Michael Jordan Joins 30,000 Point Club
Michael Jordan’s career and sneakers are as synonymous with Chicago as the freezing cold winds the city earned its nickname from. But one of MJ’s most impressive accomplishments didn’t happen while wearing the iconic #23 Chicago Bulls jersey, but rather, against his former team from the Windy City. While LeBron James steadily climbs to the top of the stat lists, and Vince Carter somehow continues to defy aging, we can’t help but look back at Michael Jordan joining the 30,000 point club on this day in 2002.
MJ became the second-fastest NBA player to reach 30,000 points, behind Wilt Chamberlain who reached 30k in 941 games, by knocking down a pair of free throws. Uneventful, but then again, it could be said that most of MJ’s time with the Washington Wizards was a bit lackluster. Michael was wearing the Air Jordan 17 in the white and blue colorway that he often wore during his time with the Wizards, which is undoubtedly why the Air Jordan 17 is one of the few ‘late-model’ Air Jordans that still has a decent following amongst most of the sneakerheads in the world. What’s crazy to think about, is that Michael Jordan took 3 years off from the game of basketball in his career, which makes his reaching the 30,000 point mark much more impressive than the two free throws would make it seem. Imagine if you subtracted 3 years off the careers of any other player in NBA History. Would they still rank near the top of the record books? It doesn’t seem like it.
For those that need a pair, the Air Jordan 17 ‘Wizards’ is available from Stadium Goods.
FOR MORE MJ NOSTALGIA CHECK OUT THESE 55 PHOTOS
Nick Engvall is a sneaker enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in the footwear business. He has written for publications such as Complex, Sole Collector, and Sneaker News, helped companies like Eastbay, Finish Line, Foot Locker, StockX, and Stadium Goods better connect with their consumers, has an addiction to burritos and Sour Patch Kids, and owns way too many shoes for his own good.
[…] be like Michael Jordan getting his 30,000th-career point against the Chicago Bulls, or what it would be like if LeBron James became the NBA’s career points leader against the […]