Michael Jordan on getting fired by the Washington Wizards: 'I felt like I was used'

When people think about the career of the iconic Michael Jordan, they opt to focus only on his days wearing the familiar red, white, and black colors of the Chicago Bulls. After all, this was where “Air Jordan” staked his claim as the greatest basketball player of all time. And to this day, it’s tough to make an argument against the achievements of the 6’6” wingman from North Carolina, who finished his career with six NBA titles, six NBA Finals MVPs, five league MVPs, ten scoring titles, and nine All-Defensive Team berths.

However, Jordan’s career didn’t stop with the Bulls, and this is where things got a little murky. After spending a few years in retirement, “Air Jordan” returned to the Association for a second time, this time with the Washington Wizards. Although Mike had moments of brilliance during his two seasons with the Wizards, he said it was a decision he could have made differently had he known the franchise would treat him the way they did.

Minority owner turned player

A year after retiring on top, winning his sixth title with the Bulls in 1998, Jordan made his way to the Wizards’ front office, functioning as a minority owner and president of basketball operations. However, he wouldn’t be content with just sitting at his desk inside a plush office; instead, Michael would always find comfort in the familiar confines of the locker room, where he would hang out with veterans Popeye Jones and Hubert Davis.

A few weeks after the tragic events of “9/11,” the former Tar Heel announced he would return to the league and play for the Wizards, donating his entire salary to the relief efforts of the “9/11” attacks.

“It’s an itch that still needs to be scratched here, and I want to make sure this scratch doesn’t bother me for the rest of my life,” Jordan explained of his reason for returning. “I’m just going to play the game of basketball that I love. I’m not about the money. I don’t care if I get paid a dime. I’m going to play the game because I love it.”

An ignominious end

Jordan played two seasons for the Wizards, averaging 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. However, he failed to steer the team into the playoffs. After his second and final season, Washington owner Abe Pollin gave him the pink slip, which surprised the legend.

When Ed Bradley on the show “60 Minutes” asked Jordan if he saw the firing coming, Jordan said he did not.

“No. If that was the case, then obviously I wouldn’t have went back and played because I felt like I got played injured. And, you know, I went through surgery, and I did—I did the things that a lot of these young kids did not do,” MJ explained.

Michael said the road to getting his body back to a level where he could compete was long and hard. MJ added that he didn’t need to don the Wizards jersey but felt he could help the franchise by doing so.

“I didn’t have to do it, you know, but I did it with the benefit of trying to help an organization get back on its feet,” Jordan said. “And the gratitude that I was being given was, ‘Your services are no longer wanted or needed.’ So I felt like I was used, in a sense.”

MJ continues to stoke his competitive fire these days, albeit in another arena: NASCAR. He owns 23XI Racing, and the team’s ace, Tyler Reddick, recently won the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship.