Michael Jordan is forever going to be one-half of the GOAT conversation. Winning 6 championships during his time with the Chicago Bulls, His Airness found immense success in the NBA. Forming arguably the greatest trio in league history, he, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen, were virtually unstoppable. Usually away from the spotlight, Jordan has recently been on the news for his $3 billion sale of the Charlotte Hornets.

Famously retiring from the NBA in 1993, not many knew the reason behind the decision at the time. Recently refreshed due to the release of Netflix’s ‘The Last Dance‘, Jordan’s retirement is an important landmark in league history. Phil Jackson recently spoke about Jordan’s involvement post-retirement. The former Lakers and Knicks coach also revealed what he used to say to Jordan during that period.

Phil Jackson on Jordan’s reminders after his first retirement

On October 6th, 1993, the world of basketball came to a standstill as the greatest player of all time announced his imminent retirement. In a move that tyrannized many, Michael Jordan decided to step away from the sport. Fans were even more shocked to hear MJ say that he had lost his desire to play basketball. Deciding to try his hand at baseball instead, MJ spent the next few years living out his father’s dream as he took on minor league baseball.

During his retirement, MJ stayed in touch with former coach Phil Jackson, who missed the services of his former player during the 1993-94 season.

Speaking on Jordan’s involvement in the book ‘There’s no next‘, the former Knicks coach stated, “That year we were in the playoffs and lost. It was during the playoffs, he called my office and said ‘great game‘”.

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Jackson revealed that Michael Jordan wanted to tell the guys “They messed up“. Jordan only relented over one call made against his former teammate, confessing, “What a bad call Sottie got“. Phil revealed that he only had one response to it all – “When are you coming back?”

Although missed on the court Jordan was very much involved with the team through his coach during his retirement.

But what caused Michael Jordan to retire?

Although MJ himself stated that he had lost his desire to play the sport, it was later revealed that Jordan’s decision stemmed from a number of events.

Michael first contemplated retiring during his involvement with the 1992 Dream Team, as he deemed the experience “exhausting“. But the biggest mediator of his decision to retire was the death of his father in the July of 1993.

Found dead in a North Carolina swamp, the murder of his father was a harrowing experience for MJ. Following the incident, he had zero motivation left to play. Announcing his retirement shortly after, Jordan then pursued the dream of his late father, who always envisioned his son to be an MLB player.

After all, before being a basketball legend, Michael Jordan was a son first.

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