MJ silenced his doubters by becoming the then-oldest player to score 50+ points in a game.
Michael Jordan's epic NBA return in 2001 was not only met with excitement but also with doubts, especially from some naysayers, including the media. Nearing 40, the six-time champion understood that all eyes were on him. That's why he had one thing in mind heading into his NBA comeback: to prove that he could still play.
Twenty-eight games into his season with the Washington Wizards, MJ had yet to do something historic other than displaying shades of his old self every now and then. On Dec. 29th, "His Airness" did the unthinkable and dropped 51 points on the Charlotte Hornets to become the then-oldest NBA player to score 50+ points in a single game.
Unsurprisingly, Jordan took a subtle jab at the media afterward, knowing people had buzzed about his underwhelming six-point game against the Indiana Pacers two days before.
"Scoring six points, my career low, I'm pretty sure you guys were saying how old I was," MJ said after his 51-point outburst. "After tonight, I'm pretty sure people are going to say I can still play this game."
MJ lost a step but not heart
In 38 minutes, Mike shot 21-for-38 from the field and 9-for-10 from the charity stripe. He also had seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals for a team-high +/- of +24.
While Jordan's age and declining athleticism were often the subjects of discussion at the time, it was clear that his heart and competitive spirit remained undiminished. In fact, MJ followed up his 51-point performance with a 45-point explosion against the New Jersey Nets the very next game.
At 38 years old, Jordan was no longer the high-flying and electrifying player he once was, but he never once doubted himself on the court. According to former Wizards guard Chris Whitney, MJ even constantly motivated them by manifesting that he would make things happen for the team.
"It was amazing to see the work ethic, to see the drive, and he [Jordan] would get on the bus and say, 'We get to the playoffs, anything can happen,'" Whitney said. "And he would say, 'Watch. I'm going to turn into something else.'"
The Wizards did well with MJ at the helm
Washington was the third-worst team in the league when Jordan arrived. Some may have criticized MJ's debut season with the Wizards, but in retrospect, the team made significant progress under the leadership of the former Chicago Bulls superstar.
From a 19-63 regular-season record in the 2000-01 campaign, the Wizards improved their tally to 37-45 the following year. Jordan finished the season as the team's leading scorer, averaging 22.9 points per game. At that point, all the doubters were silenced.
