"I don't want to steal the spotlight" - MJ ripped speculation that his Wizards stint was about stealing the show from the young stars
After three years in retirement, a two-time farewell tour and the cementing of a legacy that needed no revisions, Michael Jordan announced he was lacing up his sneakers again in 2001. But it wasn't for another championship push with the Chicago Bulls this time.
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It was for the Washington Wizards, a struggling franchise that had won just 19 games the season before.
The news ricocheted across media outlets with a familiar mixture of awe, confusion and skepticism. Headlines mulled over the motivations. Whether it was pride, boredom or a desire to hijack the spotlight from a league that was starting to move on without him.
Not stealing the spotlight
In truth, the NBA had already entered a new chapter. Allen Iverson was fresh off an MVP season and an NBA Finals run. Kobe Bryant had begun his slow burn into superstardom. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Paul Pierce were the new faces on posters.
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It was no longer Jordan's league and some voices, especially from media corners, suggested that his return risked stalling the rise of the next generation. But the six-time champion wasn't having any of it.
"I don't want to overshadow young players," MJ said. "A lot of people were very nervous about me stopping the growth of the NBA because of my participation in the NBA."
The Bulls icon was setting the record straight. Jordan knew the impact of his presence, the gravitational pull he still commanded in arenas, on TV ratings and inside locker rooms. But in his view, his return was aimed at contribution.
Coming back at 38, Jordan was fully aware that the NBA he left in 1998 wasn't the same one he stepped into in 2001. The league had grown flashier, faster, and louder, and the stars were younger. But the five-time MVP still believed there was room for craft, leadership, and a burning will to compete.
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Even as a part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Wizards, his desire to play again had grown too strong to ignore. He trained obsessively, reportedly losing 30 pounds to prepare for the physical toll. His comeback was strategic. He wanted to elevate the Wizards' profile, inspire the young roster and reignite a passion that had dimmed after years of rebuilding.
Related: "I didn't agree with it in '91, I don't agree with it now" - John Salley admitted he didn't want to walk off the court without shaking the Bulls' players' hands
Mr. Air's last return
Most of the stars who came up in that era saw MJ as their boyhood hero — Bryant, Iverson, McGrady and many others. It was unorthodox for a player to come back and play after retirement, but Jordan had done it back in 1993. But this time, he came back for the love of the game.
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In his first season back, His Ariness averaged 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists. His instincts remained untouched even with a body that no longer moved like it once did. Critics argued it was ego. But the league's former apex predator countered with clarity.
"I'm only here to add," Jordan said. "I'm here to aid and help and at the same time, get that itch scratched.
"I don't want to steal the spotlight from Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and those kind of people," he stated.
What MJ understood and what many failed to see in the noise of his return was that greatness doesn't need to hoard attention. It simply demands space to be what it is. His presence didn't suffocate the next generation; it sharpened them.
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Jordan's impact in those two years with Washington was tone-setting. He showed how preparation never ages, pride can still translate into production, and mentorship isn't always done with a clipboard. By the time he retired for the final time in April 2003, he had averaged 20.0 points in his age-40 season.
He became the oldest player in NBA history to score 40 points in a game. But perhaps more importantly, he left without taking anything away from those who were rising behind him.
Related: Kevin Garnett left Michael Jordan off his all-time starting five: "He is the god, and we copied him and s—t, but I got Kob' at my two"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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