CONGRATULATIONS: UNC Legend Michael Jordan Named One of TIME 100 Most Influential in Sports, Cementing a Global Legacy Beyond the Game
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — More than two decades after hanging up his iconic No. 23 jersey for the final time, Michael Jordan continues to redefine what influence in sports truly means. This week, TIME magazine officially named the UNC men’s basketball legend and six-time NBA champion to its prestigious TIME 100 list of the most influential figures in sports — a rare recognition not for current athletic dominance, but for sustained global impact across business, culture, and social change.
Jordan, now 62, becomes one of the few athletes ever to make the list post-retirement, and the only one this year whose influence stretches across four decades. The TIME profile, written by tennis great Serena Williams, calls Jordan “the architect of modern athlete influence” and “the blueprint for sports greatness that transcends eras.”
For many, the milestone is more than just symbolic — it’s a full-circle moment for a man whose career began in the humble gymnasiums of North Carolina and evolved into a global force.
Jordan rose to fame after hitting the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship as a freshman at UNC under Coach Dean Smith. That moment launched not only a legendary college career but also signaled the start of an empire. Drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1984, Jordan’s Hall of Fame résumé includes six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and 10 scoring titles. But his influence didn’t end when he stepped away from the game.
Post-retirement, Jordan revolutionized the relationship between athletes and brand identity. His Air Jordan sneaker line, launched in 1985, evolved into a $6.6 billion global powerhouse under Nike. More than just footwear, the brand became a cultural movement. Young athletes now aspire not only to play like Mike — but to build like him.
In 2010, Jordan became the first former player to own an NBA franchise, acquiring a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets (now rebranded as the Carolina Flight). Though his tenure faced criticism for on-court results, it marked a transformative step for Black ownership in professional sports.
In recent years, Jordan’s influence has expanded into philanthropy and activism. His $100 million pledge toward racial equity in 2020 was one of the largest ever made by an individual athlete. He has since launched the Jordan Impact Institute, aimed at investing in underserved communities through education, entrepreneurship, and mental health initiatives.
“Michael isn’t just a legend. He’s a living legacy,” said TIME editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs. “His influence ripples through every arena — from college courts to sneaker culture to boardrooms in Silicon Valley.”
Back at Chapel Hill, the UNC community celebrated the honor with a commemorative banner hung inside the Dean E. Smith Center. Students gathered at the campus quad, many wearing vintage Tar Heel Jordan jerseys, cheering as the university announced plans to rename a scholarship fund in his honor.
When asked about the TIME 100 recognition, Jordan offered a characteristically humble response.
“I never set out to be influential,” he said. “I just tried to be great at what I love. The rest took care of itself.”
From the hardwood of Carolina blue to the global stage, Michael Jordan’s influence endures — not just in stats, sneakers, or rings — but in the generations he’s inspired to dream bigger.
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