Michael Jordan Trivia Questions

After his first retirement in 1993, he played for the Birmingham Barons, a White Sox AA affiliate, in 1994.

Michael Jordan was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls, after Hakeem Olajuwon (first) and Sam Bowie (second), making the statement true.

His first title came in 1991, his seventh season, after years of playoff losses to the Pistons and Celtics.

He was a key member of the 1992 U.S. men's basketball team that dominated Barcelona, winning gold with an 8-0 record.

At age 21, Jordan led the U.S. men's basketball team to gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics while still at the University of North Carolina.

Hakeem Olajuwon went first to Houston, Sam Bowie second to Portland—a famously missed pick.

Jordan went 6-0 in NBA Finals appearances with the Chicago Bulls (1991-1993, 1996-1998). He also won Finals MVP every time.

Jordan went 6-0 in NBA Finals appearances with the Chicago Bulls, winning all six championships without a Finals loss.

Jordan hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA final as a freshman, but he stayed three years and won only that one title. The statement is true—wait, that's correct. Let me correct: He did win in 1982. This statement is actually TRUE. I need to swap. Revised:

He was cut from Laney High School's varsity team but used it as motivation, becoming a star the following year.

The Bulls drafted Jordan third overall, after Hakeem Olajuwon (1st) and Sam Bowie (2nd).

He hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 title game as a freshman, a fact often overshadowed by his pro career.

Wilt Chamberlain holds the NBA record with 100 points; Jordan's career high was 69. This myth often gets confused with his scoring prowess.

The Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon first overall; Jordan was selected third by the Chicago Bulls.

He hit the game-winning jumper against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA title game, his only college championship.

Jordan has a well-documented history of gambling, including high-stakes golf bets and a $57,000 bet with a security guard. He admitted to “poor judgment.”

The Rockets took Olajuwon first, the Trail Blazers took Bowie second. Portland famously passed on Jordan, later calling it one of the worst draft mistakes ever.

He started for UNC as a freshman and hit the game-winning jumper in the 1982 NCAA championship against Georgetown.

He played minor league baseball for the Chicago White Sox affiliate in 1994, a well-known detour between his first two NBA retirements.

True. As a freshman, Jordan hit the go-ahead jumper with 17 seconds left to beat Georgetown for the national title.

In the 1997 Finals Game 5, Jordan played despite severe flu-like symptoms, scoring 38 points, including a crucial three-pointer.

He was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls, after Hakeem Olajuwon (1st) and Sam Bowie (2nd).

Jordan spent 13 seasons with the Bulls (1984–93, 1995–98) and two with the Wizards (2001–03). He never played for another franchise.

Jordan went 6-0 in NBA Finals appearances with the Chicago Bulls, winning Finals MVP each time, a perfect record unmatched in league history.

He was picked after Hakeem Olajuwon (1st) and Sam Bowie (2nd). This is a well-known fact but often surprises casual fans.

Actually true—he was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. This statement is true.

Jordan did own the Charlotte Bobcats and rebranded them as the Hornets in 2014, but he was not the original owner—he bought the team in 2010.

He played for the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, both U.S. teams, so this is true.

Jordan won all six NBA Finals he played in with the Chicago Bulls (1991-1993, 1996-1998), never needing a Game 7 in any of them.

He lost in the playoffs several times before winning his first title, including early exits in 1985, 1986, and 1987.

After his first NBA retirement in 1993, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox affiliate, in 1994.

The 'Flu Game' (1997 Finals Game 5) is legendary, but Jordan actually had food poisoning, not the flu. He scored 38 points, not 30.

After returning from his first retirement, Jordan lost to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals. He later won three more titles.

In 1988, Jordan won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year—a rare combo. He also led the league in scoring and steals that season.

He played for the Wizards from 2001 to 2003 after his second retirement. It's a common myth that he only owned the team.

He played for the Birmingham Barons in 1994, a surprising detour after his first retirement. It's true, though he wasn't successful.

Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons in 1994 but struck out 114 times in 436 at-bats. He hit .202 with 3 home runs.

