Former Wizards owner lost sleep over cutting ties with Michael Jordan: “I agonized over it for days and nights” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
No doubt, the marriage between Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards ended in an ugly divorce. Clinching his sixth championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, the 6’6″ guard called it quits. Yet, there remained an itch that needed to be scratched, forcing MJ out of his retirement.
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Initially, coming on board as a part-time owner and President of basketball operations for the Wizards, Jordan couldn’t resist the urge to hoop. Finally, making up his mind, “His Airness” announced his second comeback with a new vision set in the backdrop of Washington, D.C.
Never among the popular contenders in the East, the Wizards viewed this as a golden opportunity. Sadly, this would not turn out to be the case. While MJ could still compete on an elite level, his ways of working and controlling methods led to tensions within.
After two unsuccessful seasons with the Wizards and growing tensions, former owner Abe Pollin had some controversial calls to make. The real estate developer struggled to finalize the decision to part ways with MJ. Something that ended up giving him sleepless nights for a while.
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“It was an atmosphere on edge. It was not a healthy atmosphere to produce a happy organization or a winning team. I could sense the unhappiness, the sense of even maybe a little dissension in the whole organization. I sensed that it was a bad situation. I agonized over it for days and nights, thinking, ‘What is it that I have to do?’ I’m going to think very hard about these decisions and make the best decisions that I think are best for the franchise,” Pollin told ESPN in 2003.
As many expected, the unpopular decision led to heavy backlash. What made things worse for Pollin was his communication of Jordan’s exit via email and not a press conference.
The final meeting
After an in-depth analysis of the three disappointing seasons with MJ, combining his executive and player stints, a conclusion was reached. Pollin felt it was in the franchise’s best interest that the ten-time scoring champion step down from his duties in all capacities.
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“I had made my decision … and that was it. I felt by sticking to my decision, I would have less embarrassment for him because if I had made him lay out some of his plans that he had maybe in mind that he was going to do for the team, and then I would say, ‘I’m not accepting them, I thought I would hurt him worse. So I tried to be as gentle as I could with Michael because I have great respect for him,” said Pollen, who died in 2009 at the age of 85, suffering from a rare brain disease.
A briefing that lasted for only 20 minutes had Jordan describe the Wizards owner’s actions as “callous.” Bracing himself for the public outcry, Pollen even offered to refund season ticket deposits for the unhappy fans. That said, the management made some impressive new hirings.
The forgettable Wizards chapter
Seeking his second retirement after delivering six titles to the city of Chicago, “Air Jordan” had cemented his legacy. The six-time Finals MVP had nothing left to prove, with his Game Six shot over Utah Jazz’s Byron Russell in the 1998 Finals making for the perfect ending.
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Coming out of his second retirement in 2001, Jordan didn’t have the same success. While he did account for some impressive outings, the veteran guard couldn’t carry a team like in his younger days. He often clashed with his younger teammates, who did not appreciate the Hall of Famer’s working style. In the end, whether it was MJ or the Wizards, both parties failed to benefit from this partnership.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.