As far as passion goes, Jordan didn’t fail to deliver during his run with the Wizards.
Fueled by passion for the game, Michael Jordan came out of retirement and joined the Washington Wizards in 2001 at age 38. Despite being past his prime, MJ was optimistic about using his passion and drive for winning to influence the young Wizards team.
At the time, the Wizards were coming off a 19-63 regular season record, the second-worst in franchise history. It didn't matter to the six-time NBA champion, as Jordan believed he could motivate the squad to strive for greater success.
"They have never seen passion like this," Jordan told Sporting News ahead of his NBA return. "It's us against the world. We've got to lay it on the line every minute. We're all in this together."
MJ's winning mentality hasn't aged one bit
Jordan had not stepped on NBA hardwood for three consecutive years when he suited up for the Wizards. However, his competitive spirit never faded.
As a veteran player, "His Airness" brought invaluable experience and leadership to the Wizards. Despite his age, Jordan demonstrated a relentless work ethic, commitment to excellence, and willingness to outwork everyone on the court, setting a powerful example for his younger teammates.
Ahead of his Wizards debut, the team's head coach, Doug Collins, already saw the burning desire to compete and win in MJ.
"He knows what this team needs," Collins said of Jordan. "His will is what drives this team."
MJ still got it at nearly 40 years old
In his return, Jordan didn't only compete with younger rivals but also with the so-called ring rust and Father Time. Though MJ's age hindered him physically, his timeless passion and competitive spirit enabled him to still play at a high level.
In fact, Jordan averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game in his maiden season with the Wizards. Even some of the present-day NBA stars at the time acknowledged that MJ was still a great player at nearly 40 years old.
"He was a phenomenal player then, but I think he was a little bit more dangerous when he was with the Wizards," Rasheed Wallace once said of Jordan. "He didn't have the athleticism that we were used to seeing MJ have, but… His shot became more dangerous. He became more solid as that veteran player during his years in Washington. He was still out there talking sh*t, you know what I'm saying? He was talking sh*t, but he was still dropping dimes."
Unfortunately for Jordan, passion alone doesn't win games in the NBA. Nevertheless, "His Airness" was able to help Washington win over 30 games in his two-year stint with the team, a record the franchise had failed to achieve since 1998.
