The Washington Wizards once paid $64 million to replace the Michael Jordan influence. But why would anyone wish to do that? The legend led the Chicago Bulls to six championship titles. However, that was in the 90s. His tenure with the Wizards wasn’t very pleasant.
According to reports, the franchise no longer wanted Jordan on the team in 2003. They even paid a hefty amount to a rising star to erase the Jordan effect. That player is none other than former Golden State Warriors icon Gilbert Arenas.
In the latest episode of the ‘Gil’s Arena‘ podcast, Agent Zero revealed the entire story to his listeners. Speaking of the competition, he revealed that after his stint with the Warriors, the Wizards gave him a major six-year deal. As Arenas recalled, this was most likely because of his sophomore year when he dropped 41 points against Jordan.
He revealed, “‘Erase Jordan’s name and you’re cool’… I got paid $64 million.” Both he and his former teammate Antawn Jamison dished out the highest score against the Wizards, which caught the franchise’s attention. “I did 41, he (Antawn Jamison) had 39. That’s what got me paid, they’ve seen what I did to MJ,” said Arenas.
But just like the listeners, the other hosts present at the show were also surprised at why the team wanted to get rid of Jordan’s influence.
A closer look at Michael Jordan’s Washington Wizards tenure
Back in 2001, fans witnessed Jordan’s return to the court with the Washington Wizards. Despite the passage of time, Jordan’s undying spirit for victory was evident. However, after a two-year stint with the Wizards, Jordan once again made the surprising decision to retire for the third time in April 2003. The franchise and fans had expressed dissatisfaction with the Wizards’ inability to secure a playoff spot during Jordan’s tenure. Rumors also circulated that Jordan wasn’t a great teammate.
After Jordan’s retirement, the player was eagerly looking for a change. This turned out to be a great opportunity for Arenas. This era might not have been as glorious as his Chicago Bulls days, but the Wizards acknowledged and remained grateful for the 6x champion’s overall impact on the team.
