Helena Frye
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players in history. With unmatched athleticism and competitive drive, he revolutionized the game while winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan first retired from basketball in 1993, citing that he had reached the pinnacle of his career and had nothing else to prove. He returned to basketball in 1995, leading the Bulls to three more championships before retiring again in 1999. Jordan made a comeback in 2000 as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards, playing his final game with them in 2003.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First retirement | October 1993 |
| Reason for first retirement | The murder of his father and feeling he had nothing left to prove |
| Return to basketball | March 1995 |
| Second retirement | 13 January 1999 |
| Return to NBA | 19 January 2000 |
| Final retirement | 2003 |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Jordan's first retirement
Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1984 and 2003. Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls from 1984 to 1998 and won six NBA championships with the team.
Jordan first retired from basketball in 1993, at the age of 30. On October 6, 1993, Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA, less than four months after winning his third consecutive NBA title with the Bulls. Jordan's decision to retire came as a shock to many, as he was considered to be at the peak of his career. In fact, Jordan's retirement made front-page news in the Deseret News on the day it was announced.
Jordan himself acknowledged that the murder of his father a few months prior to his retirement had weighed heavily on him. During his retirement, Jordan pursued a career in Minor League Baseball, playing for the Chicago White Sox organization. He also remained involved in basketball, appearing in a 1996 live-action/animated film, Space Jam, which starred Jordan and Bugs Bunny in a fictional story set during his first retirement from basketball.
Jordan's first retirement from basketball was short-lived, as he returned to the NBA and the Bulls in March 1995. After his comeback, Jordan led the Bulls to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Jordan then retired for the second time on January 13, 1999, before returning to the NBA once again in 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
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His return to basketball
Michael Jordan, widely considered one of the greatest basketball players in history, had a legendary career in the NBA. He first retired from basketball in 1993, citing that he had achieved everything he wanted to in his career and had nothing left to prove. However, his return to basketball came in March 1995, less than two years after his initial retirement.
During the 1995-96 season, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to a remarkable 72-10 regular season record, which was the best in the NBA at the time. This was the start of Jordan's second stint in the NBA, and he went on to add to his already impressive resume. From 1996 to 1998, Jordan and the Bulls dominated the league, winning three consecutive championships. Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP in each of those three seasons, solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats.
Jordan's impact on the court was unparalleled, and his popularity reached extraordinary heights. He became a global icon, with his fame extending beyond the basketball court. Jordan's name and brand became synonymous with success, and he earned millions of dollars from endorsements, most notably his Nike Air Jordan shoe deal. His cultural influence was such that he even starred in the 1996 film "Space Jam," alongside Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The film was inspired by a Super Bowl commercial featuring Jordan and Bugs Bunny playing basketball.
After the 1997-98 season, Jordan retired for the second time. However, his love for the game and competitive drive brought him back to the court once again. In 2000, Jordan returned to the NBA as a player for the Washington Wizards, playing three seasons with the team before finally retiring from playing the game in 2003. Jordan's impact on the NBA and basketball culture has been enduring, and he is often referred to as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
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His final retirement
Michael Jordan, widely considered one of the greatest basketball players in history, retired from the sport multiple times. His final retirement came after the 2002–03 season, when he was playing for the Washington Wizards. Jordan ended his career with 32,292 total points, a league-best average of 30.1 points per game, 2,514 steals, and six NBA championships.
Jordan's first retirement came in October 1993, after nine seasons and three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He then pursued a career in professional baseball, returning to basketball in March 1995. During his second stint with the Bulls, Jordan added another three championships to his tally, being named MVP in the finals each time.
Jordan retired for the second time on January 13, 1999, but this was not the end of his basketball career. He returned to the sport in January 2000 as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. He played three seasons with the Wizards, and his final game was on April 16, 2003.
After his final retirement, Jordan continued to be involved in the world of basketball. In 2006, he became the minority owner and general manager of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets). He bought a controlling interest in the team in 2010, becoming the first former NBA player to own a majority stake in a franchise. Jordan sold his share in the team in 2023.
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His post-retirement career
Michael Jordan, widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in history, first retired from the NBA in October 1993. He then pursued a brief career in professional baseball, playing a couple of seasons in the White Sox organisation.
Jordan returned to the NBA in March 1995 and played for the Chicago Bulls until his second retirement in January 1999. He then became part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards, where he had comprehensive responsibilities and controlled all aspects of the team's basketball operations. However, opinions of Jordan as a basketball executive were mixed.
In 2001, Jordan came out of retirement once again to play for the Wizards, and his final game was played on April 16, 2003. After retiring from playing basketball for good, Jordan continued to be associated with the sport in various ways. In 2006, he became the minority owner and general manager of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets). He bought a controlling interest in the team in 2010, becoming the first former NBA player to become a majority owner of a franchise. Jordan sold his share in 2023.
In addition to his business ventures, Jordan has authored several books about his life, basketball career, and worldview. He has also been involved in film and television, most notably starring in the 1996 film "Space Jam" alongside Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The film was inspired by a Super Bowl commercial featuring Jordan and Bugs Bunny playing basketball. Jordan has also appeared in various commercials and music videos, including Michael Jackson's "Jam" in 1992.
Jordan has also been recognised for his contributions to basketball, being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and again in 2010 as part of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team"). A Michael Jordan exhibit was opened at the Hall of Fame in 2009, displaying items from his college and NBA careers, as well as his short career in Minor League Baseball.
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His reasons for retiring
Michael Jordan, widely considered one of the greatest basketball players in history, retired from the sport multiple times.
His first retirement came in October 1993, when he was only 30 years old. Jordan had just led the Chicago Bulls to their third consecutive NBA championship, and his ninth season overall. At a news conference, Jordan said:
> "I have reached the pinnacle of my career. I have achieved a lot in that short amount of time if you want to call it short. But, I just feel that I don't have anything else for myself to prove."
Jordan also said that the murder of his father a few months earlier had weighed heavily on him. He later stated that he probably would have retired even if his father had still been alive, as he had been thinking about it for some time.
Jordan returned to basketball in March 1995. He went on to lead the Bulls to three more consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998, being named MVP of the NBA finals each time. After the 1997-98 season, Jordan retired for the second time.
Jordan's second retirement was short-lived, as he returned to the NBA in January 2000, this time as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. He played his final game with the Wizards on April 16, 2003, and announced his final retirement after the 2002-03 season.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Michael Jordan retired from basketball multiple times.
Michael Jordan first retired from basketball in October 1993.
Jordan said he felt he had "reached the pinnacle of [his] career" and didn't "have anything else to prove". The murder of his father also weighed heavily on him.
Yes, Jordan returned to basketball in March 1995. He then retired again in 1999 before returning to play for the Washington Wizards.
Michael Jordan's final retirement from basketball was in 2003.
