The Mindset of Michael Jordan

Backyard to Billionaire - Rise of The GOAT

“I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”

When we talk about athletes, one name towers above the rest - NBA legend Michael Jordan.

His name has become synonymous with greatness, determination, and triumph against all odds.

From the moment he burst onto the scene as a rookie sensation scoring in droves, Michael captivated the world with his unmatchable first step, lightning-fast dunks, and gravity-defying acrobatics.

He is revered as the greatest basketball player of all time, and rightly so.

Michael led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and earned the league’s MVP Award five times, becoming the most decorated player in the NBA.

Along the way, he spearheaded the globalization of the basketball, captivating audiences worldwide with his dynamic on-court abilities and a personal sense of style that became a global phenomenon.

His achievements include:

• Two-time Olympic gold medal winner

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

• ESPN's Top North American Athlete of the 20th Century

• Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient by Barack Obama

• The world's first sports billionaire, with a net worth of $3.2 billion

But Michael’s impact is far greater than awards and championships.

He has also been hailed as an icon of marketing, thanks to lucrative endorsement deals – notably his longtime partnership with Nike, whose gargantuan impact in the sports shoe industry is largely attributed to this deal.

But the whims of fortune certainly did not always swing in Michael’s favour.

He has had to face setbacks that many would not overcome.

And to rise to the level he did, takes the word underdog to a whole new level.

This piece shines light on the mindset of Michael Jordan.

A juggernaut of obsessive ambition.

Today on David to Goliath

1. Forged in the Backyard

2. The Big Promise

3. Chicago’s Saviour

4. The Darkest Hour

5. Air Jordan’s

6. Be Like Mike

Forged in the Backyard

Born in February 1963 in the gritty streets of Brooklyn before relocating to North Carolina at the age of 5, Michael’s early life was anything but glamorous.

The fourth of five children, he was the son of an electrician and a banker, scraping by to provide for their family.

His father, James, a man who understood the value of discipline and hard work, introduced him to basketball.

In their backyard, James built a basketball court—a simple yet profound gesture that would become the crucible for Michael's relentless competitive spirit.

Here, through countless late-night one-on-one games with his older brother Larry, Michael's fiery determination was kindled.

Larry was the benchmark, the hero Michael aspired to surpass, and every game was a battle he was determined to win.

But life wasn't easy. His early school years were marked by a lack of focus and mediocre academic performance.

He was a dreamer with his head in the clouds and his heart on the court.

“My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.”

Teachers and peers often doubted his future, but Michael knew something they didn't.

He had a fire burning within him, a fire that no one else could see but him. All he needed was the spark to set that fire fire ablaze.

The turning point came in high school. As a skinny 5-foot-11 sophomore, Michael faced one of the biggest setbacks of his young life—he was cut from the varsity basketball team.

The sting of rejection. Humiliation. Whispers behind his back. It would have crushed many.

But not Michael. That rejection became the fuel that ignited the ember. 

He vowed to prove everyone wrong, to show that he was not just capable but destined for greatness.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.”

Over that pivotal summer, something incredible happened. Michael grew four inches, towering at 6-foot-3 when he returned to try out again.

This time though, he vowed to prove his doubters wrong.

The Big Promise

His dedication was unmatched, his skills honed to perfection.

He made the team and quickly became the star, averaging an astonishing 25 points per game.

In the summer of 1980, during a basketball camp, Michael's life took another monumental turn as he caught the attention of Dean Smith, the legendary head coach of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Coach Smith saw in Michael what many others had overlooked—a raw, unrefined talent with the potential to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

This recognition was the validation Michael had been fighting for, and he seized the opportunity with both hands.

When Michael stepped onto the campus of UNC, few could have predicted the seismic impact he would have on the world of basketball.

In his freshman year, he was a far cry from the superstar he would become.

Coach Smith candidly described him as "inconsistent as a freshman," yet what stood out was his unparalleled work ethic.

This young man from Wilmington, North Carolina, was not content with mediocrity.

He boldly declared to UNC assistant coach Roy Williams his aspiration to be the best basketball player to ever grace the halls of UNC—a school already rich with a storied basketball tradition.

For the next three years, Williams watched in awe as Jordan transformed himself, constantly improving, never relenting in his pursuit of excellence.

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

After grueling two-and-a-half-hour practices, drenched in sweat and exhaustion, he would eagerly challenge his best teammates to more one-on-one games.

He was a sponge. He listened, he learned, he executed.

This willingness to absorb, and to improve at every opportunity was what set him apart.

By the end of his freshman season, Jordan had already evolved into a formidable player.

