University of Kwazulu-Natal

On This Day In 1999 Michael Jordan Announced His Second Retirement

Bonisiwe Shabane
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on this day in 1999 michael jordan announced his second retirement

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I am very secure with my decision." Joins the Washington Wizards as part owner and president of basketball operations. "Quite honestly I never was offered this situation in Chicago. That's not to blame Jerry (Reinsdorf). When I retired I wasn't looking for this platform. It just evolved."

Hires Doug Collins, his former coach with the Bulls, to coach the Wizards. At 38, Jordan unretires again and joins the Wizards as a player, signing a two-year contract and donating his salary to relief efforts after the 9/11 attacks. On this day in 1999, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan retired for the second time ahead of the 1999-2000 season. It was Jan. 13, 1999, when Jordan announced his retirement for the second time, a couple of months after winning his sixth and final championship for Chicago. Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

With coach Phil Jackson's contract expiring as well as Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen departing from the Bulls, MJ felt his time in the NBA had come to an end and wanted to leave... He was so sure of retiring he even said he was "99.9% certain" he would never play in the league again. However, Jordan returned to competitive basketball by suiting up for the Washington Wizards ahead of the 2001-2002 season, shocking the world with that announcement. With an ownership stake in the organization, MJ hired his former Bulls coach Doug Collins to coach the Wizards. Jordan played two seasons in Washington before retiring for good. On January 13, 1999 Michael Jordan announced his second retirement from the NBA after playing a combined 12 years for the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan was drafted 3rd overall in the 1984 NBA Draft would become a star for the Bulls during his first stint with them between 1984 and 1993. Jordan had captured 3 NBA Titles, 3 NBA Finals MVP, and 3 NBA MVPs during his first run with the Bulls, which put him on the map as the next great NBA star. Jordan became more than a sports superstar during his initial run with the Bulls, after signing with sponsors like Nike and McDonald’s he would start appearing on TV screens across the country. Along with commercials, Jordan also began the popular Air Jordan basketball shoe that to this day is one of the most recognizable brands across the globe. However Jordan would face some personal troubles during this time, in particular 1993 Jordan faced very trying times. During the Bulls 1993 playoff run Jordan was spotted at an Atlantic City casino playing poker and other card games, just one night prior to a game versus the New York Knicks.

Jordan had been connected to past gambling rumors, but after the Atlantic City spotting it was clear Jordan had a problem. In 2005 he sat down with 60 Minutes and explain the struggles he faced during this period. That year he also lost his father who was murdered in mid-July by two teenagers at a highway rest stop in North Carolina. With so much consuming Jordan he decided to walk away from the NBA on October 6, 1993 citing a lack of desire to play the game. During Jordan’s time away he infamously tried playing Minor League Baseball with the Birmingham Barons, but during the 1995 MLB Players Strike he decided to walk away from the game that his father was... Jordan would make a triumphant return to the Bulls on March 19, 1995 and would don a new number, 45, the same number he wore for the Barons.

During Jordan’s second tenure with the Bulls, he along with Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson would capture 3 more NBA Titles between 1996-1998. Jordan would capture another trio of NBA Finals MVP, as well as 2 NBA MVPs in 1996 and 1998. Jan. 13 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1910, radio pioneer and electron tube inventor Lee Deforest arranged the world's first public radio broadcast, a performance by the New York Metropolitan Opera. In 1915, nearly 30,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Avezzano, Italy.

In 1941, Irish novelist James Joyce died at age 58 following surgery for a perforated ulcer in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1968, Johnny Cash records his infamous At Folsom Prison live record. Click here to see the StarNews edition that commemorates his retirement in 1999. See StarNews photos of Jordan through the years. Read about and see more of Jordan's career. On January 13, 1999, Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA for the second time during his 15-year career.

MORE: Which of these shooters has the best chance to win the three-point contest? Jordan said had he lost the desire to play at such a high level and was "99.9 percent" confident he wouldn't return to the league. One year later, Jordan returned to the NBA as part owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. After a season in this role, Jordan signed with the Wizards as a free agent on September 25, 2001. He played two seasons in Washington with averages of 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists. On this day in 1999, Michael Jordan announced his retirement only to return in 2001.

#DoYouRemember #NBA🏀 pic.twitter.com/jp7BZcjTgn January 13, 1999 -- Michael Jordan announces his second retirement. The announcement came prior to the start of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season. Jordan had already retired once before in 1993 to pursue a baseball career, but returned to the NBA in 1995 and led the Bulls to three more NBA championships. However, by 1999, Jordan felt that he had “lost the drive and desire” necessary to continue and also expressed a desire to spend more time with his family. Jordan stated that he was “99.9 percent” sure he would not come back to play again.

He would return to the NBA in 2001 with the Wizards. CHICAGO — Hours before arguably the most extraordinary basketball player in history confirmed the rumors, an elderly woman stood on the sidewalk, shin-deep in the old gray snow, staring sad-eyed at the newspaper racks. “So long, MJ,” one banner headline read. “For Jordan, it’s over and out,” said another. She didn’t speak. She didn’t step forward to read the fine print.

She just pursed her lips, pulled her scarf tighter and shuffled slowly off into the wind. Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA Wednesday, and the City of the Big Shoulders sagged. “Mentally, I’m exhausted,” Jordan said at a morning press conference at the United Center. “Physically, I feel great. This is a perfect time for me to walk away from the game. I’m at peace with that.”

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