Everyone knows the Jumpman logo. We've all seen the six rings, the Flu Game, and that shrug against the Blazers. But honestly, Michael Jordan didn't just sprout out of the ground as a fully formed basketball god in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was forged in a tiny, hyper-competitive pressure cooker of a house. If you're wondering how many siblings do michael jordan have, the answer is four.
He’s the fourth of five kids. He had two older brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister.
Growing up in the Jordan household wasn't exactly a relaxing Sunday afternoon. It was more like a never-ending survival of the fittest. His father, James, and his mother, Deloris, basically used sports as a way to keep the pack from tearing the house down. It worked, but it also created a monster—the most competitive athlete we've ever seen.
The Jordan Starting Five: Who’s Who?
To understand Michael, you’ve gotta understand the lineup. It wasn't just Mike against the world; it was Mike against Ronnie, Larry, Deloris, and Roslyn.
James "Ronnie" Jordan Jr.
The oldest. Ronnie is the one who set the tone for the "Jordan work ethic," but he did it in a completely different arena. While Michael was busy becoming a global icon, Ronnie was putting in 31 years in the U.S. Army. He eventually retired as a Command Sergeant Major. Think about that for a second. While Michael was commanding the court, his big brother was literally commanding troops in the 35th Signal Brigade.
Ronnie was always the stoic one. Michael often said he lived vicariously through Ronnie’s military discipline. Even today, Ronnie stays involved in the family business, having spent years working with the Charlotte Hornets (back when MJ owned the team).
🔗 Read more: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
Deloris E. Jordan
Then there's "Sis." That’s what the family calls her. She’s the oldest daughter and, let’s be real, she’s been the most vocal about the "dark side" of being related to a legend.
Deloris didn't just sit back and enjoy the perks. She wrote a book called In My Family’s Shadow that stirred up a lot of dust. She claimed Michael became a "walking and talking conglomerate" and that the fame changed the family dynamic forever. It’s a perspective people usually ignore because it doesn't fit the "perfect hero" narrative, but it's a huge part of the Jordan story.
Larry Jordan
This is the one you probably saw in The Last Dance. Larry is the middle brother, and if he had been 6'6" instead of 5'8", we might be talking about him as the GOAT. Larry was the guy beating Michael in the backyard every single day.
"When you come to blows with someone you absolutely love, that's igniting every fire within you," Michael famously said.
He was talking about Larry. Michael wore jersey number 23 because it was roughly half of Larry’s high school number, 45. He figured if he could be half as good as his brother, he’d be okay. Larry actually played pro ball for a minute in the World Basketball League (for guys under 6'4") and later moved into the front office with the Hornets.
💡 You might also like: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Roslyn Jordan
The "baby" of the family. Roslyn is Michael’s younger sister and, interestingly, she’s stayed very close to her mother, Deloris Sr. The two of them have carved out a massive niche in the literary world. They’ve co-authored several children’s books, including Salt in His Shoes, which is basically a story about young Michael being worried he’d never be tall enough to play ball.
Why the Siblings Matter More Than the Stats
You've probably heard the story about Michael getting "cut" from his varsity team. It’s the ultimate underdog trope. But here’s the nuance: Larry did make the team that year.
Imagine being the younger brother, watching the guy you share a room with go off to practice while you're stuck on junior varsity. That sting didn't come from the coach; it came from the dinner table. Michael’s father once jokingly (but also kinda harshly) said Michael was the "laziest" kid he had. He’d pay his siblings to do his chores.
That laziness didn't last. Once he realized he could use basketball to earn his father’s approval—the same approval Larry was getting—the MJ we know was born.
The Competition Breakdown
- Ronnie: Taught him discipline and respect for authority.
- Larry: Taught him how to lose (and how to hate it).
- Deloris: Provided the friction that forced him to grow up.
- Roslyn: Kept the family grounded through her creative work with their mom.
The Reality of the Jordan Legacy
It’s not all highlights and Gatorade commercials. Having four siblings meant Michael was never the "special" one at home. He had to fight for everything.
📖 Related: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Today, the family is a bit of a mixed bag. They’ve all worked together at points—especially within the Hornets organization—but the pressures of Michael's $3 billion net worth and global shadow have clearly left marks. You see it in Deloris’s writings and the way some siblings have stayed out of the spotlight entirely.
Honestly, it’s a miracle they’re as tight as they are. Most families would crumble under that level of fame.
What You Can Learn From the Jordan Clan
If you're looking at Michael Jordan's life for inspiration, don't just look at his vertical leap. Look at the environment.
- Find your "Larry." Everyone needs someone who is better than them at something to keep them hungry.
- Discipline is a choice. Ronnie chose the Army; Michael chose the gym. Both reached the top of their fields.
- Family is complicated. You can love someone and still have "numerous battles" with them. That friction is often what produces the diamond.
If you want to dive deeper into the early years, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of Salt in His Shoes. It’s a kids' book, yeah, but it captures the vibe of that Wilmington household better than most 500-page biographies. You can also look into Ronnie Jordan’s military career archives if you want to see what a "non-famous" Jordan's excellence looks like.