God that early-mid 2000’s ESPN soundtrack for NBA highlights was fucking amazing. I miss it.

Michael Jordan’s time with the Washington Wizards showcased the birth of his front office career and the final act of his playing career respectively. Everyone knew he was coming back in 2001 from his second retirement when he hired his former Bulls head coach Doug Collins. Yes, I say hired because he was the president of all basketball operations in Washington. MJ was the boss of his coach, who he played for. Only Jordan can make this baller of a move. Despite his advanced age, MJ straight up carried Washinton, even in his last year. He played in his final, 14th All-Star game, averaged 20 points (although it was the lowest of his career, it still meant he never averaged less than 20, which is just fucking ridiculous), and played in all 82 games, where he started 67 of them. He scored 20 or more points 42 times, 30 or more points nine times, and 40 or more points three times. Mind you, this is a 39-year-old man who turned 40 during the season. Speaking of that, he became the first 40-year-old to score 43 points.

His final game wasn’t as ceremonious as say Kobe’s but it was a proper goodbye to the GOAT. He made his final dunk, dished out his final assist (to all-time bust Kwame Brown of all people, who he infamously drafted), and made his final free throws, which cemented his 20 points per game for the year. We even got some Allen Iverson moments, which is fitting knowing he helped usher in the new post-Jordan era. The sold-out crowd at First Union Center praised him at every chance and were the ones to push his final appearance in the 4th knowing he was out of the game later in the 3rd. This was the last dance of his career, but his last dance with the Bulls in 1997 was something else. I can’t fucking wait for this documentary to start.

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