On this day, 49 years ago, one of the world’s most popular athletes, Michael Jordan was born.
Here is a quiz on the legendary basketball player.
Q: After a stellar college career for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Jordan was touted as an up-and-coming star when recruited for the National Basketball Association. However, he was picked up only third by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA draft. Name the two players who were picked before him.
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A: Hakeem (then Akeem) Olajuwon by the Houston Rockets and Sam Bowie by Portland Trailblazers
Q: Before Jordan went on to win multiple NBA championships and Olympic gold medals, he was leading the league in scoring for the Bulls. In the 1986-87 NBA season, he averaged 37.09 points per game. Only one player had better scoring averages for a full season and still holds that record even today. Name him.
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A: Wilt Chamberlain (who holds the NBA regular season record for most points scored per game in a season: 50.36 set in 1961-62 for the Philadelphia Warriors)
Q: While Michael Jordan won six NBA championships, only one player was his teammate in all six of them. Name this player, who is widely regarded as being among the best ever defensive wing players in the league.
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A: Scottie Pippen
Q: In the 1996-97 season’s NBA finals, the Bulls led the Utah Jazz 3-2 and in Game 6 with 10 seconds to go, the score was tied at 86 apiece. Jordan drove to the left side of the court but was soon engulfed by two defenders including Jazz icon John Stockton. He tried to fool the defenders by mimicking a shot, but then passed the ball to a wide-open (undefended) teammate who hit a 17-foot shot that gave the Bulls their fifth championship. Who was this teammate, who happens to be the current coach of a team that holds the record for the most wins in the NBA regular season (73-9 in 2015-16)?
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A: Steve Kerr (currently the coach of the Golden State Warriors)
Q: One of the most iconic plays of Jordan’s career was during the 1997-98 season when the Chicago Bulls won their sixth championship beating the Utah Jazz in Game 6 at Salt Lake City. Trailing by a point and with 20 seconds to go, Jordan stole the ball by swiping it from the hands of Jazz power forward Karl Malone, advanced it and then took on a Jazz defender. Using a crossover dribble to fend off the defender, Jordan then used his patented midrange jumper from near the paint to let the Bulls take the lead (for the win) with just 5.2 seconds to go. Who was the Jazz defender on this play?
Show Answer
A: Bryon Russell
