Throughout his career, NBA legend Michael Jordan knew how to keep himself in playing shape. However, something that he noticed that started standing in the way was his age. When he joined the Wizards, it had been three years since he last played, the last of which was for the Chicago Bulls in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. After that sixth and last NBA title, the North Carolina product turned his attention to being a league executive with the Washington Wizards .
Regardless, many felt MJ still had that itch to play. True enough, that came to fruition in 2001. Jordan would try to whip himself back into shape, although it was more challenging, considering he was already 38. That ultimately showed in his first official game with the Wizards for the 2001-02 season.
Forgettable return
The 6-time NBA champion struggled in his first game after a three-season hiatus. He was hardly a shade of his old self and Washington went on to drop their season-opener to the New York Knicks, 93-91.
Although Mike finished with 19 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in that loss, he didn't appear to be like the Jordan of old. After that game, the 3rd overall pick of the 1984 Draft admitted that he was playing under different conditions.
" I guess the biggest difference is I'm a little bit older than I was the last time I shot the ball," Jordan said via the New York Times . "My game's a little bit different. My teammates are a little bit different. Obviously, the outcome tonight was a little different than I wanted," he added.
After a forgettable first game, Jordan would do better in the Wizards' second assignment against the Atlanta Hawks. He would drop 31 points to lead Washington to its first win, 98-88.
MJ wanted his teammates to be on the same level
Getting his first win after a long while, Jordan was delighted and saw big things ahead for the Wizards. But this was on the understanding that his teammates at the time, played at the same level as him.
"It's going to continue to get better as long as everybody understands the passion it takes," Jordan said .
After registering only 19 wins in the 2000-01 season, Jordan helped the Wizards the Wizards improve to a 37-45 win-loss record that season. Unfortunately, that was not enough to push them to the playoffs, and they finished 10th in the Eastern Conference.
The 2002-03 season was pretty much the same, with the Wizards ironically finishing with the same win-loss record and finish in the EC. Unable to lead Washington to the playoffs, Jordan would retire for a third and final time in 2003.
Despite failing to stick to his promise to lead the Wizards to the playoffs, his help in improving the NBA club was evident. Unfortunately, MJ just didn't have the right personnel to achieve what could have added to an already overwhelming career.
Related: "As long as everybody understands the passion it takes" - Michael Jordan believed he could make Wizards a playoff team after first win
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