Career Chapter
Washington Wizards Career (2001–2003)
The second comeback: how Michael Jordan returned to the NBA in a Wizards uniform — the news, the quotes and the story of September 2001.
Michael Jordan all but confirmed Monday he would return to play in the NBA and said the world would know for sure within 10 days.
Wizards Close After Ticket Flurry
The Washington Wizards offices closed at 10 a.m. Tuesday because of the terrorist attack in the Washington area. Between Monday night, when news of Michael Jordan's likely return to the NBA as a player for the Wizards was reported, and the closing of the Wizards' offices Tuesday morning, the Wizards sold $750,000 worth of season tickets. The NBA offices closed in New York on Monday after the attacks, but the league did send a telex to all of its clubs, saying that all NBA personnel in New York were fine.
A 30-Minute Conversation
In a 30-minute conversation with three reporters — from The Associated Press, the Chicago Sun-Times and CNNSI.com — Jordan said the news conference to announce his decision would be held in Washington, D.C., by the middle of next week. Asked whether he was definitely coming back, Jordan smiled slyly. A moment later, he looked up and said:
"I'm doing it for the love of the game. Nothing else. For the love of the game."
A statement released from Jordan's office Monday night, though, didn't confirm anything. "I'm not giving any confirmation to the report … It is pure speculation," Jordan said in the statement. When informed that it was being reported that he had all but confirmed his return to the NBA, Jordan told the Washington Post: "I didn't say that. I have not said it." Jordan reiterated to the Post that he was speaking of his "months of attempting to get into basketball shape," not his definite return.
"He's getting healthier," Tim Grover, Jordan's personal trainer, told Bloomberg News in a telephone interview on Wednesday. "That was our obstacle. I say it's more like 50-50 now."
Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six championships, has worked out all summer preparing for the expected comeback with the Washington Wizards. He was president of basketball operations for the team and a part owner, meaning he had to divest his ownership under NBA rules before returning to the court.
Jordan has tested himself and his game repeatedly in scrimmages against top-caliber NBA players, with league referees officiating. The only question remaining was whether the tendinitis in his right knee would limit his effectiveness. Jordan, however, said the knee was sound. If it remains that way over the next few days, he told The Associated Press, "I'll be ready to go." This would be the second comeback for the 38-year-old Jordan.
Monday, September 10 — The Analysis
Speculation is where we were six months ago. We're pretty close to fact now. Michael wants to take one more look at it, one more good test in Chicago to see if he can come through it physically. And unless something catastrophic happens, the announcement would come the next week.
This is Michael Jordan's life — for anyone to tell him what to do with his life is assumptive on their part. He wants to play, he loves to compete, he hasn't found anything outside of basketball that gives him that charge, so he comes back.
From Baseball Back to the Bulls
He stunned the basketball world by retiring in October 1993, saying he had nothing left to prove in basketball and wanted to give baseball a try. He played a season of Double-A ball for the Chicago White Sox team in Birmingham, Ala., but returned to the Bulls in March 1995.
In the half-hour conversation on a curb outside his restaurant, Jordan dropped the conditional tense for the first time since acknowledging in April that he was serious about coming back.
"I want to play for years."
But Jordan made clear he wasn't coming back to fulfill any expectations but his own. "Winning isn't always championships. What's wrong with helping kids find their way, teaching them the game."
After the half-hour conversation, Jordan got up and turned to get in his car. "You guys got your story," Jordan was quoted as saying by CNNSI.com.