Ayrton Oneill
Michael Jordan is a basketball legend, and his career has had several twists and turns. After a hiatus from the NBA, Jordan returned to the game in 1995, announcing his comeback with a simple fax stating, I'm back. This marked his return to the Chicago Bulls, where he had previously won three consecutive NBA championships. Jordan's return to the court was highly anticipated, and he quickly proved his prowess, scoring 55 points against the New York Knicks. In 2000, Jordan took on a new role as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. However, the lure of the court proved too strong, and in 2001, at the age of 38, he came out of retirement once more to play for the Wizards. Jordan's impact on basketball is undeniable, with his first comeback in 1995 increasing the market capitalization of his client firms by over $1 billion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of retirement from basketball | October 1993 |
| Reason for retirement | Physical and mental exhaustion |
| Sport during retirement | Baseball |
| Date of return to basketball | March 1995 |
| Announcement method | Fax |
| Team | Chicago Bulls |
| Number of regular-season games played | 17 |
| Number of games won | 13 |
| Average points scored | 26.9 |
| Date of second retirement | January 1999 |
| Date of return to the NBA | September 2001 |
| Team | Washington Wizards |
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What You'll Learn
- Michael Jordan returned to basketball in 1995, wearing the No. 45 jersey with the Bulls
- He took a break from basketball for 18 months, during which he pursued a baseball career
- Jordan announced his comeback via a fax, stating, I'm back
- He scored 55 points in his fifth game back, against the New York Knicks
- In 2000, Jordan returned to the NBA as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards
Michael Jordan returned to basketball in 1995, wearing the No. 45 jersey with the Bulls
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1991–93, 1996–98) and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998). Jordan briefly retired from basketball in October 1993 to pursue a career in professional baseball. He returned to the NBA in March 1995, announcing his comeback with a now-famous fax that simply read: "I'm back."
Jordan's return to the court was highly anticipated, and he did not disappoint. Despite an 18-month hiatus from the NBA, he quickly returned to form, scoring 55 points in his fifth game back against the New York Knicks. Jordan played in 17 regular-season games with the Bulls during the 1994-95 season, averaging 26.9 points. The Bulls went 13-4 with Jordan and earned the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals but were defeated by the Orlando Magic.
Jordan initially wore the No. 45 jersey upon his return, but he soon switched back to his iconic No. 23. The reason for the number change is not entirely clear, but some have speculated that it was a tribute to his late father, James Jordan. Jordan's jersey number has become synonymous with his legendary career, and it was retired by the Bulls in a ceremony in 2025.
During the 1995-96 season, Jordan led the Bulls to a then-record 72 regular-season wins. He averaged a league-high 30.4 points and was named the league's MVP. The Bulls went on to win the NBA championship, their fourth title in six years. Jordan's return to the Bulls and his outstanding performance during the 1995-96 season solidified his status as one of the greatest basketball players ever to play the game. He retired from the NBA for a second time in January 1999 but returned once more in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards.
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He took a break from basketball for 18 months, during which he pursued a baseball career
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players in history. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998, and he was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Jordan earned the nickname "Air Jordan" due to his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers.
Jordan took a break from the NBA for 18 months, from October 1993 to March 1995. During this hiatus, he pursued a career in professional baseball, honoring his father, James, who had envisioned him as a baseball player. Jordan signed a minor-league deal with the Barons, owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owned the Bulls. In his only season with the Barons, Jordan played 127 games, hitting three home runs and stealing 30 bases. However, at 31 years old, his MLB prospects were muted, and with the league strike in 1994, Jordan decided to return to basketball.
Jordan's return to the NBA was highly anticipated, and he announced his comeback with the iconic words, "I'm back," in a fax released by his agent on March 18, 1995. Despite not being in optimal basketball shape, Jordan quickly returned to form, scoring 55 points against the New York Knicks in his fifth game back. He led the Bulls to a 13-4 record in the regular season, securing the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals but were defeated by the Orlando Magic.
Jordan's return to the NBA after his baseball hiatus demonstrated his enduring talent and impact on the league. He went on to lead the Bulls to another championship in the 1995-96 season, further solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
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Jordan announced his comeback via a fax, stating, I'm back
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players in history. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998, and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) five times. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Jordan earned the nickname "Air Jordan" due to his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers.
Jordan first retired from basketball briefly in October 1993, citing physical and mental exhaustion. During his hiatus, he pursued a career in professional baseball, signing a minor-league deal with the Barons. However, with the MLB season disrupted by a strike, Jordan decided to return to the NBA. On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his comeback via a fax, stating, "I'm back." The one-page letter, released by his agent, marked Jordan's official return to the Bulls during the 1994-95 NBA season. Despite some initial challenges, Jordan quickly regained his form, scoring 55 points against the New York Knicks in his fifth game back.
Jordan's return boosted the Bulls' performance, as they finished the season with a 13-4 record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. During the 1995-96 season, Jordan led the Bulls to a record-breaking 72 regular-season wins, averaging a league-high 30.4 points. This outstanding performance earned him the MVP award once again, and he guided the Bulls to another championship.
Jordan retired from basketball again after the 1997-98 season but made another comeback in 2001, joining the Washington Wizards as a player. At 38 years old, Jordan proved he still had what it takes, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game. Despite his advanced age, Jordan showed that he could still compete at the highest level.
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He scored 55 points in his fifth game back, against the New York Knicks
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association championships (1991–93, 1996–98) and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player five times. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Jordan earned the nickname "Air Jordan" due to his extraordinary leaping ability and acrobatic maneuvers.
In October 1993, Jordan retired from basketball briefly to pursue a career in professional baseball. However, he returned to the NBA in March 1995, announcing his comeback with a now-iconic fax that simply read: "I'm back."
Jordan's comeback game was against the Indiana Pacers, where he scored 19 points. In his fifth game back, Jordan faced the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 1995, and scored an impressive 55 points. This game was particularly significant as it showcased Jordan's return to top form. He was nervous that it would take longer to regain his rhythm, but he proved himself wrong, scoring 20 points in the first quarter alone. Jordan's performance that night was a statement to the world that he was back and better than ever.
Jordan's comeback boosted the Bulls' performance, and they finished the season with a 13-4 record, making it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic. Despite the initial loss to Orlando, Jordan quickly silenced any doubts about his abilities by scoring 38 points in the next game, which Chicago won. Jordan's performance in the 1994-95 season earned him an 11th place finish in MVP voting.
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In 2000, Jordan returned to the NBA as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships between 1991 and 1998 and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player five times. Jordan retired from basketball multiple times throughout the 1990s, once to pursue a baseball career and another time because of physical and mental exhaustion.
Jordan's previous tenure with the Wizards, as a player, had produced mixed results. On 7 May 2003, Wizards owner Abe Pollin fired Jordan from his role as Director of Basketball Operations. Jordan later stated that he felt betrayed and that if he had known he would be dismissed upon retiring, he never would have returned to play for the Wizards.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA in March 1995, after an 18-month hiatus. He made his comeback with the Chicago Bulls, wearing jersey No. 45.
Michael Jordan used a fax machine to send a concise message to the world: "I'm back."
In his first game back, Jordan scored 19 points, with six rebounds and six assists in 43 minutes of play. The Bulls lost the game 103-96 in overtime.
Yes, Michael Jordan came out of retirement for a second time to play for the Washington Wizards in 2001. He took on a comprehensive role as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the team.
