Micheal Jordan – American professional basketball player, considered by many to be the greatest player in basketball history. The 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) shooting guard first became known as an explosive individual scorer, but as he matured as a player he adopted a more team-oriented approach to the game. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1991-1993, 1996-1998). His widespread appeal to fans has helped keep basketball one of the world's most …showed first 75 words of 447 total…

…showed last 75 words of 447 total…free-throw line for a dunk elevated his popularity beyond the expectations of the league. Jordan also boosted the popularity of the Nike shoe company and other sponsors with his sincere, plainspoken endorsements. Jordan's appeal as a basketball player and spokesperson was especially strong among children and teenagers. Jordan's Nike basketball shoes and jerseys and T-shirts with his number (23) became popular. Many advertisements focused on Jordan's determination to succeed and encouraged kids to “be like Mike.”