His defining moment came in the 1982 NCAA national championship game against Georgetown, where he hit the game-winning shot with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

"I was young, but I had no time to be nervous."

Despite this early success, Jordan did not rest on his laurels. He continued to push himself, improving significantly between his freshman and sophomore years.

After three years at UNC, the journey that began with a rejection in high school and a freshman season of inconsistency was about to come full circle.

Chicago’s Saviour

Towards the end of his time at UNC, Michael declared for the NBA Draft, where he was selected third overall by a bang average team, the Chicago Bulls, in 1984.

When he entered the NBA, he brought with him the same unrelenting tenacity and ironclad determination that had propelled him to stardom in college.

From day one, he knew that success at the highest level demanded not just talent, but an unbreakable work ethic and a fierce competitive spirit.

"From the first day of practice, my mentality was: 'Whoever is the team leader, I’m going after him. And I’m not going to do it with my voice.' Because I had no voice. I had no status. I had to do it with the way that I played,"

He didn’t come in talking; he let his game speak for itself.

And his distinctive style was evident from the start.

He would often play with his tongue sticking out, a habit picked up from watching his father work on mechanical devices. This quirky trait became one of his first trademarks.

Beneath his Chicago Bulls uniform, he wore the shorts of his beloved North Carolina basketball team, a constant reminder of his roots and the journey that had brought him to the NBA.

In his rookie season, he averaged a staggering 28.5 points per game, earning the title of Rookie of the Year.

Adversity struck early in his career. Just three games into his second season, Michael broke a bone in his left foot, sidelining him for 64 games. Despite being voted to the All-Star team, he couldn’t participate.

Yet, true to his character, he used this setback as yet more motivation.

When he returned, he did so with a vengeance, scoring an NBA playoff-record 63 points in a first-round game against the Boston Celtics, a performance that left even Larry Bird, one of the Celtics' stars, calling him "God disguised as Michael Jordan."

The 1986-87 season saw Michael break new ground. He became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to score more than 3,000 points in a single season.

His dominance on the court was unmatched, and by the late 1980s, the Chicago Bulls, with Jordan at the helm, were emerging from the ashes as a formidable force in the NBA.

“Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

The Bulls’ ascent culminated in the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals, a pivotal moment that set the stage for their first NBA championship in 1991.

They defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to become champions, and Michael’s performance was nothing short of spectacular.

In 1992, the Bulls then clinched their second NBA championship by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers.

The following year, they secured their third consecutive championship, establishing a dynasty in the basketball world.

One of the greatest underdog stories of the 20^th century.

Led by none other than Michael Jordan.

But then, tragedy struck.

The Darkest Hour

1993 was a monumental year for Michael, marking both the pinnacle of his career and the most profound personal tragedy.

He achieved an unprecedented third consecutive NBA Finals MVP, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players in history.

But then, on July 23, 1993, his father and greatest supporter, James Jordan Sr., was brutally murdered.

James was driving home from a friend's funeral in the early hours of July 23, 1993, when he pulled over for a nap in his car.

It was there that two teenage criminals saw their opportunity. Their initial plan to steal James' car turned deadly when one of the teenagers named Green shot the 56-year-old in the chest. 

They then dumped his body in a South Carolina swamp.

Michael's life was plunged into darkness.

The loss of his father prompted him to make a shocking decision.

Just before the start of the training camp for the 1993-94 NBA season, he announced his retirement from basketball.

This decision stunned the sports world and left fans and analysts speculating about his future.

Emotionally drained and seeking a new challenge, Michael decided to pursue a different dream — one inspired by his late father.

He turned to baseball, joining the Birmingham Barons, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

His stint in baseball was marked by perseverance rather than glory. He was competent but far from spectacular. Basketball wasn’t the same without him and the fans prayed for his return.

So as the 1995 MLB season approached and a labor dispute loomed, he redirected his competitive drive back to basketball.

On March 18, 1995, with a simple yet powerful declaration, "I’m Back," Michael Jordan returned to the NBA for a second stint at the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan’s return was marked by his switch to the number 45 jersey, symbolizing a new chapter.

He no longer wished to wear the last number his father had seen him play in, 23, which was subsequently retired out of respect.

Despite the initial rust, he quickly found his rhythm, averaging 26.9 points in 17 regular-season games.

One of the most memorable moments of his comeback was the "Double Nickel" game against the New York Knicks, where he scored 55 points, showcasing his evolved game reliant on fadeaway jump shots and strategic play.

Coach Phil Jackson, in awe of Michael’s performance, remarked, "It’s rare that players can live quite up to New York. I’ve seen a lot of them fall flat on their faces because of the pressure to perform there. But he had the whole evening in the palm of his hand. Sometimes the game just seems to gravitate into his grasp."

