His Airness caps off a huge 1991 season by being named the league’s top player
On May 20, 1991, Chicago Bulls forward Michael Jordan was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player after averaging 31.5 ppg and leading his team to the first World Championship in franchise history.
The award further cemented Jordan’s rise as the face of the NBA during an era when the league was exploding in popularity around the world. After years of playoff heartbreak against the Detroit Pistons, Jordan and the Bulls finally broke through in 1991, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to capture the NBA title. Jordan dazzled throughout the Finals, averaging 31.2 points while displaying a more polished all-around game that included elite passing and defense. His iconic mid-air switch-hand layup in Game 2 became one of the defining images of his career.
The championship marked the beginning of a dynasty, as Chicago would go on to win six NBA titles during the 1990s. Jordan’s combination of scoring brilliance, competitiveness, and global appeal transformed both the Bulls and the sport itself into worldwide phenomena.