In the annals of basketball history, one name stands out above all others – Michael Jordan. The man who would become synonymous with the sport, dominating the NBA for years, had a humble beginning. The young Jordan was cut from his high school varsity team, and the rejection hit him hard.
Back in 1978, the 15-year-old sophomore Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. At that time, Jordan was not the towering figure we know today; he stood at a mere 5’10” and could not yet dunk a basketball.
Michael Jordan, a basketball legend, didn’t initially make his high school varsity team. Instead of giving up, he used this failure as fuel to improve. He practiced relentlessly, made the team the following year, and the rest is history.
Perseverance and dedication turn setbacks… pic.twitter.com/ORNkkMVFvG
— Restream (@Restreamio) September 10, 2023
The competition for the 15 roster spots was fierce, and Jordan did not make the cut. His close friend, 6’7” sophomore Leroy Smith, secured a spot on the varsity team due to the need for his height. In ‘Michael Jordan: The Life’, Roland Lazenby mentioned “The realization of his defeat fell on him like a boulder that day”.
The rejection hit Jordan hard, “I closed the door and I cried”, he later admitted. Furthermore, he stated, “For a while, I couldn’t stop. Even though there was no one else home at the time, I kept the door shut. It was important to me that no one hear me or see me”. But even in that moment of disappointment, a relentless determination was ignited within him.
He used the list in the locker room, the one without his name, as motivation. Jordan’s work ethic and competitive spirit, which would define his career, were born in that room.
Michael Jordan made it to the Junior varsity team
Instead of basking in self-pity, Jordan took the rejection as a challenge. He spent his sophomore year as the star of the junior varsity team, putting up multiple 40-point games and drawing unprecedented crowds for a JV game.
The setback fueled his drive, and over the summer leading into his junior year, he grew 4 inches and honed his skills relentlessly. In 1979, Jordan finally made the varsity squad, and he quickly became Laney High’s best player, averaging more than 20 points per game. But he didn’t rest on his laurels.
His senior year saw him average a triple-double, leading Laney High to a 19-4 record and earning him a spot on the McDonald’s All-American Team. Jordan’s evolution from a rejected sophomore to a high school sensation was complete.
Michael Jordan’s high school journey was just the beginning. He continued to excel, earning a scholarship to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels in college. In the 1982 NCAA National Championship game, he delivered the game-winning jumper. It was a glimpse of the clutch moments he would deliver in the future.
His NBA career began in 1984 when he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls as the third overall pick. From there, Jordan’s star only rose higher. He secured six NBA championships, and five NBA MVP titles, and made 14 All-Star Game appearances. His impact on the game extended beyond statistics; he changed the way basketball was played and how it was perceived.
