On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan issued a two-word release to the media that said: “I’m back.” The 32-year-old Jordan appeared back in a Bulls uniform the very next day. His customary number of 23 had been retired by Chicago after Jordan announced his retirement, so Jordan wore 45 instead. In his first game since the 1993 NBA Finals, Michael scored 19 points in 43 minutes of play, going 7 for 28 from the floor in a 103-96 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls won 13 of their 17 remaining regular-season games upon Jordan’s return, but were eliminated from the playoffs in the Conference Semifinals by the Orlando Magic.
The next year, Michael Jordan was back to his old form, and back to wearing number 23. Jordan again led the league in scoring with 30.5 ppg and led the Bulls to a 41-3 mark to start the season. Behind a rejuvenated Jordan, the Bulls ended up posting the winningest season in NBA history, with 72 victories. That was three more than the previous mark set by the ’71-72 Lakers. The Bulls marched back to the NBA Finals, where they faced the Seattle Supersonics. The Bulls dispatched the Sonics in six games, despite Jordan shooting just 5 of 19 from the floor in the series-clinching victory. The fourth title of the ’90s for Michael Jordan was clinched on Father’s Day, and he dedicated the championship to his late father.
The ’96-97 season was the first full season that Michael Jordan played in which he did not average at least 30 points. But it didn’t matter very much, as the Bulls came close to matching their dominance of the previous season, going 69-13. Jordan brought his heroics to a new level in the 1997 Finals. With the series against the Utah Jazz tied at two games apiece, Jordan came down with flu-like symptoms the night before Game 5. He was told he would be unable to play and stayed in bed for 24 hours, suffering from dehydration. But a few hours before Game 3, Jordan arrived at the Delta Center. His Bulls teammates acknowledged how sick Jordan truly was. Scottie Pippen was quoted as saying, “I didn’t even think he would be able to put his uniform on.” Jordan not only put his uniform on, but played 44 minutes, scoring 38 points on 13-27 shooting. Dizzy, nauseated, and exhausted, Jordan still contributed his patented late-game heroics. Trailing the Jazz by one point with 47 seconds to play, Jordan made a free throw, got the rebound after missing the second one, and nailed a 3-pointer to win the game. When the clock finally expired, Jordan collapsed to the court in exhaustion. The game came to be known in NBA lore as the Michael Jordan “flu game”. Bulls head coach Phil Jackson later called it the greatest game he’d ever seen Jordan play. The Bulls would close out the series in Game 6, and clinch their second straight title.
The ’97-98 would be Michael Jordan’s last with the Chicago Bulls. He averaged over 28 points per game and led the Bulls into the playoffs again. During the 1998 All-Star Game, Jordan scored 23 points and took home MVP honors for the fifth time in his career. His Bulls would again meet the Utah Jazz in the Finals. Jordan was unstoppable in the series, scoring over 30 points three times. But the Championship wouldn’t come easy for the Bulls. The Jazz were more than capable opponents, and it wasn’t until Game 6 that the Bulls were finally able to put them away for good. With the Jazz leading the Bulls by three with 40 seconds left, Jordan took over. He would hit a lay up, steal the ball, and hit the game-winning jumper over Utah’s Bryon Russell with 5.2 seconds left to give the Bulls their sixth championship in eight years. After his game-winning shot clinched the title, a two-page brochure was prepared for Jordan’s fantasy basketball camp. The photo on the left portrayed Jordan hitting the National Championship winning shot as a freshman at North Carolina. The one on the right showed his game winning shot against Utah in game 6. The caption under the left read “Some Things” and under the right “Never Change.”
Second Retirement
Jordan’s contract expired following the 1997-98 season, and with the NBA under a lockout, his status was in limbo. However, in the offseason, Jordan announced his retirement for the second time.
Michael Jordan 