NBA Archives Debunked: The Jordan Saga

Chapter 67 Hero (2)

On December 2001, 12, nearly two months after his comeback, he played against Madison again. With 22 seconds left before the end, Jordan made a tie-breaking lore under the attack of the opponent's two stars, Sprewell and Alan Houston. The ball allowed the Wizards to narrowly win by one point, making up for the regret of being unable to save the team in the first game of their comeback.Sprewell, who can usually score around 3.2 points in a game, only scored 16 points on 3 of 6 shots in this campaign. Among them, he missed all 13 shots under Jordan's defense. Jordan was so excited that he rushed straight to the coaching staff during the game. Shout: "Look at the data! Look at the data!"

From the end of 2001 to the beginning of 2002, Jordan had a period of concentrated blowout period.Before that, he only scored 6 points in a game in Indiana, setting a record for the lowest scoring in a single game of his career, and also ended his consecutive double-digit scoring games at 866 games.The media made a big fuss, and Jordan was very angry.Two days later Jordan said, "Six points, a career low, and I'm pretty sure you're all talking about how old I am." Two days later, what happened?
On December 2001, 12, when the Wizards played the Hornets at home, Jordan scored 29 points in the first quarter.He kept sinking to the low post, jamming defenders behind him, threatening his teammates: Give me the ball, give me the ball.If a big man comes to defend him, he solves the problem with fakes and fadeaways.The opponent PJ Brown (PJ Brown) could see it clearly: "He seems to be very motivated tonight." Coach Collins planned to change players several times, but Jordan shook his head firmly: No, don't change me.In the first half, Jordan scored 24 points, setting a personal halftime scoring record in Wizards history.At the end of the third quarter, Collins decided to ask Jordan to come down for a rest, but he was questioned by Jordan: "Do you want to take a big lead into the fourth quarter, or do you want them to chase it back?" He puts it on.On this day, Jordan made 34 of 38 shots and scored 21 points, becoming the oldest single-game 51-point scorer in NBA history. "He played badly that night in Indiana, and I thought, he's going to bounce back and show people who he is," Collins said. Unbelievable performance." Jordan is very satisfied with himself, and he will not forget to respond to the doubters of the past two days: "I'm pretty sure they will talk less now, and they will try to understand that I can still play. , at the age of 50."

Two days later, on December 12, as if to prove that the 31 points in the previous game were not a fluke, Jordan scored 51 points in the game against the Nets.There was a chance to score another 45 points, but because the Wizards were leading more, Jordan was also a little tired, so he restrained himself in the fourth quarter and only took two shots.Even so, scoring 50 points in two consecutive games is scary enough.

On January 2002, 1, in the Wizards' first game of the new year, Jordan faced the Chicago Bulls for the first time in his life.The new coach of the Bulls is Jordan's old teammate Cartwright. Cartwright said: "He doesn't look good in those colors (Wizards' blue and white), really bad. He should be born to wear the color of the Bulls." Cartwright may That's right, but today, Jordan can only do business, not to mention that Klaus came to Washington with the team and sat in the stands, Jordan couldn't be merciful.Jordan scored 4 points in the first half, and with about 25 minutes left in the second quarter, he scored his 5th career point, becoming the fourth person in NBA history to do so.The Wizards once led by as many as 30000 points, but in the second half, Jordan's hands cooled down, and he missed 26 of the last 9 shots. By the last minute of the game, the difference between the two sides was only 8 points.Twenty seconds before the end, Jordan's free throw line was blocked by Ron Artest (Ron Artest). Jordan protested loudly that the referee did not call a foul, and the Bulls took the opportunity to launch a fast break. The 1-year-old Ron Mercer (Ron Mercer) ran to the basket with the ball, thinking that he had scored two points, but Jordan, who was almost 6 years old, angrily chased after him. "When I have to jump, I can still jump," Jordan said after the game, "especially when I'm pissed off." Jordan leaped from behind Mercer, holding Mercer's throw with both hands. To the backboard, a pegboard cap, and then took the ball into his hands.The whole arena was boiling, and people couldn't believe their eyes. At that moment, everyone was more excited than witnessing Jordan scoring 25 points a few days ago.A reporter pounded on his laptop and yelled, "Did you fucking see that?!" Yes, all of them, even Klaus.

Never underestimate Jordan.Although he is a little older and less physically fit, he can no longer maintain a strong dominance for a long time as in the past, but at certain necessary moments, he still has instant magic power.The lore is probably the most reductive thing he can do.

