Title: “Michael Jordan Named to TIME 100: A Legacy Reaffirmed, A Global Influence Cemented”
CONGRATULATIONS are in order as the basketball world stands in collective applause—UNC Men’s Basketball legend and global icon Michael Jordan has been named one of the 100 most influential people in sports by TIME 100 magazine. For the man who redefined greatness on the hardwood, this honor marks not just a celebration of the past, but a powerful reaffirmation of a legacy that continues to shape sports, business, and culture across the globe.
Though most remember him for his unparalleled six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, clutch shots, and iconic dunks, TIME emphasized a broader perspective: Jordan’s influence stretches far beyond the game he once dominated.
The article begins not in Chicago, but in Chapel Hill, North Carolina—where a young, hungry Michael Jordan first emerged on the national stage with the game-winning jumper in the 1982 NCAA Championship, lifting UNC past Georgetown and announcing to the world that a legend was in the making. “That shot didn’t just win a game,” TIME writes. “It introduced a mindset: unshakable, relentless, fearless.”
From there, Jordan became a force unlike any athlete before him. Not only did he revolutionize professional basketball with his skill, charisma, and drive—he also transformed the business of sports. His Air Jordan brand, launched in partnership with Nike in 1984, remains the most successful athlete-endorsed line in history, now valued at over $10 billion. TIME calls him “the blueprint for the modern athlete-entrepreneur,” noting how his moves inspired generations of stars—from LeBron James to Naomi Osaka—to build empires beyond the court.
But what pushed Jordan onto the 2025 TIME 100 list wasn’t just his past. It was his present.
Over the last decade, Jordan has used his platform to influence racial justice, education, and access to sports. Through the Jordan Brand’s Black Community Commitment, over $100 million has been pledged to initiatives focused on economic justice, community development, and education reform. His recent funding of more than 15 new basketball courts across underserved U.S. cities, and his quiet mentorship of up-and-coming players through the NBA’s rookie transition program, revealed a leader still deeply invested in the future of the game and the people around it.
“This isn’t about what I did,” Jordan said in a rare public statement following the TIME announcement. “It’s about what I’m still doing—and what we all need to do to make sure the game and its values continue to lift people.”
TIME describes Jordan as “the rare figure whose shadow never dims.” And truly, whether it’s the flick of his wrist on a fadeaway jumper or the sharp focus he brings to his business deals and philanthropic efforts, Jordan’s presence continues to shape every level of the sports world—from college campuses like UNC to boardrooms across the globe.
For Tar Heel faithful, this moment is deeply personal. From the Smith Center to the streets of Chapel Hill, murals, banners, and street art are already going up to honor the hometown hero. “He made Carolina proud then, and he still makes us proud today,” said UNC head coach Hubert Davis.
So now, as his name joins the TIME 100 once more—this time not just as an athlete, but as a symbol of generational influence—it becomes clear:
Michael Jordan didn’t just change the game. He changed the world around it.
