Before I knew it, Jordan is already 62 years old. He is still the first person in the league in history for more than 20 years away from the arena.

On May 12, Michael Jordan's name has long surpassed the scope of basketball and has become a cultural symbol and a spiritual symbol. Today in 2025, this basketball god is 62 years old, and it has been more than 20 years since he last played in the NBA. However, no matter how time passes, no matter how many talented new stars emerge in the league, Jordan's position in basketball history is still unshakable. He is still the indisputable "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time), and is still the eternal basketball god in the hearts of countless fans.

Jordan's career is legendary. From entering the NBA as a Tanhua Show in 1984 and retiring for the third time in 2003, he left too many unattainable records with the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards. 6 NBA championships, 6 Finals MVPs, 5 regular season MVPs, 10 scoring champions, 14 All-Stars, 9 Best Defensive Team... These honors and data are just the tip of the iceberg of Jordan's great career. More importantly, he changed the sport of basketball, pushed the NBA to the stage of globalization, and made the whole world go crazy.

Jordan's influence is far more than above the court. His "Air Jordan" series of sneakers has set a precedent for the combination of sports brands and cultural trends, and is still synonymous with sneaker culture. Although the famous "Just Do It" belongs to Nike, Jordan is undoubtedly the best spokesperson for this spirit. His never-give-ups-the-natured sense of competition, his killer instinct at critical moments, and his almost paranoid pursuit of victory have all become the qualities that later generations rush to imitate. Kobe Bryant once admitted that he had learned all the skills from Jordan, and LeBron James also regarded Jordan as an eternal benchmark.

Interestingly, despite Jordan's retirement for many years, the debate about "GOAT" never stopped. Whenever a new generation of stars emerges, the media and fans always compare them to Jordan. LeBron James broke Jabbar's historical scoring record and led three different teams to win the championship; Stephen Curry redefined the game with a three-pointer; Nikola Jokic showed a new possibility of center position; Giannis Antetokounmpo showed the ultimate physical talent of modern basketball players. However, no matter how brilliant these stars have achieved, Jordan's legendary status has always stood firm.

The reason is that Jordan's greatness lies not only in his data and honor, but also in his dominance at critical moments and his decisive influence on the game. In the famous "Flu Battle" in the 1997 Finals, he scored 38 points while sick to lead the team to win; in the sixth game of the 1998 Finals, he scored a winning jump shot after stealing Carl Malone at the last moment, perfectly ending his career as the Bulls. These classic moments have been deeply imprinted in the history of basketball and have become eternal legends. In contrast, although the data of modern stars is more eye-catching, it is difficult to replicate Jordan's domineering aura that is no less than me on the highest stage.

Jordan's 62nd birthday also made people think: Why has more than 20 years passed, and he is still the indisputable first person in history? First, Jordan's appearance coincides with a critical period of NBA globalization. The perfect combination of President Stern's global vision and Jordan's unparalleled personal charm has pushed basketball to unprecedented heights. Second, Jordan's career has almost no stain (except for a short baseball career). At his peak, he chose to retire to play baseball, which added a bit of mystery. Finally, perhaps the most important point, Jordan defined what a true superstar is - not only having extraordinary skills, but also having an unparalleled desire to win and a killer instinct at critical moments.

Now, 62-year-old Jordan has transformed into a successful businessman and continues to participate in the basketball career as the owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Although his team's performance fluctuates, this does not affect his position in the basketball world at all. Whenever the All-Star weekend or an important game, Jordan's appearance can still arouse cheers from the audience. Young players are still so nervous that they can't speak when they see him. This is the charm of "God of Basketball".

In modern basketball where data analysis is increasingly important, Jordan's legend is even more dazzling. In that era when defense was more fierce and rules were more beneficial to defenders, Jordan conquered all his opponents with unsolvable central shots and incredible aerial actions. If converted to the current game rhythm and rules, his data may be even more terrifying. More importantly, Jordan's six finals trips ended with winning the championship and never let the championship fall. This perfectionism is beyond the reach of latecomers.

The memories of Jordan may gradually blur over time, but his position in basketball history will only become stronger and stronger. Just like Bailey to football and Ali to boxing, Jordan has become synonymous with basketball. The new generation of fans may not have witnessed his game with their own eyes, but through countless videos and stories, they can still feel the magic of the No. 23 player.

62-year-old Jordan has gray hair, but the sharpness in his eyes remains the same. When he sat on the sidelines to watch the game, people still imagined: What would it be like if the Peak Jordan played in this era? Perhaps this is the meaning of legend - even if time passes, his greatness is still vivid and can still inspire people's infinite imagination. In the sport of basketball, Jordan is no longer a name, but also an eternal benchmark and a peak that will always stand. No matter how many years later, when people discuss the greatest basketball player, the first name that comes to mind will always be Michael Jordan.