July 7, 2025
The six-time NBA champion just wanted to play basketball again
Six NBA Championships, six NBA Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles, and countless accolades had already been bestowed upon Michael Jordan, but when he returned from a second retirement to play for the Washington Wizards, he did so for the love of the game.
According to The Basketball Network, the NBA Hall of Famer shared the reason he left the Washington Wizards’ executive office to suit up after retiring from the Chicago Bulls two times previously. Arguably, the greatest basketball player had already set his legacy through his legendary playing career. When he announced that, not only was he coming back to play in the league again, he was doing so for the Wizards, who, at the time, were one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Some critics questioned why he would ruin his legacy by coming back, but, as far as Jordan was concerned, this would not tarnish it. However, if he were able to revitalize the franchise on the court and through his play, that would actually create a bigger legacy.
“If I can do it, great. If I can’t, great, that’s great too,” Jordan told reporters when deciding to return. “But you can’t take my six championships away; you can’t take all the things that I’ve done as much as you probably want to. I just want to play the game of basketball that I love. I’m not about the money. I don’t care if I’m paid a single dime; I’ve said that many years.”
Jordan was an NBA executive this time around, but expectations were mixed because it had already been several years since he last played, plus there was no Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, or Steve Kerr around him to complement and complete his game. Nevertheless, he took the court with the same expectation as in previous years to win a championship.
The team attracted more people due to “Air Jordan” lacing up again, but his play and teammates weren’t enough, and he only played two seasons and hung up his sneakers for good this time. Missing the game took him back, but the realism of where he stood at the time made him realize that this time, it was really over.
“I came to Washington because they gave me an opportunity to play here,” Jordan said. “It kind of fits because of where my job was. I’m gonna play the game of basketball.”
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