January 2002, 1 in Cleveland, with 31 seconds left and the Wizards trailing by 1.6.According to the foul ball tactics designed by Collins, Jordan ran out of the open space and made a good shot after receiving the ball near the free throw line.The ball goes into the bell and leaves no room.Jordan raised his arms high, just like the earth-shattering The Shot.Cavaliers coach John Lucas (John Lucas) is an old friend of Jordan. At the end of the timeout, Lucas deliberately walked up to Jordan, joked with him, and tried to interfere with him. Jordan smiled and said to Lucas: "This is the critical moment. , no time for jokes." Lucas ignored him and continued nagging, but Jordan gently pushed him away and ignored him.After the game-winning shot was hit, it was Jordan's turn to speak. Jordan asked Lucas: "Who do you think will shoot this ball?" Lucas didn't have to answer. Jordan himself repeated proudly over and over again: "Everyone in the arena Knew I'd shoot that shot." Cleveland Killer, still alive.

Half a month later, in Phoenix on February 2, the Wizards fell behind by 15 point in the last 5.6 seconds.Collins this time arranged a tactic in which Jordan singled out Shawn Marion.Marion is an excellent defensive player. He clings to Jordan all night, wishing he could get inside Jordan's jersey and be shot by Jordan.But in the last round, as soon as Jordan received the ball, Marion stepped back, not daring to let Jordan break through.Jordan dribbled the ball a few times, came to the middle distance on the right wing, made a fake move to fly Marion, and then made a dry pull-back jumper, leaving the opponent with 1 seconds of nothing to do.It was the 0.2th time in Jordan's career that he hit the game-winning shot in the final 28 seconds of a game.

Jordan's most complete lore in the Wizards period should have belonged to the goal on February 2003, 2.In the Atlanta All-Star Game, in the last few seconds of the first overtime, Jordan once again faced Marion's defense and hit a fadeaway jumper from the baseline.The celebration of the whole league paying tribute to Jordan reached its climax that night, and "Jordan lore, MVP added" became the ending that everyone expected.But then the situation changed suddenly, Kobe shot a three-pointer, the referee called Jermaine O'Neal (Jermaine O'Neal) for a foul, Kobe made two of three free throws, and the game entered the second overtime.The lore was not killed, Jordan did not play again, and the MVP trophy was won by Garnett in the West.

In that All-Star Game, the NBA held a grand commemorative ceremony for Jordan during the intermission.In fact, Jordan himself doesn't want to do this. He prefers to enjoy his last All-Star trip. He cares more about the game. He doesn't want this night to be made like a funeral. "Fuck the funeral," he said before the game. "They're going to give you this, and you can't play well. I don't need this, I don't want this." But in the end, the memorial service was sincere and touching. Deep down, Mariah Carey sang "Heroes," and Jordan had tears in his eyes.

April 2003, 4, Philadelphia.

"If you want to play 48 minutes and shoot 50 baskets — it's your night, I don't care what you do," Collins said.

"I don't want to play 48 minutes, and I don't want to shoot 50 baskets," Jordan replied.

"Just tell me what you want to do."

Jordan didn't know what he wanted to do, but everyone knew that this was his last game in the NBA.Larry Brown, the head coach of the rival 76ers, is an old friend of Jordan. Both of them came from North Carolina. Larry Brown hoped that Jordan could score 10 points.

Jordan couldn't score 10 points, and he didn't want to.At 0 seconds into the game, he missed his first shot, and soon made another mistake.On this day, he made 6 of 4 shots and scored 15 points.With 6 minutes and 15 seconds left in the third quarter, he made the last ball of his career. It was also a jumper, but it was far less important than the shot in Salt Lake City in 9. After the 41ers led by 1998 points, Jordan went off the court and waited for the final whistle.

The Philadelphia fans yelled in unison: "We want Mike! We want Mike! We want Mike!" Jordan just sat next to his teammates, laughing.

Collins wanted Jordan to go back and play for a while. "Michael, I've played here, and I'm going to at least get back to this city," Collins said. "You gotta go up, these guys want to see you."

Jordan said that his body was already cold and he could not move.Collins insisted in a rare way: "Go on for a minute and accept the cheers...Michael, please, you have to go up."

At 2 minutes and 35 seconds before the end of the game, amidst the cheers of the audience, Jordan returned to the court with a smile. Fifty seconds later, Larry Brown instructed guard Eric Snow to intentionally foul Jordan, who went to the free throw line for his final two points in the NBA. At 50 minute and 1 seconds, he was replaced again, waved, and his career was over.

Counting the two years of the Wizards, Jordan finally played 1072 regular season games in the NBA, scoring a total of 32292 points, averaging 30.12 points per game, still leading Wilt Chamberlain (30.07 points per game) with a slight advantage, and keeping the NBA Historic scorer status.

