Michael Jordan missed 64 games because of a broken foot during the 1985–86 season.
The injury occurred during Chicago’s third game of the season, Jordan’s second NBA campaign. The fracture, commonly identified as a broken navicular bone in his left foot, sidelined him for roughly four and a half months. It interrupted what had begun as a promising season after his Rookie of the Year campaign.
Jordan returned late in the regular season, but the Bulls carefully limited his playing time. He appeared in only 18 regular-season games that year, yet Chicago still reached the playoffs. In the postseason, Jordan immediately produced one of the most famous games in NBA history, scoring a playoff-record 63 points against the Boston Celtics in double overtime.
The number 64 refers to games missed, not games played. That distinction is easy to lose because Jordan eventually played 18 regular-season games and three playoff games during the injury-shortened season. His recovery also helped establish the toughness and competitive intensity that became central to his public image.