Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials,
MJ, is an American former professional
basketball player. He is also a
businessman, and principal owner and chairman of the
Charlotte Hornets. Jordan played 15 seasons in the
National Basketball Association (NBA) for the
Chicago Bulls and
Washington Wizards. His biography on the NBA website states: "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.