Jordan: By the Numbers

866 -- Consecutive games in double figures*
172 -- Career 40-plus point games
69 -- Points against Cleveland on March 28, 1990, a career high
63 -- Points in a playoff game against Boston on May 20, 1986*
52 -- Sports Illustrated covers ( an SI record)
45 -- Number Jordan briefly wore when he returned from his first retirement
41.0 -- Scoring average in the 1993 NBA Finals*
40 -- Happy Birthday, Mike
37.1 -- Highest single season scoring average ( 1986-87)
37 -- Times scored 40-plus points in 1986-87
33.4 -- Career playoff scoring average*
30.3 -- Career scoring average*
26 -- Current number of NBA assistants younger than Jordan
23 -- Well, duh
18 -- Versions of Air Jordans ( the latest are suede)
14 -- All-Star Game appearances
13 -- Jordan´s shoe size
10 -- NBA scoring titles*
9 -- All-NBA Defensive first-team*
7 -- Consecutive seasons leading the league in scoring*
6 -- Finals MVPs, NBA titles
5 -- Regular season MVPs
4 --Coaches played for ( Kevin Loughery, Stan Albeck, Doug Collins ( twice) and Phil Jackson)
3-- NBA head coaches who are younger than Jordan ( Golden State´s Eric Mussleman, 37, Seattle´s Nate McMillan, 38, and Cleveland´s Keith Smart, 39)
2 -- Olympic gold medals ( 1984, 1992); retirements ( so far --1993, 1998)
1 -- Rookie of the Year award ( 1985)

• NBA record held or tied

NBA PLAYERS WHO WERE 3 YRS. OR YOUNGER
WHEN JORDAN MADE HIS NBA DEBUT ON OCT. 26, 1984
Player Team Birthday Age ( Years, days)
Jamal Sampson Milwaukee May 15, 1983 ( 1 yr., 164 days)
Nikolos Tskitishvili Denver April 14, 1983 ( 1 yr., 195 days)
Dajuan Wagner Cleveland Feb. 4, 1983 ( 1 yr., 234 days)
Eddy Curry Chicago Dec. 5, 1982 ( 1 yr., 324 days)
Amare Stoudemire Phoenix Nov. 16, 1982 ( 1 yr., 343 days)
Tyson Chandler Chicago Oct. 2, 1982 ( 2 yrs. 24 days)
Nene Hilario Denver Sept. 9, 1982 ( 2 yrs. 44 days)
Chris Wilcox L.A. Clippers Aug. 8, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 89 days)
Gerald Wallace Sacramento July 23, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 95 days)
Eddie Griffin Houston May 30, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 148 days)
Tony Parker San Antonio May 17, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 162 days)
Kwame Brown Washington March 10, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 230 days)
DeSagana Diop Cleveland Jan. 30, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 270 days)
Gilbert Arenas Golden State Jan. 6, 1982 ( 2 yrs., 296 days)
Carlos Boozer Cleveland Dec. 20, 1983 ( 2 yrs., 310 days)
Jared Jeffries Washington Nov. 25, 1983 ( 2 yrs., 335 days)
Steven Hunter Orlando Oct. 31, 1983 ( 2 yrs., 361 days

Washington Wizards - New Jersey Nets : 89-86

Les années n´ont visiblement plus de prise sur Michael Jordan. La star incontestée de la constellation NBA a enchanté le public du MCI Center la nuit dernière. 43 pts à en 43 minutes pour "MJ" qui devient le premier joueur de 40 ans à inscrire au moins 40 pts dans un match. En face, les Nets, trop admiratifs face à la légende, ont ramassé les miettes. Richard Jefferson ( 25 pts) et Kenyon Martin ( 14 pts/12 rbds) n´ont pu rivaliser avec sa majesté.