A reporter asked: Will this retirement be more difficult than the previous two?Jordan shook his head. "I don't want to fight anymore," he said. "For me, it's time to move on. It's easier to take it now because physically, I know it's time, I feel it."

The farewell on the court was very tender, and Jordan enjoyed the treatment of a hero.Before the last game back in Chicago, the audience at the United Center stood up and cheered for Jordan for as long as 4 minutes; the last time he played in Miami, Pat Riley retired the Heat's No. 23 jersey for Jordan, even though Jordan never played in this team. The team played; the last time it played home in Washington, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Donald Rumsfeld) presented Jordan with an American flag that flew over the Pentagon on the first anniversary of 9/11...

The farewell outside the stadium was extremely ruthless.At the end of the Wizards season, Jordan still spoke as the owner of the team, but he didn't expect that he only stayed here for three more weeks.

There has been a long-standing disagreement between Jordan and Wizards owner Pauline, who criticized Jordan's management style a lot.When the Jordan brand was still making money for the Wizards, Pauline held back and never expressed his disappointment with Jordan, but as soon as Jordan's playing career ended, those around Pauline began to spread all kinds of things that were not good for Jordan. Inside information, including Jordan's problems with high-level officials, as well as Jordan's discord with his teammates.Before Jordan played in the last game, the public didn't know that Paulin's party was dissatisfied with Jordan, especially during the two seasons that Jordan played for the Wizards. Great" and the like.Now overnight, Pauline's party turned hostile to Jordan, and their attitude changed from gratitude to contempt.

Jordan didn't notice the change in the situation at first.After playing the last game, less than 24 hours later, he returned to the MCI Center, home of the Wizards, and sat in the box to watch the "Jordan Capital Classic" named after him. The 18-year-old LeBron James ( LeBron James and a few other high school stars were sweating the floor.James wearing the No. 23 jersey symbolizes the future, and Jordan wearing the No. 23 jersey is a thing of the past.

Jordan proposed to have an interview with Pauline, but Pauline did not respond immediately. At this time, the people around Jordan began to feel uneasy.By May 5, less than 5 hours before his meeting with Pauline, Jordan himself showed anxiety. "I've always wanted to get back into my role," he said, "always wanted to."

On May 5, the final meeting lasted only five minutes.Upon meeting, Pauline fired Jordan, telling him the team had decided to "go in the other direction."Jordan asked why, but Pauline didn't answer right away.An exasperated Jordan asked Paulin whether he could keep his promise. Paulin said that he would fulfill his contractual obligations and pay Jordan a severance package of US$7 million.Jordan was extremely angry. He said that he came to the interview today not to ask for money, but to become a shareholder and executive of the team again. Pauline replied, "I don't want you to be a shareholder, Michael." Jordan was angry. And leave.

After Jordan left Washington, everything related to him was quickly cleaned up by the Wizards.Collins was fired; the subordinates appointed by Jordan in the management were also eradicated; all things in the arena that reminded people of Jordan, such as jerseys, posters, decorations, and murals, were also wiped out by Pauline.Before long, it was as if Jordan had never been in Washington.

In the next few years, Jordan's life seemed to be insulated from basketball. He occasionally appeared on the golf celebrity charity tour, and occasionally appeared at the motorcycle race scene, living a life of freedom.But the name Michael Jordan is destined not to be separated from basketball.In fact, Jordan has always hoped to own an NBA team and has been working hard for it. During the establishment of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2003, he had contact with Bob Johnson, the owner of the new NBA team; in the same year, he also tried to jointly buy the Milwaukee Bucks with other investors, but failed. success.It wasn't until June 2006 that Jordan announced that he had bought part of the shares of the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the second largest shareholder after Bob Johnson, and fully in charge of the team's basketball affairs. In February 6, Jordan completely bought the Bobcats from Bob Johnson, becoming the first former NBA player to become the boss of an NBA team.

The Bobcats were not doing well under Jordan. In order to save money, Jordan had to be stingy for a long time. In 2011, the NBA was once again suspended due to the breakdown of labor negotiations. Jordan's position this time was completely opposite to that in 1998. In 1998, he stood up for the players at a critical moment and scolded Paulin face to face, "Then sell your team." This time in 2011, he became a representative of the hardliners among the team owners, advocating strict restrictions on player income. For this reason, Nick Young, Paul George, Stephon Marbury, etc. Active players have expressed their dislike of Jordan on social media.The irony is that soon someone gave back to Jordan what Jordan said when he scolded Pauline: If you can't make money, then you should sell your team.

No permanent friends, only permanent interests.Position determines attitude, and Jordan is no exception.

2001-2002 season
Regular season: 60 games, 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals, shooting 41.6%
2002-2003 season
Regular season: 82 games, 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, shooting 44.5%
(End of this chapter)