Michael Jordan’s impact on basketball transcended his six championship rings. The Chicago Bulls legend was a global phenomenon, known not only for his victories but also for the grace and style with which he achieved them. He had one of the greatest legacies in the NBA, a legacy almost short-lived when he announced his retirement from the NBA in 1993 to join the MLB.
Jordan had just led the Bulls to a third consecutive championship while winning a third consecutive NBA Finals MVP award. Still, on October 6, 1993, he announced his retirement, citing a loss of desire to play basketball.
Motivation to come back
In the 1994-95 season, Major League Baseball owners attempted to implement salary caps for the players, a move that was met with significant resistance. The players, vehemently opposing this change, initiated a strike midway through the season. The impact of the strike extended into the following season, disrupting the continuity of the game and affecting the careers of many players.
Among those affected was the former NBA star. Concerned about the possibility of becoming a replacement player during the strike, Jordan decided to leave baseball and return to the NBA.
“If it wasn’t for the baseball strike, I’m not sure he would’ve come back at that time, or ever. He was really enjoying himself—he really liked the camaraderie with the guys and the less fanfare around him—even though he wasn’t anywhere as successful in baseball,” his agent Curtis Polk told Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling.
When the Bulls star decided to make his comeback, his agent drafted multiple press releases. However, Jordan, known for his flair, opted for a simple faxed letter that stated, “I’m back.”
Matching Olajuwon’s dominance
When Mike returned, he saw the NBA dominated by Hakeem Olajuwon, who had won the championship with the Houston Rockets in the previous campaign. In his first season back, the Bulls legend couldn’t lift Chicago past the second round of the playoffs, with Olajuwon leading Houston to another title and winning back-to-back Finals MVP.
As the 1995-1996 season approached, MJ knew he had to up his game like never before and embrace the challenge like an unproven rookie. This was the kind of motivation he asked for.
“Don’t think that I’m over here not anxious to play against them, just as much as they’re anxious to play against me,” Jordan said. “I have a point to prove. Two years ago, I didn’t have that. That’s the difference. I had that feeling when I first came into the league. Every new player that hadn’t seen Michael Jordan play, I had something to prove to them. Whatever they saw, whatever they read, I had to prove that it was true.”
True to his words, MJ brought that fire we once knew before his first retirement. That season, he averaged 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while leading the Bulls to a historic 72 wins and a near-perfect playoff run.