“To me, that’s how you win” – MJ dropped a powerful statement after scoring a career-low two points originally appeared on Basketball Network.
To see Michael Jordan score only two points in 40 minutes of action is utterly outrageous and impossible. However, that’s precisely what happened when the Washington Wizards faced the Toronto Raptors in a regular-season game in December 2002.
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The bizarre stat saw the six-time champion match his career-low (two points) back in April 2002, when he was sidelined due to a minor injury 12 minutes into the game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Nevertheless, fans were understandably in disbelief, as they had never seen Jordan shoot only 1 out of 9 from the field for an entire game.
Despite MJ’s rare poor shooting night, the Wizards handled the Raptors, 95-82. It’s worth noting that what Michael lacked in scoring, he compensated in other aspects, logging nine assists and eight rebounds.
“I wasn’t going to shoot. I didn’t care about shooting,” Jordan said after the game. “How many points did I have?… Nine assists and two points. To me, that’s how you win. What this team needs is someone who can sacrifice their game for the betterment of the team. I’m not afraid to step up and do that. We need to win. We need to get that attitude back. Somebody has to sacrifice their game. I don’t mind that it’s me right now.”
Coach Doug was happy with Jordan’s two points
The Wizards’ victory over the Raptors marked the team’s 10th win. More importantly, it ended Washington’s two-game losing streak that season.
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That being said, Wizards coach Doug Collins couldn’t care less how many points Jordan scored that night as long as the team performed well collectively. Besides, for Coach Collins, what the stat sheet shows will never define what the great MJ was capable of on the court.
“I think he was happy with his two points today because of the way the team played and all the other things he did,”Collins said. “This was one of the best games he’s played for us this year in terms of doing what needed to be done to win the game.”
Jordan already silenced his critics after his first career-low game
Mike was already nearly 40 years old when he decided to make another epic NBA return in 2001. However, given his GOAT status, fans and the media still had high expectations.
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Jordan was well aware of that. In fact, he even knew how reporters portrayed him after he registered his first career-low six points during a game against the Indiana Pacers.
Famous for his extreme competitiveness, Michael took it as a challenge. Following that underwhelming performance, MJ silenced his critics by scoring a season-high 51 points against the Charlotte Hornets.
Jordan did not only bounce back stronger — he also made history as the feat saw him become the then-oldest NBA player to score 50+ points in a single game.
“Scoring six points, my career low, I’m pretty sure you guys were saying how old I was,” MJ said after his 51-point outburst. “After tonight, I’m pretty sure people are going to say I can still play this game.”
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In retrospect, Jordan’s career-low games proved that he never put individual stats over team success. Moreover, Michael showed everybody that his winning mentality and competitiveness remained intact despite his age and physical limitations.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.