Big Surprise: Jordan Among Hall of Fame Finalists

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan's professional basketball career was so legendary and remarkable, that nearly 11 years after he last won a championship and six years since he actually played a pro game...his impact, image and name continues to manifest themselves in today's NBA as if he were a current player.

Not surprising.

Jordan, 46 next week was selected today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as one of 16 finalists for possible enshrinement into the vaunted Hall of Fame. Former point guard extraordinaire John Stockton and super center David Robinson were also a part of the elite group as were former stars Chris Mullin, Dennis Johnson and Bernard King. NBA coaches Jerry Sloan and Don Nelson and Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer also made the list out of 164 nominees.

But Jordan is the obvious headliner.

The basketball icon had an historic career with the Chicago Bulls from 1984 until his sudden retirement three and a half months after leading the team to their 3rd consecutive championship in the 1993 NBA Finals. He then returned in 1995 and spearheaded three more NBA titles in 1996, '97 and '98. When the NBA lockout ended in January 1999, he retired once more until an even more stunning return in late 2001 with the lowly Washington Wizards. After two tumultuous seasons, MJ retired for good in April 2003.

Jordan's glittering resume makes him a master lock for enshrinement later this year. He amassed a league record 10 scoring titles to go with 10 All-NBA First Team Selections, 9 All-Defensive First Team Selections, 6 NBA championships, 6 NBA Finals MVP's, 5 NBA MVP awards, 3 Steals Titles, 2 U.S. Olympic Gold Medals, was the 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year and helped lead the UNC Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA championship. He also has the highest scoring average in NBA history (30.1 ppg in 1,072 games) and in NBA Playoff History.

The election announcement will be made on April 6 and the official enshrinement will take place in September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Talk about a sure thing.