Jordan likes the attention all this comeback talk is generating. It’s good for the NBA. It’s good for the Washington Wizards, the team where he has a 10 percent stake and which pays him a nice salary as president of Basketball Operations. And it’s good for Jordan’s business.
Think of it. He hasn’t played an NBA game since sinking that jumper to seal Chicago’s second three-peat in the 1998 Finals. Yet, Jordan’s merchandise still sells like hotcakes. Retirement hasn’t blunted his marketability. His Jumpman shoes continue to be big sellers. Even his old Air Jordans are being resurrected in the market — in limited quantity, of course, to make sure supply will never overtake demand. Expect a new Air Jordan model if and when he decides to lace ‘em up again.
"The man with the grin and arched eyebrow has made a career out of making people guess his next move, defenders and reporters alike," wrote Rick Morrissey in The Chicago Tribune. "Jordan already has a gleam in his eye and a decision in his heart. We’ve all taken a cart ride on the MJ Sucker Tour. He is in fighting trim. He’s playing basketball again, despite two broken ribs. Nike maximum leader Phil Knight is rubbing his hands over future profits. Just say it. I’m back."
Jordan is asking for another month before making up his mind. My gutfeel is he’s just keeping everyone in suspense. He knows what he’ll be doing when the Wizards open the NBA season against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 30. And it won’t be sitting in a luxury box, smoking a cigar.
It was Bulls roughhouser Ron Artest who hurled Jordan to the floor during a pick-up game at the "Hoops The Gym" in Chicago a few months ago. Artest couldn’t take Jordan’s trash talking. Jordan got up with two broken ribs. An injury like that isn’t going to keep Jordan off the court for too long. Artest, who knocked out former teammate Elton Brand with a single punch at practice last year, should be forewarned.
Some fans insist a poor Jordan comeback will tarnish his legendary status. He certainly won’t be the same Jordan of years ago. But others point out that Jordan’s reputation is intact — his accomplishments won’t be any less.
Jordan thrives in adversity. He likes to defy the odds. He relishes the challenge of proving himself all over again. And he loves the attention.
The NBA seems to be cooperating with Jordan. His expected comeback will be at the Mecca of hoops. So far, there are no plans to put the Washington-New York game on national TV. You can be sure the adjustment will be made when Jordan decides to wear No. 23 again.
The Garden was the site of Jordan’s 55-point outburst in 1995. Spike Lee said Jordan "dropped a double-nickel" on the Knicks. New York fans will remember that night when Jordan returns to the scene of the fireworks.
Miami coach Pat Riley says he’s anticipating a Jordan comeback. "Opening night of the NBA — Washington at New York," he notes. "So whether or not they’re just maybe hoping whether this is his return, they’re putting him where he got 55."
If Jordan decides to play, he’ll go up against Allen Iverson on Nov. 3, Vince Carter on Dec. 16, and Kobe Bryant on Feb. 12 next year.
The Wizards’ roster lists 15 players at the moment. Four are rookies — 6-11 Kwarne Brown, 7-0 Brendan Haywood, 6-5 Bobby Simmons, and 6-9 Etan Thomas. Loy Vaught, 34, is the oldest player and most experienced with 11 seasons under his belt. The top returning scorer is Richard Hamilton who averaged 18.1 points last year. Others in the mediocre cast are Christian Laettner, Popeye Jones, Hubert Davis, Courtney Alexander, Chris Whitney, and former Los Angeles Lakers guard Tyronn Lue. It’s a lineup that’s hardly exciting.
"We’re looking for anybody with star qualities that can add to this team," says Jordan. "Who is that? I don’t know." Bet he does.
Doug Collins was lured out of the TV booth to coach the Wizards. He used to coach Jordan at Chicago so they’re not strangers to each other. Jordan, in fact, hired Collins to take over from Leonard Hamilton.
The next NBA season provides a perfect homecoming for Jordan. The zone defense will finally be legal — Jordan won’t have to expend so much energy playing defense. So many players have switched teams — chemistry will be a problem.
Here’s a brief rundown on player shifts. Pat Ewing and Horace Grant joined Orlando. Elton Brand went to the Los Angeles Clippers, Shareef Abdur-Rahim to Atlanta, Hakeem Olajuwon to Toronto, Avery Johnson to Denver, John Amechi to Utah, Derek Anderson, Ruben Patterson and Steve Kerr to Portland, Steve Smith, Bruce Bowen, Cherokee Parks and Mark Bryant to San Antonio, Samaki Walker, Lindsey Hunter, and Mitch Richmond to the Lakers, Dan Majerle, Jud Buechler, John Wallace, and Stephon Marbury to Phoenix, Jason Kidd and Todd MacCullough to New Jersey, Jason Williams and Nick Anderson to Memphis, Mike Bibby and Brent Price to Sacramento, Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, and Clarence Weatherspoon to New York, Charles Oakley, Greg Anthony and Eddie Robinson to Chicago, Kendall Gill to Miami, Tyrone Hill, Michael Doleac, Bryant Stith and Jumaine Jones to Cleveland, Calvin Booth to Seattle, Glen Rice to Houston, Jerome Moiso, Matt Harpring, Robert Traylor and Cedric Henderson to Philadelphia, Clifford Robinson to Detroit, and many, many more.
Factor in the rookies and you’ve got an NBA that’s like starting over. Jordan likes it that way. He’ll come in with an attitude of nothing to lose and everything to gain. When the season opens, he’ll be 38 and it’ll be 40 months since that shot against Utah at the Delta Center.