Jordan’s return reignited the Bulls' dominance. In the 1995-96 season, he led the team to a then-record 72 regular-season wins and an NBA championship victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.

“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don't isolate.”

By the end of that year, he had transcended stardom, reaching near-mythical status with his gravity-defying leaps.

The 1996-97 season saw the Bulls nearly match their previous record with 69 wins. Jordan’s Goliath performances, including the iconic game-winning shot against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals, secured his sixth and final NBA title.

Undeniable. Eternal. The Goat of the game.

The emotional climax of his career came on Father’s Day in 1996, when Michael won the NBA Finals and cradled the ball, tears streaming down his face, in memory of his father. 

This poignant moment captured the depth of his loss and the intensity of his comeback journey to the top.

In addition to his regular-season MVP award, Michael captured the MVP honors for the All-Star Game and the Finals, becoming only the second player after Willis Reed (1970) to achieve this trifecta in a single season.

Air Jordan’s

Beyond his legendary career on the basketball court, Michael Jordan has carved out an extraordinary path in the world of business and endorsements.

One of the most remarkable aspects of his business portfolio is his long-standing partnership with Nike.

“Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That's truly about the game, and in some ways that's about life too.”

It was 1984 and back then, Michael was just a soon-to-be NBA rookie, ranked third in the draft, and Nike was an underdog in the sports shoe market, primarily known for its running sneakers.

This collaboration, however, would revolutionize the sports apparel industry.

The following year, Nike launched the Air Jordan basketball sneakers, a signature line that would soon become synonymous with both Jordan and the brand.

The initial contract included a generous 25 percent royalty for the basketball star, a bold move that paid off spectacularly, for both parties.

The Air Jordan line quickly gained immense popularity, becoming a best-seller for Nike and maintaining its top-selling status for over three decades.

By 2018, Nike reported nearly $2.9 billion in revenue from the Air Jordan line alone, a testament to the enduring appeal and influence of this iconic brand.

The significance of Michael’s groundbreaking partnership with Nike was immortalized in the 2023 biographical drama "Air” featuring Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

But Michael’s business acumen extends far beyond his partnership with Nike. He owns the NBA franchise Charlotte Hornets, a venture that has further solidified his presence in the sports industry.

Additionally, he has authored several books, including "Rare Air: Michael on Michael," "I Can’t Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence," "For the Love of the Game: My Story," and "Driven from Within,".

Michael’s endorsement deals have also significantly contributed to his wealth and fame. Over the years, he has partnered with major brands like Hanes, Upper Deck, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Chevrolet, and Wheaties.

“You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.”

The Gatorade partnership, in particular, featured the memorable "Be Like Mike" ad campaign, encouraging people of all ages to emulate his greatness.

Michael’s success in the business world serves as a powerful reminder of his versatility and determination to excel in every arena he enters.

Be Like Mike

In a world brimming with fleeting fame and ephemeral heroes, Michael Jordan stands as a titan, a paragon of greatness whose influence transcends the basketball court. 

While his athletic prowess has carved his name in the annals of sports history, it is his pursuit of philanthropy and community empowerment that cements his status as a true legend.

From charitable efforts to business ventures, his commitment to social causes paint a picture of a man dedicated to making a lasting positive impact. 

In 2020, as the world grappled with the harrowing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael’s commitment to healthcare blazed a trail of hope. 

Amidst global uncertainty and fear, he spearheaded the opening of the second Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Charlotte's North End. 

This facility became a sanctuary, offering critical medical services to underserved communities, ensuring that those most vulnerable had access to quality healthcare when it was needed most. 

This act of compassion and foresight was not just a gesture; it was a lifeline, a promise that no one would be left behind in the darkest of times.

Michael Jordan's actions echo a profound truth: true legends are defined not just by their achievements but by their impact on others. 

His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global icon, a billionaire, and a relentless champion for humanity is the quintessential narrative of defying the ordinary. 

He didn't merely play basketball; he redefined the game, shattered records, and set new standards of excellence.

In business, he transformed underdog partnerships into billion-dollar empires. 

His legacy shines as a blazing beacon of resilience and ambition, challenging future generations to surpass limitations and conquer the odds. 

It’s a clarion call to all: to be more, to do more, to give more.

“I hope the millions of people I've touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude.”

Embrace the spirit of giving. 

Embody the drive for greatness. 

Stand as a champion for humanity. 

Be like Mike. 

The man in the arena.           

Yours truly,

-Nigel Thomas

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