On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan had the sports world buzzing with two simple words: “I’m back.”
Following a 17-month retirement and a stint in minor league baseball, Jordan shocked the world by announcing his return to the NBA.
Already a three-time NBA champion and three-time MVP winner, Jordan had established himself as one of the all-time greats before his first retirement.
But there were plenty of more special Jordan moments to come. We take a look back at some of those moments 25 years after “I’m back.”
The Return
One day after Jordan declared, “I’m back,” he really was back on the court for the Bulls’ game against the Indiana Pacers on March 19, 1995. While the game was on the road at Market Square Arena, the arena was still buzzing with anticipation to see Jordan take the floor. The crowd even cheered Jordan when his name was announced while the rest of the Bulls lineup was hastily booed.
Jordan donned the No. 45 since his No. 23 was retired five months earlier as an estimated 35 million people tuned into the nationally televised game to watch the return of MJ. Jordan was a little rusty, shooting just 25 percent from the field, but still finished with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists in 43 minutes of action. His return could not spark a win, though, as the Bulls dropped the game 103-96.
55 Points vs. Knicks
Jordan’s rust lasted all but five games. Ten days after his return, the Bulls went into Madison Square Garden for a game against the Knicks and Jordan delivered a performance for the ages. The NBA legend put up 55 points against the Knicks, shooting 21 of 37 from the field.
It was the most points a player had scored in a single game that season, and the Bulls needed every one of them, eeking out a 113-111 victory. And he did not just do this against any ordinary team, the Knicks were the defending Eastern Conference champions and finished with the second-best record in the conference that season.
Twenty-five years later, it is Jordan’s 55 points against the Knicks that is looked at as the night he really returned to the NBA, back to his dominant self.
72-10 Season
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The Jordan Bulls were one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports, but the 1995-96 season is perhaps the greatest season of any NBA team in history. Jordan won his fourth MVP, averaging 30.4 points per game en route to a 72-10 season. Only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors had a better record, but they did not win the NBA Finals.
Jordan and the Bulls did, besting the Seattle SuperSonics in six games with Jordan averaging 27.3 points per game for his fourth NBA Finals MVP and first title after his comeback to start another three-peat.
‘Flu Game’ 1997 NBA Finals
With the Bulls and Utah Jazz entering Game 5 tied at 2-2, this was a game Chicago had to win, but Jordan was reportedly experiencing flu-like symptoms before the game. The Jazz built up a 16-point lead in the first quarter while Jordan looked out of place and had just four points.
Then, Jordan seemingly flipped a switch. He scored 17 points in the second quarter and pulled the Bulls back into the game. He continued to pop off, scoring 38 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer to put the Bulls up with 25 seconds remaining to hold onto a pivotal 90-88 win. It was perhaps Jordan’s greatest game of his career, considering the circumstances.
Jordan’s ‘Final’ Shot 1998 NBA Finals
In what was Jordan’s last game of his career with the Bulls — and at the time, his career — he had a chance to go out on top with his sixth NBA Finals trophy and MVP. But the way he did it was with one of the most memorable shots of his career.
Actually, it had started on the defensive end, trailing the Jazz by one points, Jordan pick-pocketed Karl Malone along the baseline with about 20 seconds remaining. Jordan brought the ball and was one-on-one with Byron Russell when he appeared to drive to the basket. Except Jordan pulled up and gave Russell a bit of a push off as he drained a go-ahead jumper with 5.2 seconds remaining.
It proved to be the game-winner, sealing Jordan’s sixth title, sixth Finals MVP and supposedly his career. It was the perfect ending for the player deemed the greatest of all time. Of course, he returned to the NBA again three years later with the Washington Wizards, but this moment still goes down as one of his best, and perhaps the best during his second stint with the Bulls.
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