North Carolina claims NCAA championship as Michael Jordan sinks game-winning shot in his freshman year
This iconic moment cemented Jordan’s place in the national consciousness, leading him to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time
March 29, 1982, marked the moment when 19-year-old North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan etched his name in college basketball history, hitting a clutch 16-foot jump shot with only 15 seconds remaining, securing a 63–62 victory over Georgetown and clinching the NCAA Tournament championship. Despite the shot being a game-changer, Jordan admitted to reporters in New Orleans that he didn’t witness the ball’s trajectory:
“To tell the truth, I didn’t see it go in. I didn’t want to look.”
This iconic moment cemented Jordan’s place in the national consciousness, leading him to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Following Jordan’s game-winning basket, Georgetown’s Fred Brown hastily advanced the ball up court. However, his pass intended for a teammate landed in the hands of North Carolina’s James Worthy, sealing the victory for the Tar Heels.
“I knew it was bad as soon as I let it go”
Brown later recounted to reporters, reflecting on his costly mistake
Despite being only a freshman at the time, Jordan displayed the self-assuredness that would become a defining characteristic of his career.
“I was thinking the game might come down to a last-second shot,”
he recalled
“I saw myself taking it and hitting it.”
With these words, Jordan revealed his unwavering confidence in his abilities, foreshadowing the many clutch shots he would go on to make throughout his illustrious career.
Georgetown’s formidable squad was spearheaded by 7-foot center Patrick Ewing, who led all scorers with an impressive 28 points, and guided by renowned coach John Thompson, widely regarded as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time. Thompson shared a close friendship with North Carolina coach Dean Smith, also a legend in the sport. The two celebrated their bond with a warm embrace after the game.
North Carolina’s championship victory marked a significant milestone for the team, as it was their first title under Smith’s leadership and their first since their inaugural championship win in 1957. The Tar Heels concluded the season with a remarkable 32–2 record, prompting Smith to declare to reporters,
“We had the best basketball team in the tournament.”
During the 1984 NBA draft, Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls as the third overall pick. The following year, Patrick Ewing was chosen as №1 overall pick by the New York Knicks. As a member of the Bulls, Jordan frequently posed a formidable challenge to Ewing and the Knicks, frequently thwarting their aspirations of claiming an NBA championship.
