Why Did Michael Jordan Choose to Wear Number 23?

Michael Jordan is one of the most iconic athletes of all time. In sports, he is almost directly associated with his jersey number 23, so people have always wondered why he chose exactly that number.

  1. Jordan's Early Life

    • Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, N.C., where he had close bonds with his family. His love for the game of basketball originally came from his older brother Larry, with whom he shared a strong emotional connection.

    High School

    • Michael idolized Larry who, while not an NBA player, was a gifted basketball player at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington and taught Michael many aspects of the game. Larry wore number 45 on his jersey, and that's what Michael originally wanted to wear once he got to high school. But since Larry was still playing there, Michael needed to choose a different number.

    Choosing 23

    • He instead chose to wear half of 45, which rounds up to 23. The number stuck, as he wore it throughout high school and college at the University of North Carolina, as well as most of his Hall-of-Fame NBA career.

    First Retirement

    • Michael won three NBA Championships with the Bulls from 1991 to 1993 before announcing his retirement from the NBA, citing a loss of desire to play. The Bulls promptly retired his number 23 from the team.

    Return

    • In 1995, after a brief try at professional baseball, Jordan returned to the NBA with the Bulls. Since 23 had been retired, Michael finally wore the number 45 he always wanted. But after the Bulls reinstated his familiar number 23, he went back to wearing it that same season.