At Laney High in Wilmington, NC, Jordan was cut from the varsity team in 1978. He used this as motivation to become the best player ever.

In Game 5 of the 1997 Finals, Jordan scored 38 points while severely ill. He later said it was food poisoning from a pizza ordered in Utah.

On April 20, 1986, Jordan dropped 63 points in a double-OT loss to the Celtics. It remains the NBA record for most points in a playoff game.

His career high is actually 69 points, but that is true? Wait—it's 69, not 70. He scored 69 against Cleveland in 1990. So this is true.

After his first retirement, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons (Double-A) and the Scottsdale Scorpions (Arizona Fall League) in 1994.

Despite being a nine-time All-Defensive First Team selection and winning the 1988 DPOY, wait—he did win it in 1988. So this is false.

This is a popular myth; he did use his left hand often but never played an entire game left-handed.

He signed a 7-year, $6 million contract in 1984, averaging about $857,000 per season.

His highest Finals game was 55 points (1993 vs. Suns). No one has ever scored 60 in a Finals game.

He retired from basketball in 1993 to pursue baseball, playing for the Birmingham Barons, a White Sox Double-A affiliate, in 1994.

He won the NCAA title in 1982 as a freshman, hitting the game-winning shot. He left for the NBA after his junior year, never playing as a senior.

He won scoring titles at ages 30, 31, 32, and 34, including his famous 1996 season.

After his first retirement in 1993, he played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons, a Cubs affiliate, in 1994.

In the 1986 playoffs, he dropped 63 on Boston, which remains the NBA playoff single-game scoring record.

James Jordan was murdered in July 1993, after Jordan had already won three consecutive NBA titles (1991-1993).

Though called the Flu Game, his trainer later revealed it was likely food poisoning from a pizza in Salt Lake City, not the flu.

He briefly wore number 45 after his first retirement in 1995, and number 12 when his jersey was stolen before a game in 1990.

After his first NBA retirement, Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, hitting .202 with 3 home runs.

In Game 2 of the 1986 first round, Jordan dropped 63 points on the Celtics, still the NBA playoff record for most points in a single game.

The NBA fined Jordan $5,000 per game for wearing black and red sneakers, which violated the league's uniform policy, leading Nike to market them as 'banned.'

True. After his first NBA retirement, he played outfield for the Chicago White Sox’s Double-A affiliate, hitting .202.

False. Jordan returned from his first retirement in March 1995 and played 17 regular-season games that season.

True. In the 1986 playoffs, Jordan dropped 63 on the Celtics in a double-overtime loss, still the NBA playoff scoring record.

False. He was selected third overall, after Hakeem Olajuwon (first) and Sam Bowie (second).

Jordan played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons (a White Sox affiliate) in 1994, not for the major league team.

Jordan has a known phobia of swimming and deep water, stemming from a childhood incident where a friend nearly drowned.

Jordan won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, averaging 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, a rare feat for a guard.

After his first retirement in 1993, Jordan played Class AA baseball for the Chicago White Sox affiliate in 1994, hitting .202.

Jordan scored 60 or more points five times in his career, including a playoff-record 63 points against Boston in 1986.

He won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year that season, averaging 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.

He wore number 23 at UNC, hitting the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship. He wore 45 briefly with the Bulls after his first return.

After his first retirement in 1993, Jordan signed with the White Sox and played for their Double-A affiliate, the Birmingham Barons, in 1994.

Hakeem Olajuwon went first to Houston, Sam Bowie second to Portland, and Jordan third to Chicago. Portland passed on Jordan for a center.

Jordan was never banned for gambling. He did face scrutiny over his gambling habits, and the NBA investigated, but no ban ever occurred.

All six of Jordan’s Bulls championships came with Pippen on the roster; his Wizards years had no titles.

Popular myth claims he ate bad pizza in Salt Lake City, but his trainer and others say it was likely a stomach virus; no official confirmation.

He was not the highest-paid early in his career; players like Patrick Ewing and David Robinson earned more in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Jordan won his first MVP in 1988, three years before his first championship in 1991. He actually won MVP twice before any title.

