?Some People Wouldn?t Wanna See Me Out There?: 38-Year-Old Michael Jordan Doubted His NBA Return Before Finally Making Up His Mind

Michael Jordan retired at the pinnacle of his game after winning his second three-peat with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. The Bulls legend had already made history in the NBA as he decided to hang his boots. However, MJ’s love for basketball brought him out of retirement for the second time to play for the Washington Wizards. Despite being confident in his abilities, the 38-year-old Michael Jordan had doubts about his return to the NBA before he eventually made up his mind.

The Chicago Bulls legend was the face of fierceness in the league. His unwavering desire to win and compete made him one of the greatest legends to have ever played the game. However, Michael Jordan finally decided to retire for good from the league in 1998. He reckoned that there was a ‘99.9%’ possibility that he would never return.

Luckily for the fans, Jordan did return to the league in 2001 with the Wizards after serving as the team’s president the previous season.

Michael Jordan was nervous about his second comeback

In a 2001 interview with Ahmad Rashad, MJ shared his thoughts on his return to the NBA. Jordan admitted that he probably could not play the same level of basketball as he did when he retired, being away from the court for three years. Moreover, Jordan was occupied with his front-office responsibilities for the Wizards for the most part. However, after a disappointing season from the team, MJ decided to come out of retirement in 2001.

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During the interview, Jordan further said, “Some people wouldn’t wanna see me out there playing because they have a perfect perception of how my career should end.”

MJ reckoned that many fans would not have wished for his return because of how he ended his career on top. He also shared his doubts about his comeback to the league. At the same time, MJ claimed that he was still physically capable despite being away from the game.

Jordan stunned the NBA with his decision

Despite having reservations about his return to the league, Michael Jordan finally came out of his retirement for the second time in 2001. He suited up in the Washington Wizards jersey for the first time in his career and played with the team for two seasons.

In his last two seasons, MJ averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. However, His Airness failed to lead the Wizards to the playoffs in both seasons.

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Meanwhile, his decision to return to the court was certainly a treat for the fans who wanted to see more of Jordan’s brilliance

What do you think about Jordan’s decision to join the Wizards? Let us know in the comments below!