Michael Jordan on why he didn't think failing with the Wizards would taint his legacy:" I've thought about that well in advance" originally appeared on Basketball Network .
No one really expected Michael Jordan to come back again in 2001.
Not that it was unusual for him — he had retired before and returned in dramatic fashion — but this time was different. This wasn't the comeback of a reigning MVP reclaiming his throne.
This was a 38-year-old legend stepping into a rebuilding franchise with no playoff momentum. The stakes were less about titles and more about purpose. It wasn't a storybook epilogue. It was a gritty, very human third act.
Jordan's second retirement in 1998 came after sealing his sixth NBA title. He exited with a flawless Finals record, a storybook closer for a career that had already redefined greatness.
So, when he put on a Washington Wizards jersey three years later, questions came from every direction. But Jordan had already processed what that meant before anyone could try to define it for him.
"I'm not looking at this legacy thing as much as you guys may be looking at it," Jordan replied whenn. "I appreciate it. I think it's very caring of some of you guys. But believe me, I've thought about that well in advance of me taking this step and I don't think that's gonna dictate the way I'll play the game of basketball."
His name had become synonymous with perfection: six championships, six Finals MVP awards, 10 scoring titles and memorable moments. So, putting it all on the line again with the Wizards seemed almost reckless.
He had already left the game twice, both times on top. But what made this return compelling wasn't nostalgia. It was clarity. Jordan knew exactly what he was walking into and he wasn't burdened by what others feared would be a blemish on an untouchable legacy.
The Wizards weren't a playoff team. They had finished 19–63 the year before Jordan arrived and had no proven stars to build around. Still, he averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds in his first season back, numbers that eclipsed most players 10 years younger.
Even though injuries eventually limited his minutes, he played with intensity, diving for loose balls, mentoring young teammates, and showing flashes of the brilliance that made him a global phenomenon.
His leadership had ripple effects. Ticket sales soared, and television ratings jumped. For two years, arenas around the league were sold out wherever the Wizards played because Jordan was on the court. Mr. Air's presence brought relevance to a franchise long out of the spotlight.
What drove Jordan back wasn't ego, and it wasn't about proving he could still dominate. It was about rediscovering the raw love for basketball that had pulled him onto courts in Wilmington, N.C., as a teenager and pushed him through grueling practices in Chicago when no one was watching.
It didn't matter if he was 20, 30 or 40 years old. He loved being on the floor.
"I'm going to go out and try and play the best way possible," Jordan said. "You guys are gonna compare me to when I came into the league, taking off from the free throw line in 1988, winning championships … I know that coming in, but that doesn't mean I don't love the game and don't want to play the game."
In his final season, at age 40, Jordan became the only player in NBA history to average over 20 points per game in a season at that age. He scored 43 points against the New Jersey Nets in 2003, proving he could still summon greatness when it mattered. He became the first 40-year-old to score 40-plus in an NBA game.
He retired for the final time in April 2003, greeted with standing ovations in every city. No rings were added, but the reverence remained. His career scoring average still stands at 30.1 points per game, the first all-time. And no part of his Wizards stint ever unseated his Chicago Bulls-era aura.
If anything, it layered it, showing the heart behind the hardware.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
