By 1993, concerns had already arisen about Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan bidding farewell to basketball. He had won two championships then and was en route to winning a third straight.
Jordan’s trophy case was already packed with numerous individual and team accolades. It seemed that there was nothing left for Michael to do, and he was just 29 years old.
Retirement rumors
Reporters confronted Jordan about such fears. While he did not know how many years he had left, MJ clarified that he didn’t want to grow old playing ball. Mike would have loved to hang up his jersey while he could still play at a high level.
“I don’t want to be around when my skills decline,” Jordan said in 1993, via the Chicago Tribune. “Mentally, I don’t think I can accept that. I’ve always been on top, and if I can’t be, it would be very difficult.”
“When I go, it’s going to be, ‘OK, I’m done,’ and that’s it. Not, ‘Next year I’m done.’ I want to choose when to go, and I won’t miss the game when I walk away that way,” he added.
At the time, Jordan had three years left on his contract and vowed to evaluate his future only after the deal expired. Michael also would have loved it if the Bulls stayed on top as long as he was there. The shooting guard wasn’t fond of pressing the reset button.
“I don’t want to even think about it. But I started out that way with the Bulls,” Jordan noted. “The difference is we were an improving young team. But if you stay around long enough, there will be a rebuilding process. Will I be around for that? I hope not.”
Terrible surprise
Fans and reporters sat on Jordan’s assurance as the Bulls claimed their third straight championship. Chicago was on the top of the world, and people expected them to remain there for a few more years.
Lo and behold, weeks before the 1993-94 NBA season commenced, MJ announced his retirement from the game of basketball. It was due to a slew of factors: his father’s tragic death, burnout, and the revival of his love for baseball.
It was a sad day for sports. At that time, the world’s most popular and most successful athlete suddenly chose to walk off into the sunset with his three rings. The Bulls, who were also taken aback, had just a few weeks to absorb the news and move forward.
They still had a pretty good roster led by Scottie Pippen. However, MJ’s departure left a massive hole in the Bulls’ system. Jordan was their leader, scoring machine, clutch performer, and pretty much everything else.
Fortunately, MJ returned in 1995. The man needed a breather from all those intense years under the spotlight. Jordan stayed true to his philosophy on retirement. Even though pundits claimed the old Air Jordan was no longer present in his ageing body, the shooting guard kept on playing and guiding the Bulls to championships.
After the 1997-98 season, after completing another three-peat and climbing back to the top of the basketball world, MJ bid goodbye to the game for the second time and the last time as a Bull.