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 […]
The Morning News: Mark Chilton Retiring, UNC Returning
In today's news: longtime Orange County Register of Deeds Mark Chilton announces he's stepping down, a few months before the end of his term.
Merritt's Grill Opening Second Location in Chapel Hill; Einstein Bros. Bagels Opening First
Merritt’s Grill, whose BLT sandwiches have been a staple of the Chapel Hill culinary scene since the restaurant opened in 1992, is opening a second location at Finley Golf Club. The restaurant will provide dine-in, to-go and catering services inside the newly refurbished Finley clubhouse and will be open to both players and non-players. An […]
The Morning News: Legion Road, ArtsOrange, Jason Johnson, Bill Belichick
In today's news: Chapel Hill provides an update on the future of its 36-acre property on Legion Road, with a pond slated for removal.
PlayMakers' Summer Youth Conservatory Celebrates 20 Years with Run of 'Hello, Dolly!'
This year marks 20 years of Chapel Hill’s Summer Youth Conservatory, offered through PlayMakers Repertory Company.
Carolina Performing Arts Unveils Multi-Day Performance Festival for 'Campus and Downtown'
The Carolina Performing Arts festival, called “All. Together. Now.”, is set to debut Feb. 18-21, 2027 and take place every year.
UNC Reports More Than $17 Million in Direct Economic Impact from Savannah Bananas Visit
According to a release from UNC, the recent visit from the Savannah Bananas to Chapel Hill generated an estimated $17.1 million.
A Place to Connect and Heal: UNC Holds Annual Community Walk for Suicide Prevention
On Saturday, community members and college students alike met on UNC’s campus for a mile-long walk to destigmatize suicide prevention.
'Together is The Only Path Forward': Orange County's Habitat for Humanity Hosts Affordable Housing Summit
Amid a shortage of affordable housing – both locally and nationally – the Orange County chapter of Habitat for Humanity recently held a summit to discuss how leaders can collectively aim to better address the issue.
Chapel Hill Alerts Residents To Upcoming S. Columbia Road Closure
The Town of Chapel Hill announced that a section of S. Columbia St. will be closed as UNC conducts maintenance on its steam tunnel system.
›