Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963, in Brooklyn, New York) is a former American National Basketball Association player, and is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

The 3rd coming: The Washington Wizards era

In 2001, Jordan, then a president with the Washington Wizards, stepped down from the front office and out of retirement. His skills were noticeably diminished by age. Despite an injury-plagued 2001-02 season, he still averaged nearly 23 points per game. Playing through pain, especially in his knee, he was still an important player for the Wizards.

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2001 - Washington Wizards - Age - 02

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Jordan returned for the 2002-03 season newly fitted with orthotic insoles to help his knees and, healthy, averaged 20 points. He played in his 13th and final NBA All-Star Game in 2002-03. The 2002-03 season was heralded from the beginning as Jordan's final goodbye to his fans and he retired for the third time at the season's conclusion.

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At the beginning of the 2001-2002 basketball season, Jordan donated his $1 million salary to help the victims of the September 11 attacks.

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Out of respect for Jordan, the Miami Heat retired his #23 jersey on April 11, 2003, even though he never played for the Florida team. It was the first jersey the Heat retired in their then-15-year history, and it was half Wizards blue, half Bulls red.

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Miami Heat - April 11 - 2003

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Philadelphia was the setting for MJ's final game, on April 16, 2003. Playing limited minutes, Jordan still managed 15 points despite the eventual Wizards loss. He would also leave fans with one final moment to remember when, with 1:44 remaining, he sank his last two free throws prior to exiting to a standing ovation, which would last over three minutes.

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April 16 - 2003

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Neither season resulted in a playoff appearance for the Wizards, although they have made the playoffs since his retirement (during the 2004-05 season). They beat the Bulls in the first round in a meeting of Jordan's two former teams, but got swept by the Heat in the second round.

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2004 - 05

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