Out of all the scholarships thrust at the teenage phenomenon, Michael Jordan chose North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Guided by coach Dean Smith, Jordan was named ACC Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.4 points a game and scoring the winning jump shot to defeat Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA Championship Game. Offered here is a glimpse at the early stages of Jordan’s collegiate career as this photograph shows Jordan on the bench sitting next to Matt Doherty with Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith giving out instructions during a timeout. Jordan’s back is to the camera, but he turned his head to the left. The photograph was from the November 28th, 1981 game against Kansas played in Charlotte. This was MJ’s first ever collegiate game and only a few months before Jordan would hit his famous shot against Georgetown at the Superdome in New Orleans. This photograph is an 8 x 10-inch black and white and was taken by the Charlotte Observer. Taped to the back is a cutout with a “NOV 29 1981” red stamp that reads “North Carolina Coach Dean Smith Talked Strategy During A Timeout”. There are several blue stamps on the back including “The Charlotte Observer”, “MILTON HINNANT”, “NOV 28 1981” and a Knight Publishing copyright stamp. “Smith Dean” is handwritten in black pen on the bottom. This photograph has been encapsulated and authenticated by PSA (84173670) and classified as a Type 1 photograph.

Auction Notepad