Despite the emergence of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the NBA was still battling its way out from the down decade of the 1970s. By 1984, both Johnson and Bird had won two NBA Titles and the game was becoming more popular. Michael Jordan, unlike any player in the history of the league, was already catching the eye of basketball fans, even as a junior at the University of North Carolina under Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith.

Jordan, following his successful run with the UNC Tarheels, propelled not only the Chicago Bulls into prominence, but ushered in a new era of aerial basketball and marketing. Jordan was drafted by the Bulls with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Before his arrival in the NBA, Jordan was still putting in highlight-reel performances for the UNC.

This presented check offers an incredibly rare Michael Jordan signature from his playing days at the UNC. Making this check so unique is the “Mike Jordan” signature on the back where it was endorsed by the future Bull. The check was made out to “Mike Jordan” for “$5.00” and dated “2/27” 19”84”, which was his junior season with the Tarheels and his last one at the school as he decided to forgo his senior year and enter the NBA.

According to our consignor, this check was written to “Mike” Jordan as that was what he was called on campus back then. Our consignor was shooting pool in the basement of Granville Towers on the UNC campus, when Jordan stopped by to get in on the game(s). Our consignor lost a couple of games to Jordan and ran the debt to about $25.00. A friend of our consignor saw what was going on and knew Jordan had hustled our consignor to which Jordan agreed. The friend offered to play the games for our consignor and subsequently won a few games in a row, which irritated Jordan. Jordan, according our consignor, decided to cash out and was willing to accept the $5.00 check offered here to settle up.

Jordan’s signature on the back is in bold blue pen. The check was drawn on a Pembroke, NC account and the check number is 250. The check has been encapsulated by Beckett Authentication (00011764362). A wonderful opportunity to own an early-career Michael Jordan signature that is signed “Mike Jordan”! This comes with a LOA from Beckett Authentication (A17179) for the signature and a letter of provenance detailing the origins of how Jordan got the check to sign.

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