Anti-Hero Michael Jordan, Who Once Threw Away a $10,000,000 Cheque, Left His Teammates ?Crying? Over Him at Wizards: ?He?s Poisoned the Locker Room?

Michael Jordan announced in 2001 that he would join the Washington Wizards after a three-year hiatus. While many Jordan fans were ecstatic to see him back, others displayed concern about his age. Jordan, however, proved his critics wrong by amassing impressive figures and averaging 21.2 points per game in his two seasons with the Wizards. Nonetheless, a concerning statement from 2020 by a Washington Bullets/Wizards legend, who was the General Manager during His Airness‘ stint in the capital, explains the horrid time everyone in the franchise had from 2001-03.

MJ had a lot of influence in the Wizards franchise. Jordan had initially joined the team as a part-owner and the President of basketball operations. After making some questionable choices as an executive, Jordan announced his return as a player on September 25, 2001.

Michael Jordan had trouble with his teammates

Despite being in his late 30s and returning to the game after a three-year hiatus, Jordan succeeded in leading the Wizards in scoring. He was also able to secure a spot on the NBA All-Star team. There was much expectation for Jordan’s return to the court, and he delivered on that. However, Wizards icon Wes Unseld had mixed feelings about Jordan.

Wes Unseld worked with the Washington Wizards as a general manager during MJ’s time. Michael Jordan’s influence on the Wizards was a topic of debate for the late legend. Mike Wise, a prominent American sports columnist, revealed a conversation he had with Unseld on an episode of the ‘Hang Up And Listen’ podcast in 2020.

Mike Wise revealed, “Wes Unseld told me this. He said, ‘Michael has been great for many of us in this organization in ways that has raised the value of the franchise, has made us respectable in other ways. And yet, he?s poisoned the locker room.'” He then said that Wes Unseld had gone around and asked every player if they would be willing to chip in for a nice retirement gift for Jordan. However, none of them paid heed to Unseld.

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However, this wasn’t the only instance of His Airness‘ troubles with his team. Former Wizards star Gilbert Arenas once revealed that Jordan even made his teammates cry out with frustration. Arenas said, ?He wasn’t the GM Michael Jordan; he was the player Michael Jordan. He’s going to push and be competitive, and a bunch of 18,19,20-year-olds; they don’t understand that. That’s what they were crying like, ‘Oh man, if that’s the way he talked to us, then what happens if he’s our boss.'”

His Airness trashed a $10,000,000 cheque

While playing for the Wizards, Jordan encountered some challenges off the court. Arenas had joined the Washington Wizards during the same summer that Michael Jordan was sacked as the President of basketball operations. Arenas claims that the Wizards team gave Jordan a $10 million cheque after firing him. Jordan threw away the cheque and left the arena after losing his job in a fit of rage.

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Arenas said, “He (Wizards? owner) was like ‘I wrote MJ a check, 10 million dollars. Thank you for your services.’ MJ threw that check and said ‘f*ck off’ and drove out of the arena.”

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