Michael Jordan , after retiring twice and making a comeback, announced in November 2002 that this time he would step away for good. Accordingly, "Time to say goodbye" became the theme of MJ's final months of the 2002-03 NBA season.
This included him bidding farewell to everyone he had encountered over the years, including fellow players like Dirk Nowitzki . Just before facing the German for the last time when the Mavs visited the Wizards, 'His Airness' praised his long-time opponent.
"Dirk is strong, he is intelligent. He knows how to play. It was a great challenge for me to play against him one more time," remarked Jordan, per Spiegel Online.
The final dance between two legends
The final game featuring the Hall of Fame legends took place on February 23, 2003, in front of a packed crowd in Washington. At that time, the visiting team was enjoying a five-game winning streak. However, against Jordan's Wizards , they clearly struggled to maintain that momentum.
In the first quarter, the Mavericks scored a season-low of just 13 points. Their star player, Nowitzki, couldn't change the tide, not scoring himself until the second period. By halftime, the Washington team were already running away, with 'Dirty' only managing to put up 5 points. However, the German Basketball icon insisted that nerves about playing against 'His Airness' one last time weren't to blame for his performance.
"It's a big deal, of course. But when we're all on the court, everyone is the same to me. It's all about one thing: I want to win," the German explained.
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Nowitzki outdueled Jordan
To start the second half, Dirk's strong comeback and the bench's solid performance allowed the Mavericks to turn the tide in the game. However, in an exciting twist, the Wizards fought their way back. The contest remained tight until the final moments, giving former Chicago Bulls star Jordan a chance to clinch the win for his new team.
"It would have been the icing on the cake if he had made that shot. What he (MJ) did in the fourth quarter was incredible. We were up by twelve points and thought we had already won," recalled 'Dirty.'
Instead, the game went into overtime, and the Mavericks ultimately won. Once again, Nowitzki showed up for the Texan franchise, scoring 29 points and presenting significant challenges for 'His Airness' on defense.
"I tried to neutralize him (Nowitzki) as much as possible, forcing him into plays I knew I could handle," the 1988 DPOY, Jordan, remarked.
Although he was already in his early 40s, MJ fought hard on defense and led his team as if he were still in his prime. In the end, the five-time MVP finished with an impressive 30 points.
To wrap up their final NBA matchup, there were reportedly no grand gestures between Jordan and Nowitzki, just a quick handshake.
"I haven't yet processed that this might have been it," said the Euro-legend right afterward.
Related: "He was invited" - Dirk Nowitzki on Michael Jordan not attending his and Dwyane Wade's final NBA home games
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