When Michael Jordan retired for the second time with the Chicago Bulls In 1999, opinions were divided. Some believed MJ's performance was difficult to replicate, acknowledging that it would take a great deal for any player to succeed the six-time champion.
Those left forlorn about it included New York Knicks Исполнительный директор Дэйв Чекеттс. Он признал, что Джордан был огромной звездой в то время, и было жаль видеть, как он уходит из игры. Это были большие туфли, которые нужно было заполнить, и Чекеттс считал, что это будет непросто повторить, даже с новыми звездами.
"This guy is probably the most recognized man in the world. To lose a star like that is a big hit," Checketts said in 1999 via NYT. However, it also means that it provides a time now for young stars to step up. There are players in the league with that kind of talent. But I haven't seen anyone who possesses Jordan's level of competitiveness and ability to deliver the kind of big performances that true champions have within them, he added.
The Bulls' situation led to Jordan calling it a career
In his final season, Jordan's retirement was a hot topic. The Bulls were heading in a different direction and planned to disband the team to bring in fresh talent. This decision was made despite the Bulls seemingly having what it took to win a couple more championships if the team remained intact.
However, then-General Manager Jerry Krause felt otherwise. According to Tim Floyd, Krause believed that early reset It would be better for the Bulls to get back into title contention.
Aside from that, all was not well between the Bulls executive and Phil Jackson. Krause had no plans to bring back the Zen Master after the 1997-98 season, even though their run was extraordinary.
With all of that on the table, Jordan's decision to retire was a foregone conclusion. Many, including Bulls executives, expected it, marking the end of MJ's tenure with the Windy City team.
Related: When K.C. Jones called Larry Bird the best of all time after only six seasons: "Go down the list of the greats and I doubt you'll come up with anyone with all those credentials"
An itch that MJ regretted
Given the events in Chicago, no one could blame MJ for calling it quits. But as far as turning his back on basketball completely, such was not the case.
Although he transitioned to trying his hand at management, Jordan ended up returning to action in 2001 with the Washington Wizards. But the planned comeback was not merely for him to prove he could still play basketball. It was part of his management style, a way for him to evaluate Wizards players up close.
He played two seasons with the Wizards but was no longer the MJ of old. The only benefit the Wizards had was from a marketing standpoint since fans still wanted to see Michael play.
Jordan would later admit that his comeback with the Wizards was something he regretted He thought he was being innovative at the time. He realized that his approach to the game was far different from the new breed of players, a reason why the ploy never worked.
Without question, Jordan is an elite athlete that many have tried to mimic. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the popular names who tried to be like Mike.
Bean and Bron created their legacies, a reason why the never-ending GOAT debate continues to this day. Their generations may differ, but Jordan was the inspiration for the two superstars, headlining a long list of rising stars who want to be like Mike.
Related: Goran Dragic talks about how talented but extremely inconsistent Michael Beasley was: "He just told me, 'Today's just not my day to play'"
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