Michael Jordan: Encyclopedia II - Michael Jordan - I'm Back: Return to the NBA

Michael Jordan - I'm Back: Return to the NBA

Jordan's underwhelming performances in baseball, and the professional baseball players' strike of 1994, prompted him to consider rejoining the Bulls. On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his return to the NBA through a two-word press release: "I'm back." The next day, he donned jersey number 45 (his number with the Barons, as his familiar #23 had been retired) and took the court with the Bulls to face the Indiana Pacers, scoring 19 points.

Although Jordan hadn't set foot on an NBA court in one-and-a-half years, he played well upon his return, which included another of his trademark game-winning jumpers (against Atlanta in his fourth game back), and a 55-point outburst against the Knicks on March 29, 1995. He led the Bulls to a 9-1 record in April of that year, propelling the team into the playoffs. When Orlando's Nick Anderson declared after a game against the Bulls, "He didn't look like the old Michael Jordan," an extra-motivated Jordan began wearing his old number (23) again, incurring fines from the NBA for wearing a retired digit (he would wear the number for the rest of his basketball career). The Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic that season, and Jordan averaged 31.5 points per game in the series, but Orlando prevailed in six games. Ironically, the Bulls may have won Game Six (extending the series) had it not been for Jordan passing the ball (instead of shooting, as he had done so many times before) to Scottie Pippen in the final second of the game. Pippen, not expecting Jordan to pass, was caught off-guard and lost control of the ball, allowing Orlando to win the game and the series.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "I'm Back: Return to the NBA", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki