From "The Shrug" to "The Flu Game," from retirement to unretirement, Michael Jordan's career can fill volumes with highlights and moments and great plays. As MJ approaches his 50th birthday on Feb. 17, we put together a list of MJ's 50 greatest moments. This is part 4 featuring the top moments ranked 20 to 11. You can also see the 50 HD Michael Jordan Wallpapers.
20. A Hit At Crosstown Classic
Photograph By Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images
When it comes to baseball, Chicago's loyalties are split. But when Michael Jordan came to bat at Wrigley Field on April 7, 1994, wearing a White Sox uniform, even Cubs fans stood and cheered for the former Bulls superstar. Jordan got an RBI single down the third-base line and later scored. He also tied the game with an RBI double.
19. Double-Nickel vs. Knicks
Photograph By Andy Hayt/NBAE/Getty Images
There were some opponents that brought out the best in Jordan, and the New York Knicks were perhaps at the top of the list, and Madison Square Garden was the scene of many of his highlights. Five games into his comeback from retirement in 1995, Jordan -- wearing No. 45 -- lit up the Knicks for 55 points. And he set up Bill Wennington for a dunk to seal the last-second win.
18. 70 Wins
Photograph By Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
One of the reasons some consider the 1995-96 Bulls to be one of the best teams ever was the fact they won 72 regular-season games. The Bulls broke the record previously held by the 1971-72 Lakers when they beat the Bucks in Milwaukee on April 16. Jordan scored 22 points to lead the Bulls back from a nine-point deficit.
17. 55 Points vs. Suns
Photograph By AP Photo/John Swart
Jordan saved one of his best Finals performance for his buddy Charles Barkley, who watched MJ explode for 55 against the Suns in Game 4 of the '93 Finals. Jordan connected on 21 of 37 shots from the field and 13 of 18 from the line. It was the Bulls' only home win of the series.
16. 'I'm Back'
Photograph By AP Photo/Tim Boyle
The Bulls were languishing in March 1995, struggling to stay in the playoff hunt. There were rumors about Jordan possibly coming back, but they were just rumors -- until March 18. Jordan faxed one of the biggest headlines in the sports world that year: I'm back. His baseball hiatus officially was over.
15. Getting Past Pistons
Photograph By Focus on Sport/Getty Images
After being eliminated by the Pistons from the three previous postseasons -- including the previous two in the Eastern Conference finals -- Jordan and the Bulls dedicated themselves to getting stronger to deal with the Bad Boys. The work paid off as the Bulls swept Detroit on their way to their first NBA title. The lasting image from the ECF was of Isiah Thomas and other Pistons walking off the court with 7.9 seconds left and not congratulating the Bulls. The snub reportedly figured into Thomas being kept off the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
14. Dream Team Gold
Photograph By Ken Levine/Getty Images
It wasn't his first Olympic experience as Jordan won gold in 1984 with Bobby Knight as coach, but the 1992 Dream Team may be the most memorable group of athletes in Olympic history, and arguably the best basketball team ever. Jordan was the only one to start all eight games in the Olympics, and he averaged 14.9 points.
13. Bulls Win Title No. 1
Photograph By Ken Levine/Getty Images
It was a passing of the torch, of sorts, as the Showtime Lakers faced a Bulls team that did not feature one player with championship experience. But Jordan's destiny would not be denied as he became only the third player to win the scoring title and an NBA title, joining Kareem Adbul-Jabbar and George Mikan. The Bulls went on to win five more titles in the '90s and the Lakers struggled until the 2000s.
12. Three Straight Finals MVPs
Photograph By Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
Magic Johnson was the only player in NBA history to win three Finals MVP awards before 1993, when Jordan won his third straight. He averaged a record 41.0 points per game during the six-game series. John Paxson's game-winning 3-pointer over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 marked the only points scored by a Bull other than Jordan in the fourth quarter.
11. Pass To Kerr To Win Title
Photograph By Robert Sullivan/AFP/Getty Images
He was still feeling effects from the flu in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals, but Jordan still had 39 points in Game 6 and the Jazz thought he would be taking the shot as the teams came out of a timeout with 28 seconds left and the score tied. But after drawing a double-team, Jordan passed to Steve Kerr, who hit a shot with five seconds left as the Bulls captured the championship. Jordan earned his fifth Finals MVP award.
20. A Hit At Crosstown Classic
Photograph By Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images
When it comes to baseball, Chicago's loyalties are split. But when Michael Jordan came to bat at Wrigley Field on April 7, 1994, wearing a White Sox uniform, even Cubs fans stood and cheered for the former Bulls superstar. Jordan got an RBI single down the third-base line and later scored. He also tied the game with an RBI double.
19. Double-Nickel vs. Knicks
Photograph By Andy Hayt/NBAE/Getty Images
There were some opponents that brought out the best in Jordan, and the New York Knicks were perhaps at the top of the list, and Madison Square Garden was the scene of many of his highlights. Five games into his comeback from retirement in 1995, Jordan -- wearing No. 45 -- lit up the Knicks for 55 points. And he set up Bill Wennington for a dunk to seal the last-second win.
18. 70 Wins
Photograph By Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
One of the reasons some consider the 1995-96 Bulls to be one of the best teams ever was the fact they won 72 regular-season games. The Bulls broke the record previously held by the 1971-72 Lakers when they beat the Bucks in Milwaukee on April 16. Jordan scored 22 points to lead the Bulls back from a nine-point deficit.
17. 55 Points vs. Suns
Photograph By AP Photo/John Swart
Jordan saved one of his best Finals performance for his buddy Charles Barkley, who watched MJ explode for 55 against the Suns in Game 4 of the '93 Finals. Jordan connected on 21 of 37 shots from the field and 13 of 18 from the line. It was the Bulls' only home win of the series.
16. 'I'm Back'
Photograph By AP Photo/Tim Boyle
The Bulls were languishing in March 1995, struggling to stay in the playoff hunt. There were rumors about Jordan possibly coming back, but they were just rumors -- until March 18. Jordan faxed one of the biggest headlines in the sports world that year: I'm back. His baseball hiatus officially was over.
15. Getting Past Pistons
Photograph By Focus on Sport/Getty Images
After being eliminated by the Pistons from the three previous postseasons -- including the previous two in the Eastern Conference finals -- Jordan and the Bulls dedicated themselves to getting stronger to deal with the Bad Boys. The work paid off as the Bulls swept Detroit on their way to their first NBA title. The lasting image from the ECF was of Isiah Thomas and other Pistons walking off the court with 7.9 seconds left and not congratulating the Bulls. The snub reportedly figured into Thomas being kept off the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
14. Dream Team Gold
Photograph By Ken Levine/Getty Images
It wasn't his first Olympic experience as Jordan won gold in 1984 with Bobby Knight as coach, but the 1992 Dream Team may be the most memorable group of athletes in Olympic history, and arguably the best basketball team ever. Jordan was the only one to start all eight games in the Olympics, and he averaged 14.9 points.
13. Bulls Win Title No. 1
Photograph By Ken Levine/Getty Images
It was a passing of the torch, of sorts, as the Showtime Lakers faced a Bulls team that did not feature one player with championship experience. But Jordan's destiny would not be denied as he became only the third player to win the scoring title and an NBA title, joining Kareem Adbul-Jabbar and George Mikan. The Bulls went on to win five more titles in the '90s and the Lakers struggled until the 2000s.
12. Three Straight Finals MVPs
Photograph By Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
Magic Johnson was the only player in NBA history to win three Finals MVP awards before 1993, when Jordan won his third straight. He averaged a record 41.0 points per game during the six-game series. John Paxson's game-winning 3-pointer over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 marked the only points scored by a Bull other than Jordan in the fourth quarter.
11. Pass To Kerr To Win Title
Photograph By Robert Sullivan/AFP/Getty Images
He was still feeling effects from the flu in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals, but Jordan still had 39 points in Game 6 and the Jazz thought he would be taking the shot as the teams came out of a timeout with 28 seconds left and the score tied. But after drawing a double-team, Jordan passed to Steve Kerr, who hit a shot with five seconds left as the Bulls captured the championship. Jordan earned his fifth Finals MVP award.
