Michael Jordan will be 50 years old on February 17 and the tributes are starting to roll in. Sports Illustrated has placed the NBA Hall of Famer on their latest cover.
The cover photo is a pic of the famous free throw line dunk that won His Airness the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk contest with a big graphic of the number “50” surrounding him. It’s the February 18 issue and coincidentally it is his 50th time Jordan is gracing the front of the sports magazine (“Convenient how the works,” reads the cover line). The cover story is written by Phil Taylor and chronicles MJ’s influence and there is also an oral history of the aforementioned dunk and a look at all the SI covers #23 has appeared on.
ESPN’s Sportcenter recently hooked up a short documentary titled “Gotta Be The Shoes” that examines Jordan’s worldwide popularity, which continues to this day, and its connection to his Air Jordan signature sneakers.
Peep some of our favorite Michael Jordan Sports Illustrated covers—no coincidence he’s usually rocking a crispy pair of classic Air Jordans (and even a pair of Converse)—in the gallery. Also, be sure to peep the Swimsuit Issue right here, too.
These photos definitely have us looking for our old copy of Come Fly With Me.
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Photos: Sports Illustrated
