On this date: Michael Jordan appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the fourth time

The Chicago Bulls legend has been on 50 Sports Illustrated covers; more than any other athlete

© USA TODAY Sports

Thirty-six years ago Michael Jordan appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the fourth time. The Chicago Bulls legend has been on 50 Sports Illustrated covers; more than any other athlete. He beats Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James for No. 1.

Sports Illustrated November 17, 1986 cover

When first released, the magazine cost $2.25. The cover depicts Jordan off-the-ground wearing his namesake “Air Jordan II” sneakers with Spurs forward Mychal Thompson guarding him. In the shot, Jordan has a firm grip on the ball while heading toward the basket.

The Sports Illustrated title can be seen at the top of the cover in a green-and-yellow font, and a highlighted blue-and-white headline beneath it reads “One-man gang.” Below the basketball, you’ll see the following text “The Chicago Bulls’ High-Flying Michael Jordan.”

The cover photograph was taken during the 1986-87 NBA regular season, at a perfect moment of the November 4, 1986 game between the Spurs and Bulls.

36 years ago today, the cover of Sports Illustrated featuring Michael Jordan. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/4N6xCxxgMO

— TodayInSports (@TodayInSportsCo) November 17, 2022

Spurs vs. Bulls on November 17, 1986

The Bulls won the game 111-104 at the Chicago Stadium behind 34 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals, and two blocks from Michael Jordan. Charles Oakley finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists. Mike Mitchell led the Spurs with 34 points.

The 1986-87 season was Jordan’s third year in the league. The six-time NBA champion averaged career-highs of 37.1 points, 3.2 steals and 1.6 steals to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 40 minutes over 82 games.

The Bulls went 40-42 that year to finish in fifth place in the Central Division. The Celtics swept them in three games in the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs.