"I am happy for them, but it doesn't trickle down to me" - Michael Jordan on how his 1995 return affected the stock market for over $2 billion
When Michael Jordan shocked the sports world with two simple words — "I'm back" — in a press release on March 18, 1995, the basketball universe was sent into a frenzy. After spending nearly two years away from the NBA pursuing a baseball career with the Birmingham Barons, His Airness was returning to the hardwood on which he made his magic happen.
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Even before his second three-peat, Jordan was already in the GOAT conversation — an icon whose presence alone could sell out arenas in an instant and make life a living hell for anyone trying to stop him in his tracks.
By the time he announced his return, MJ wasn't just the face of basketball. He was one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, with an aura that had never been seen before.
The decision that moved the (financial) world
The magnitude of his decision wasn't just felt in Chicago or among NBA fans. Jordan's return created such a tidal wave that it reportedly added nearly $2 billion in market value to companies associated with him. From Nike to McDonald's to Gatorade, investors saw dollar signs the second there were talks about MJ lacing them up again on the court.
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"So I am the SEO of all of those companies now, huh?" joked Jordan in his typical manner about this situation.
While the stock market and, quite frankly, the whole Association rode the Jordan wave, MJ himself was quick to clarify what really brought him back. It wasn't contracts, it wasn't endorsements and it certainly wasn't the chance to boost his financial standing. It was, as always, the game itself.
"Well, you know, they were really supportive of whatever decision I made. And because of speculation of me coming back, increase, certainly, some of their business opportunities or probably some of their speculation. I am happy for them, but it doesn't trickle down to me," he explained at the press conference.
"I had all my contracts all intact, so it really doesn't enhance, and if I wouldn't have played it wouldn't have taken from. So that wasn't a decision for me to come back to play. It wasn't a financial decision," MJ added.
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For Jordan, the fire to compete, to lace them up again, and to feel that rush of being the best was what ultimately pulled him back. The business side of it all was just an added bonus. What mattered was the game and His Airness was ready to reclaim his throne.
Related: "I had two perfect women and I messed it up" - Shaquille O'Neal opens up about destroying his past relationships
MJ had some dust to shake off
Jordan's official return came on March 19, 1995, when he suited up against the Indiana Pacers, wearing No. 45, the number he'd donned during his baseball stint. The excitement was there, but the truth was the Chicago Bulls legend had some rust to get rid of.
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The Bulls finished the regular season strong, but the playoffs told a different story. Facing the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Chicago fell short.
But if there's one thing we know about MJ, it's that failure only fuels the fire. The very next season, Jordan and the Bulls came back ready to prove that they wanted to be back at the top of the Association's food chain, storming through the league and capturing the 1996 NBA title. Of course, they didn't stop there. With things clicking like they were before Jordan left for baseball, Chicago added two more championships in '97 and '98, just for good measure, and cemented their status as one of the greatest dynasties that ruled the hardwood.
Related: Michael Jordan shows off his $115 million luxurious superyacht in Croatia
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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