On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan announced his second retirement
January 13, 1999 in Chicago, Michael Jordan announces his retirement from the sport in front of an incredible audience of journalists. This comes seven months after his last game (and sixth title with the Bulls), punctuated by registered this famous basket forever in the collective unconscious of every basketball fan…
A true living myth,” His Airness » he is not yet 36 years old, but he is mentally tired. He returned in 1995 to become the head of the NBA again, he succeeded, winning three new titles and thus making a full circle.
« Physically I feel great, but mentally I’m exhausted. I don’t feel like I have to accept the challenge. You should never say never. I am 99.9% sure of my choice » explained the legendary defender, to justify his decision.
At the time of this announcement, he is injured…
This feeling had already made him to retirement in 1993with the dramatic circumstances of the loss of his father James, killed in July. This time we learn that he just had surgery on a ligament in his finger, broken while cutting… a cigar.
»My decision is already made”he laughed. “The doctors told me I won’t be able to play for two months. I hope it won’t interfere with my golf…”
Certainly expected (ESPN Magazine considered it in June 1998), this decision nevertheless caused a sports shock. And for good reason: at the time, the NBA was just coming out of the horrors lockingwith the upcoming season shortened to 50 games…
No All-Star Game and above all no more Michael Jordan to restart the machine, from an economic and media point of view. In any case, this announcement caused a lot of tributes both from the world of the NBA and from around the world.
— Shaquille O’Neal: « I will tell my grandchildren that I played against him. »
— Joe Dumars: « We can’t replace Michael Jordan, no one should even try. »
— David Stern: « The NBA is very strong. She became even stronger with Michael Jordan. When Larry Bird and Magic Johnson retired, everyone said the NBA was over. No one mentioned Michael. Inexorable championship. You have to win. »
Roomer in terms of Pat Ewing and Charles Barkley, who won’t be able to “Never say they beat the Bulls” with him Michael Jordan ended his interview with the legendary song “Thank you Chicago” and left the world of sports to spend time with his family.
The following day, January 14, the newspaper L’Equipe headlined: “Unforgettable. » Proof that this retreat transcends borders and the ocean. It’s a legend who leaves, back on top.”
But two years later, after the tragedy of September 11, he will come out of retirement again to offer himself one last challenge in the franchise of which he was then president: the Wizards.
| Michael Jordan | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1984-85 | CHI | 82 | 38 | 51.5 | 17.3 | 84.5 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 28.2 |
| 1985-86 | CHI | 18 | 25 | 45.7 | 16.7 | 84.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 22.7 |
| 1986-87 | CHI | 82 | 40 | 48.2 | 18.2 | 85.7 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 37.1 |
| 1987-88 ★ | CHI | 82 | 40 | 53.5 | 13.2 | 84.1 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 35.0 |
| 1988-89 | CHI | 81 | 40 | 53.8 | 27.6 | 85.0 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 32.5 |
| 1989-90 | CHI | 82 | 39 | 52.6 | 37.6 | 84.8 | 1.7 | 5.2 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 33.6 |
| 1990-91 ★ | CHI | 82 | 37 | 53.9 | 31.2 | 85.1 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 31.5 |
| 1991-92 ★ | CHI | 80 | 39 | 51.9 | 27.0 | 83.2 | 1.1 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 30.1 |
| 1992-93 | CHI | 78 | 39 | 49.5 | 35.2 | 83.7 | 1.7 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 5.5 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 32.6 |
| 1994-95 | CHI | 17 | 39 | 41.1 | 50.0 | 80.1 | 1.5 | 5.4 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 26.9 |
| 1995-96 ★ | CHI | 82 | 38 | 49.5 | 42.7 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 30.4 |
| 1996-97 | CHI | 82 | 38 | 48.6 | 37.4 | 83.3 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 29.7 |
| 1997-98 ★ | CHI | 82 | 39 | 46.5 | 23.8 | 78.4 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 28.7 |
| 2001-02 | YOU | 60 | 35 | 41.6 | 18.9 | 79.0 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 22.9 |
| 2002-03 | YOU | 82 | 37 | 44.5 | 29.1 | 82.1 | 0.9 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 20.0 |
| In total | 1072 | 38 | 49.7 | 32.7 | 83.5 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 30.1 | |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-13 12:49:00
