Madness moment: When Michael Jordan introduced himself to the basketball world

Michael Jordan made his presence known in the 1982 NCAA title game.

© Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

By now, the story of Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot that lifted the University of North Carolina Tar Heels to the 1982 NCAA title is the stuff of legend. The shot not only gave coach Dean Smith his first national championship, but it also marked the introduction of Jordan as an elite basketball player.

Rookie sensation

Jordan, then a 6-foot-6, 195-pound shooting guard, was solid contributor on a Tar Heel squad that went 32-2 in the 1981-1982 NCAA season. With averages of 13.5 points and 4.4 rebounds, Jordan already had the makings of becoming an excellent pro player but was still in the shadows of more established players like James Worthy and Sam Perkins. 

However, that all changed during the NCAA finals against the Georgetown Hoyas.

“That was the birth of Michael Jordan. Before that, I was Mike Jordan.”

41 years ago today, the UNC freshman made this game-winner vs Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA National Championship pic.twitter.com/2FoU7jkgKe

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 29, 2023

Showing nerves of steel, Jordan received a pass from Jimmy Black and, in one smooth motion, elevated and hit a jumper that put UNC in front, 63-62, with 15 seconds to go. Georgetown then committed a turnover on the other end to seal the Tar Heels’ title. There began the legend of Michael Jordan.

Two more seasons

After that title, Jordan took the reins of the Tar Heels and ran the team. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in his sophomore season and 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in his junior campaign before getting selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA Draft.

Some of Michael Jordan's craziest dunks & blocks (he hit his head on the backboard!) at UNC! pic.twitter.com/DV7I8XGlZu

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 29, 2023

The rest, as they say, is history as Jordan went on to become the greatest basketball player of all time. His incredible on-court accomplishments, coupled with his iconic Nike commercials and Air Jordan basketball shoes, have made him a​​ sports and cultural icon. Jordan’s legacy lives on to this day, and that will certainly not change any time soon.