Jordan played only one partial season (1994) with the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, batting .202.

Though called the 'Flu Game,' Jordan later said he likely suffered from food poisoning after eating a pizza in Utah the night before Game 5.

Jordan became part-owner of the then-Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and majority owner in 2010, but never returned to play for them.

Jordan lost several playoff series early in his career, including to the Celtics, Pistons, and Magic before his Bulls championship era.

Jordan was indeed cut from Laney High School's varsity team as a sophomore, which motivated him to work harder and become a legend.

Co-founded with Denny Hamlin in 2020, the team fields Toyota Camrys and won multiple races with drivers like Bubba Wallace.

He famously wore his Tar Heels practice shorts beneath his Bulls shorts for good luck throughout his career.

The 1995 Bulls lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Orlando Magic despite having home-court advantage. Jordan had just returned from his first retirement.

He fractured his foot in his second season (1985-86) and missed 64 games; no game with a broken foot exists.

Jordan broke his foot early in the 1985-86 season and missed most of the year. He never scored 40 with a broken foot—though he did return to score 49 in a playoff game.

Team sources later confirmed it was food poisoning from a pizza ordered in Salt Lake City the night before Game 5.

He went 6-0 in Finals appearances but lost Game 1 of the 1991 Finals at home to the Lakers, despite the Bulls having home-court.

Jordan wore 23 in high school as a tribute to his older brother Larry, who wore 45. He later briefly wore 45 after his first comeback.

Jordan actually earned $33 million in a season later, but the first to hit $30 million was Patrick Ewing in the 1997-98 season.

He won his first three titles under Phil Jackson, but his first NBA championship came in 1991 with Doug Collins as coach? No—Jackson was coach. Still false: Jordan played for Doug Collins from 1986-1989 before Jackson.

He lost in the first round to the Boston Celtics in 1986 and 1987. Many assume his dominance started immediately.

Jordan was the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets from 2010 to 2023, but he sold his stake in 2023, so he didn't own it at retirement—he owned it later.

Jordan never earned a total of $1 billion in salary. His wealth came mostly from endorsements, especially Nike, and his Hornets ownership.

Jordan won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and MVP that same season, but Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2020) also achieved this. Jordan was the first, however.

His playoff career high is 63 points in a first-round game against Boston in 1986, but he never scored 60 in the Finals; his Finals high is 55.

He wore #23 because it was roughly half of his brother Larry's number, 45, but he chose it as his own approximation, not exactly half. This is a common misinterpretation.

He went 6-0 in Game 7s, including the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals and several earlier rounds.

False. He won both regular-season MVP and the NBA title in 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998.

True. In the 1997 Finals Game 5, Jordan struggled with severe food poisoning, likely from a tainted pizza, scoring 38 points.

Jordan's highest Finals scoring was 55 points in Game 4 of the 1993 Finals vs. the Suns. He never hit 60.

Wilt Chamberlain scored 4,029 points in 1961-62 and 3,033 in 1962-63; Jordan’s highest was 3,041 in 1986-87.

Elgin Baylor holds that record with 61 points in 1962; Jordan's highest Finals game was 55 points.

Jordan was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 1988 MLB Draft, but it was in the 22nd round (506th overall), not the first round.

Michael Jordan won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988.

He starred in Space Jam (1996) with Bugs Bunny, but that's a cartoon rabbit, not a bunny. The statement is false because it says 'bunny'—a minor but tricky detail.

He played for Doug Collins in the 1989 and 1990 playoffs, but those teams did not reach the Finals; Jackson coached all six title runs.

The award started in 1983. Sidney Moncrief won the first one. Jordan won it once, in 1988, but was not the first recipient.

Jordan scored 31 points in Game 1 and 33 in Game 6 of the 1993 Finals, both below 40 points.

His best free-throw percentage was 85.7% in 1990-91, and he never led the league in that category.

Jordan won his fifth MVP at age 35 in 1998. He also won MVP at ages 30, 32, and 33, making this a common misconception.

In 1997, Jordan signed a one-year deal for $33.14 million with the Bulls, making him the first player to surpass $30 million annually.