Jordan more than worth celebrating on his 40th birthday
Forty of our Favorite Things About MJ

By Randy Kim

Besides being Presidents Day, February 17, 2003 is a day to celebrate one heck of a big birthday, as living legend Michael Jordan turns 40 years old on Monday. Even though the Wizards´ game against the Raptors has been postponed due to inclement weather, we present to you -- in no particular order -- "Forty of our Favorite Things About MJ".

1. The fact that he got cut from his high-school team as a sophomore.

2. His six rings . .. and six Finals MVP awards.

3. His 10 scoring titles.

Still Making Memories

( Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) As one would expect from a living legend, Jordan has added to his legacy in his final season. Check out a few highlights from this season:

• MJ´s halftime speech at All-Star 2003: Play
• MJ´s All-Star 2003 postgame interview: Play
• MJ´s final appearance in Chicago: Play
• MJ passes Wilt on the all-time scoring list: Play

4. His five MVP awards.

5. His nine All-Defensive First Team selections.

6. His one Defensive Player of the Year award ( 1987-88).

7. The shoes, the shoes, the shoes . ..

8. The fact that he couldn´t hit a curveball. ( He´s human.)

9. The tongue.

10. The fact that he still finds it in himself to razz the opposition; including Kobe Bryant in this year´s All-Star Game, moments before Bryant was to shoot three free-throws at the end of regulation ( he missed one).

11. As a kid heading into high school, he would hang from a chin-up bar to make himself grow.

12. His parents, James and Deloris, for instilling an unbelievable work ethic in him.

13. The fact that his parents first met after a basketball game. ( It was fate.)

14. The game-winner over Ehlo in the 1989 Playoffs. Play Video

15. The game-winner over Russell in the 1998 Finals. Play Video

16. The switch-handed layup against the Lakers in the 1991 Finals. Play Video

17. The six first-half three-pointers -- and the subsequent shrug of the shoulders -- against the Blazers in the 1992 Finals.

18. The fact that Larry Bird described him as "God disguised as Michael Jordan" after MJ torched the Celtics for 63 in 1986.

19. The 38 points in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals against the Jazz.

20. The fact that he had the flu in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals.

21. The fact that he dropped 45 on the Hornets earlier this month.

22. His two buzzer-beaters over the Cavs and Suns last season.

Jordan is still a force to reckon with, as he´s averaging 18.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 4.0 apg this season.
( Kent Horner/NBAE/Getty Images)
23. "Michael is unbelievable. Houston and Portland are both going to be sorry they didn´t draft him. The thing is, he keeps getting better every day. If he keeps doing that, he´ll be Superman. Wait, he already is Superman." -- Point guard Dirk Minniefield, on the sixth day of Jordan´s rookie training camp.

24. The fact that the phrase, "He/she is the Michael Jordan of . .." is part of the Amerian lexicon.

25. "I don´t know about flying, but sometimes it feels like I have these little wings on my feet." --Jordan, on his ability to elevate ( 1995)

26. More than his three All-Star Game MVP´s, the fact that he´s the only player ever to notch a triple-double in an All-Star Game ( 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in 1997).

27. The fact that they actually made a commercial where he squares off against a younger version of himself. ( What better test could he face?)

28. His game-winner in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown . .. as a freshman.

30. The 1988 Dunk Contest when he flew from the free-throw line to win it at home in Chicago . ..

31. . .. and the poster of that dunk.

32. The fact that his peers thought enough of him to join him on the court at halftime of the 2003 All-Star Game to give him a proper send-off.

33. The night he dropped 55 against the Knicks ( March 29, 1995), which was the night you knew he was "back."

34. The fact that he averaged 43.7 ppg in the 1985-86 Playoffs.

35. The tears that were shed after winning the 1996 NBA Finals.

36. For being both "a player" and "the player" on the 1992 Dream Team.

37. The 72-10 record in 1995-96.

38. The fact that he, Scottie and Phil were able to keep Dennis Rodman in check ( relatively speaking).

39. 31,621 points and counting . ..

40. The fact that there are at least 30 more chances to watch him take the floor.