Although ESPN’s docu-series The Last Dance hasn’t been kind to Houston Rockets fans, it has provided context to how Michael Jordan helped revitalize the league over the course of his Hall of Fame career. The NBA’s brand has risen considerably ever since the 1984 NBA Draft, which is when Jordan entered the league.
The league’s average attendance improved year-over-year in 12 of the 14 seasons from the 1984-85 season through the 1997-98 season, which is when Jordan retired for the second time. In addition, Jordan helped the Bulls sell out every home game from the 1987-88 season through the 1999-00 season.