As a sophomore in high school in the 1970s, a young black man tried out for the varsity basketball team in Wilmington, North Carolina.

He wasn't particularly gifted at the sport and at 5 foot 11 inches

lacked the size to compete. As a result he failed to make the team. His parents were intensely hard-working and working-class people. They came from humble means.

His mother worked at a bank and his father was an equipment supervisor. His older brother was

incredibly skilled at basketball and in turn receive their father's glowing praise

and dedicated attention. The young man's mother praise and

the dedicated attention. The young man's mother encouraged him,

despite being cut from the team,

to keep working hard over the summer

if it was something he really wanted to do.

She told him that if he wanted it and if he worked hard enough at it he could make the team the next year.

He would go on to make the varsity roster after putting in countless hours of practice and dribbling and shooting.

Not only did he make the team, he would become elite.

He was a top recruit who would go on to play for North Carolina basketball in the Tar Heels

under Dean Smith. He would win ACC freshman of the year and he would become all

American and the Wooden and Naysmith College Player of the Year award, which he won two times.

He would leave for the NBA after his junior year, and he would get drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the first round.

In 15 seasons with the team he would lead his team in number of points, categories and other things,

and he would lead the team to six NBA championships,

five MVP awards, and would become the greatest basketball player of all time. That player's

name, well it's of course Michael Jordan.

While everyone virtually recognizes Michael's basketball legacy,

...