-team_x.htm |date=May 1, 2013 }}. ''USA Today''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Confirmed at the start of his career, and possibly later on, Jordan had a special "Love of the Game Clause" written into his contract, which was unusual at the time, and allowed him to play basketball against anyone at any time, anywhere.<ref>Jordan, p. 5.</ref>

Jordan had a versatile offensive game and was capable of aggressively [[Penetration (basketball)|driving]] to the basket as well as drawing [[Personal foul (basketball)|fouls]] from his opponents at a high rate. His 8,772 [[free throw]] attempts are the 11th-highest total in NBA history.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fta_career.html "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Free Throw Attempts"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307065351/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fta_career.html |date=March 7, 2011 }}. ''Basketball Reference''. Retrieved October 22, 2022.</ref> Early in Jordan's career, he weighed in at around {{convert|200|lb}} and was more athletic in terms of play style.<ref name=JordanTraining>{{cite web |last=Quinn |first=Sam |date=May 11, 2020 |title=How Michael Jordan bulked up to outmuscle Pistons, win first NBA championship with Bulls |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/how-michael-jordan-bulked-up-to-outmuscle-pistons-win-first-nba-championship-with-bulls/ |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=CBS Sports |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716235701/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/how-michael-jordan-bulked-up-to-outmuscle-pistons-win-first-nba-championship-with-bulls/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As his career progressed, Jordan also developed the ability to [[post up]] his opponents and score with his trademark [[fadeaway]] jump shot, using his leaping ability to avoid block attempts. According to [[Hubie Brown]], this move alone made Jordan nearly unstoppable.<ref>Brown, Hubie. [http://www.nba.com/jordan/hubieonjordan.html "Hubie Brown on Jordan"]. ''NBA.com''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411031316/http://www.nba.com/jordan/hubieonjordan.html|date=April 11, 2010}}. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref> Around this time, he bulked up to {{convert|215|lb}} in order to adapt to the increased physicality of NBA defenses during the 1990s, sacrificing some athleticism for added strength in the post.<ref name=JordanTraining/> Despite media criticism by some as a selfish player early in his career, Jordan was willing to defer to this teammates, with a career average of 5.3 apg and a season-high of 8.0 apg.<ref name="dbb" /> For a guard, Jordan was also a good rebounder, finishing with 6.2 rpg. Defensively, he averaged 2.3 spg and 0.8 bpg.<ref name="dbb" />

The [[three-point field goal]] was not Jordan's strength, especially in his early years. Later on in his career, Jordan improved his three-point shooting, and finished his career with a three-point field goal percentage of 32%.<ref name="dbb" /> His best years shooting from three occurred in the 1989–90 and 1992–93 seasons, where he shot 37% and 35% from three, respectively (Jordan did shoot higher percentages from 1994 to 1997, but in those years, the three-point line was temporarily moved inwards).<ref name="br" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Sam |title=What the shortened NBA 3-point line of the mid-1990s says about the future of long-range shooting |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/what-the-shortened-nba-3-point-line-of-the-mid-1990s-says-about-the-future-of-long-range-shooting/ |work=CBS Sports |date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> <!--The line "His three-point field-goal percentages ranged from 35% to 43% in seasons where Jordan attempted at least 230 three-pointers between 1989–90 and 1996–97" is blatantly misleading. Three of the four years this happened occurred when the three point line was moved in-->

Overall, Jordan's [[effective field goal percentage]] was 51%, and he had six seasons with at least 50% shooting, five of which were consecutive (1988–1992). Jordan also shot 51% and 50% from the field, and 30% and 33% from three-point range, throughout his first and second retirements, respectively, finishing his Bulls career with 31.5 points per game on 50.5 FG% shooting and his overall career with 49.7 FG% shooting.<ref name="br" />

In 1988, Jordan was honored with the [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year]] and the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] awards, becoming the first NBA player to win both awards in a career let alone season. He also set both seasonal and career records for [[blocked shots]] by a guard,<ref>Ladewski, Paul (December 1987). [http://www.nba.com/jordan/hoop_86-87.html "What Does He Do for an Encore?"]. ''Hoop Magazine''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411031437/http://www.nba.com/jordan/hoop_86-87.html|date=April 11, 2010}}. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref> and combined this with his ball-thieving ability to become a standout defensive player. Despite his defensive prowess, the 1988 season has come under scrutiny due to the large discrepancy between Jordan's steals' numbers at home versus on the road. Such stat inflation was common, and a 2024 study by Tom Haberstroh found that there were games where Jordan was often credited with steals that could not have happened. For example, in one game, he was credited with more steals than the opposing team had live-ball turnovers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Haberstroh |first=Tom |title=A closer look at Michael Jordan's 1988 DPOY award raises questions about its validity. Has LeBron James been chasing a ghost? |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/a-closer-look-at-michael-jordans-1988-dpoy-award-raises-questions-about-its-validity-has-lebron-james-been-chasing-a-ghost-140452567.html |website=Yahoo Sports |date=June 20, 2024 |access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> Jordan ranks fourth in NBA history in total [[Steal (basketball)|steals]] with 2,514, trailing [[John Stockton]], [[Jason Kidd]] and [[Chris Paul]].<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_career.html "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Steals"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716122005/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_career.html |date=July 16, 2010 }}. ''Basketball Reference''. Retrieved March 16, 2023.</ref> Jerry West often stated that he was more impressed with Jordan's defensive contributions than his offensive ones.<ref name="cnnsi">[https://web.archive.org/web/20010124043200/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/jordan_retires/news/1999/01/13/jordan_greatest/ "Michael Jordan: A tribute: Praise from his peers, NBA's 50 greatest sing MJ's praises"]. CNN/''Sports Illustrated''. February 1, 1999. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> [[Doc Rivers]] declared Jordan "the best superstar defender in the history of the game".<ref>{{cite web |last=MacMullan |first=Jackie |title=Michael Jordan also dominated the NBA on defense |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29163085/michael-jordan-dominated-nba-defense |publisher=ESPN |date=May 12, 2020 |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217080814/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29163085/michael-jordan-dominated-nba-defense |url-status=live}}</ref>

Jordan was known to have strong eyesight. Broadcaster [[Al Michaels]] said that Jordan was able to read baseball box scores on a {{convert|27|in|cm|adj=on}} television clearly from about {{convert|50|ft|m}} away.<ref>Simmons, Bill (June 19, 2014). [http://grantland.com/the-triangle/b-s-report-al-michaels-2/ "B.S. Report: Al Michaels"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622132554/http://grantland.com/the-triangle/b-s-report-al-michaels-2/ |date=June 22, 2014 }}. ''Grantland''. 1:29–2:45. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> During the [[2001 NBA Finals]], [[Phil Jackson]] compared Jordan's dominance to [[Shaquille O'Neal]], stating: "Michael would get fouled on every play and still have to play through it and just clear himself for shots instead and would rise to that occasion."<ref>Drehs, Wayne (June 12, 2001). [https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2001/2001/0611/1212618.html "Shaq: Play me, Dikembe: Play the game"]. [https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2001/2001/0611/1212618.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924231522/https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2001/2001/0611/1212618.html|date=September 24, 2024}}. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>