Ayrton Oneill
Michael Jordan, widely considered the GOAT of basketball, left the sport multiple times throughout his career. Jordan first retired from basketball in 1993, leaving the NBA after nine seasons. After his father's tragic death, Jordan decided to pursue a career in baseball, signing with a minor-league team. He returned to basketball in 1995, capturing two more MVP awards and three more championships before retiring again in 1998. He returned to the NBA in 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards, playing until 2003 when he retired for good.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First retirement | 1993 |
| Reason for first retirement | The murder of his father, James Jordan |
| Second retirement | 1999 |
| Return to NBA | 2001 |
| Final retirement | 2003 |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Jordan retired from basketball in 1993
Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played 15 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was a global cultural icon, integral in popularizing basketball and the NBA worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, on October 6, 1993, Jordan, then only 30 years old, shocked the world by announcing his retirement from the NBA. He had just won his third straight NBA championship with the Bulls, and his seventh consecutive scoring title, capping off a seven-year run with three championships. Jordan's retirement sent shockwaves through the NBA, with many struggling to believe the news.
Jordan himself cited a loss of desire to play basketball as the reason for his retirement. He later revealed that he was physically and mentally exhausted from basketball and the pressures of superstardom. The murder of his father, James Jordan, three months before his retirement also influenced his decision. Jordan and his father were very close, and his death deeply affected Jordan.
After his retirement in 1993, Jordan pursued a career in baseball, signing with a minor league team, the Birmingham Barons. However, he retired from baseball in 1995 and made a comeback in the NBA, returning to the Bulls and winning two more MVP awards and three more championships.
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He returned to the NBA in 2001, playing for the Washington Wizards
Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Jordan first retired from basketball in 1993, at the peak of his career. After leading the Chicago Bulls to three championships and the 1992 Dream Team to Olympic Gold, Jordan decided to pursue baseball and signed with a minor league team called the Birmingham Barons. However, in 1995, he returned to the Bulls, capturing two more MVP awards and another three championship rings before retiring again in 1998.
In 2000, Jordan purchased the Washington Wizards and joined the team as president of basketball operations. However, he renounced his ownership and managerial role a year later to return to playing basketball at the age of 38. On September 25, 2001, Jordan announced his comeback to the NBA as a player for the Washington Wizards.
Jordan's return to the NBA at an advanced age captivated fans and the media alike. In anticipation of his comeback, Jordan embarked on a rigorous training regimen six months prior to his announcement. He initially downplayed his intentions, attributing his training to a desire to shed extra weight gained during retirement. However, his subsequent hiring of Doug Collins, his former Chicago Bulls coach, signalled a more serious intent to return to competitive basketball.
Jordan's decision to donate his entire 2001-02 salary from the Wizards to the September 11 relief efforts further elevated his comeback's profile and generated significant public interest. Despite his advancing age, Jordan's return to the court with the Wizards attracted fans eager for one last glimpse of his legendary skills. Although he faced challenges due to his age, Jordan's determination and dedication to the sport were evident in his decision to return to playing basketball after a hiatus.
Jordan's return to the NBA with the Washington Wizards demonstrated his enduring passion and commitment to the sport. While his performance may have been impacted by age, his willingness to step back on the court and compete at the highest level added to his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Jordan's final retirement in 2003 brought an end to a remarkable career that inspired and entertained fans worldwide.
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Jordan retired twice before his final retirement in 2003
Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time, retired twice before his final retirement in 2003. Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan's first retirement came in 1993, at the peak of his career. He had topped the NBA in scoring for seven consecutive seasons and was named Most Valuable Player three times. After leading the Chicago Bulls to three championships and the 1992 Dream Team to Olympic Gold, Jordan quit basketball to pursue a career in baseball. He signed with a minor league team called the Birmingham Barons but soon found that the sport was much more challenging than he had anticipated. In 1995, he returned to the Bulls, capturing two more MVP awards and three more championship rings before retiring for the second time in 1998.
During his first retirement, Jordan pursued a career in baseball, signing with a minor league team called the Birmingham Barons. However, he quickly realized that baseball was much more difficult than basketball, and he struggled to hit curve balls.
In 1999, Jordan retired for the second time. However, his hiatus from the game was short-lived. In 2000, he returned to the NBA as part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. Jordan's responsibilities with the Wizards were comprehensive, and he had the final say in all personnel matters. However, his opinions as a basketball executive were mixed.
Jordan's final retirement came in 2003, after he had sold his majority stake in the Wizards and renounced his ownership and managerial role. Pushing 40 years old, Jordan had difficulty playing at the same level as he had in his prime, and he ultimately decided to retire from playing basketball for good.
Since his final retirement from playing, Jordan has remained involved in the sport in various capacities. He has owned a professional motorcycle road racing team, operated a clothing line, and even returned to the NBA as a special contributor for the NBC commentary team in 2025. Jordan has also been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, been selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and been named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
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Jordan's father was murdered in 1993, shortly before his initial retirement
Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003. He is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, having broken numerous records and left a significant mark on the game.
Jordan's father, James Raymond Jordan Sr., was murdered in 1993, shortly before Jordan's initial retirement from the NBA. On July 23, 1993, James Jordan was shot and killed while sleeping in his car in a parking lot in North Carolina. His body was found less than two weeks later, on August 10, in a swamp in South Carolina, and was identified on August 13 with the help of dental records. Daniel Andre Green and Larry Martin Demery were arrested and charged with the murder. Green and Demery were both 18 years old at the time and had been childhood friends. They were accused of shooting James Jordan during a robbery and then dumping his body. Green has always maintained his innocence, while Demery expressed remorse for his involvement in the killing.
Jordan's father's murder had a profound impact on him. He considered his father his "rock" and his "best friend." In the aftermath of the murder, Jordan walked away from basketball, reflecting on the fleeting nature of life. He decided to pursue baseball, a sport his father loved and had taught him to play. Jordan joined a minor league team called the Birmingham Barons, fulfilling a dream nurtured since childhood and inspired by his father.
Jordan's initial retirement from the NBA lasted until 1995, when he returned to the Chicago Bulls. He captured two more MVP awards and won three more championships before retiring again in 1998. Jordan's decision to step away from basketball after his father's murder demonstrates how deeply he was affected by this tragedy and how it prompted him to reevaluate his priorities and pursue a different path, honouring his father's memory through a shared passion for baseball.
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Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 2003. Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he played from 1984 as the third overall draft pick. Jordan quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring while gaining a reputation as one of the best defensive players. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free-throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nickname "Air Jordan".
Jordan won three consecutive championships with the Bulls from 1991 to 1993. During the 1990-91 season, the Bulls swept the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, defeated the 76ers in the semifinals, swept the defending champion Pistons in the Conference Finals, and won the NBA Finals in five games over the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers.
In the 1991-92 season, the Bulls continued their dominance, posting a record of 67-15. They swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs but were taken to seven games by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Bulls then defeated the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals and went on to win their second straight championship by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.
Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the 1993-94 NBA season, citing physical and mental exhaustion. He returned to the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. In the 1995-96 season, the Bulls had their most dominant regular season, winning a record 72 games. They lost only one playoff game on their way to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the SuperSonics in six games.
Jordan retired for the second time in January 1999, but he returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards. He finally retired in 2003, bringing an end to his illustrious NBA career.
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Frequently asked questions
Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first time in 1993, taking a break of two years before returning to the NBA in 1995.
Jordan's father, James, was murdered in 1993. Jordan took time off following his father's death.
Yes, Michael Jordan retired three times. He returned to the NBA in 2001, playing for the Washington Wizards, before retiring for good in 2003.
