UNC basketball legend and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on Tuesday at the White House.

Jordan was one of 21 recipients honored in the nation’s capitol, along with fellow basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and longtime voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers Vin Scully.

Obama celebrated Jordan for lifting the sport of basketball globally but said there’s more to the legendary Tar Heel.

“MJ is still more than those moments, more than just the best player on the two greatest teams of all time – the Dream Team and the 1996 Chicago Bulls,” Obama said. “He’s more than just a logo, more than just an internet meme. He’s more than just a charitable donor or a business owner committed to diversity.

“There is a reason you call somebody, ‘The Michael Jordan of.’”

Obama continued, “Because Michael Jordan is the Michael Jordan of greatness. He is the definition of somebody so good at what they do that everybody recognizes it.

“That’s pretty rare.”

Jordan joined his UNC basketball coach Dean Smith, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2013.

You can watch the full ceremony here.

Related Stories
‹
Michael Jordan to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
UNC basketball legend and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan is one of 21 individuals who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. The White House named the recipients on Wednesday. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have “made especially meritorious contributions to the […]
Police: UNC Student Victim of Carjacking in W. Franklin Street Parking Deck
Chapel Hill Police are investigating the carjacking of a UNC student that took place early Saturday morning. No injuries are reported.
Honoring Chapel Hill's Black Builders: UNC Landmarks and the Local Faces Who Built Them
Maps are storytellers, but they can exclude certain narratives. Fowota Mortoo said that’s the case for Chapel Hill’s Black builders.
No More Coal? Chapel Hill Prepares for Hearing on UNC's Co-Gen Plant and Potential New Fuel Source
Chapel Hill Town Hall will host a hearing on Thursday to take comments on a potential alternative fuel source for UNC's cogeneration plant.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill Sees First Snow in Years
For a few hours over the weekend, the greater Chapel Hill community was in a winter wonderland. A winter storm blanketed Orange County and the surrounding area with a thin layer of snow on Friday. Overnight on Saturday, it was later packed down or rinse away by freezing rain, which its own layer of ice […]
UNC: Ridge Road Open to One Lane After Month-Long Closure, Still 2 Weeks From Normal Traffic
Ridge Road on UNC campus is allowing vehicles and pedestrians through once again. But normal traffic patterns are likely still weeks away.
Chapel Hill Police Investigate Pair of Overnight Armed Robberies Reported 8 Minutes Apart
A pair of armed robberies reportedly took place less than ten minutes from each other during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to Chapel Hill Police.
Chapel Hill Jeweler Contributes 'Blue Crown' Prop to Latest Season of Netflix's 'Outer Banks'
Chapel Hill jeweler William Travis Kukovich was hired to create the Blue Crown, a featured prop, for Netflix's new season of "Outer Banks."
Sancar Scholars Residence in Development to Support Visiting Turkish Academics and Students
Construction is underway for the Sancar Scholar Residence, which will provide accommodations for visiting Turkish scholars and students.
UNC Wrestler Charged With Felony Assault, Suspended from Team
UNC wrestler Jace Palmer has been charged with felony aggravated assault after punching a fellow student. An incident report from the Chapel Hill Police Department says the assault took place on Monday afternoon at 828 Purefoy Road in Chapel Hill, near the intersection with Howell Street south of the UNC campus. According to court records, […]
›