Michael Jordan on what his first game back in the United Center as a Wizard felt like: 'It's like playing a relative, in a sense'

Michael Jordan on what his first game back in Chicago as a Wizard felt like: "It's like playing a relative, in a sense"

Michael Jordan played his first 13 NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls and won six championships for the city of Chicago. When he retired for the second time in 1998, many thought it was for good. But three years later, he felt the 'itch' and chose to make another comeback as a member of the Washington Wizards.

And so on January 19, 2002, Michael Jordan returned to play in Chicago, but in a different uniform. The Wizards beat the Bulls 77-69 but Jordan struggled with only 16 points on 7-21 shooting while committing a career-high nine turnovers.

"I have too many memories," Jordan said about his performance. "It's important for me not to come back and try to live up to that situation because that's tough. I may have a good game maybe the next time I come here. But to try to compare the two eras or the two situations, it's very, very tough."

Mike's first-ever game at United Center

That game marked the first time MJ played at the United Center. Back in Jordan's day, the Bulls played at the now-demolished Chicago Stadium. In August 1994, they opened a new arena and dubbed it the house that MJ built because it was funded by the Bulls' partners who were reaping the rewards of the Jordan era.

But while it was a new building, it was the same crowd that packed the rafters. They were the same fans who stood by Mike during their '80s drought and celebrated with him when the Bulls raised six banners during the 90s. Being on the opposite side of the fence was tough, even for the greatest competitor of all time.

"When the crowd started that whole thing, it made it tough for me to play," Jordan added. "I had a tough time playing against Chicago. It's like playing a relative, in a sense. It's not as intense, you're not quite as motivated."

Jordan averaged 20 against every team except the Bulls

During his two seasons with the Wizards, Jordan ended up playing his former team six times. Including that January 2002 win at United Center Center, he posted a 5-1 record against the franchise he put on the NBA map. Individually, however, MJ didn't play like MJ against his former team.

Jordan averaged just 16.2 points per game on 16.8 field goal attempts at 35.6% field goal shooting against the Bulls. Of course, let's factor in that this was the old Jordan, not the Jordan of old. But MJ still averaged 21.2 points, 20.2 field goal attempts per game, and shot 43.1% from the field in his two years with Washington.

MJ is widely considered as the greatest competitor ever. But even the most vicious player said he did not have as much motivation to face his former team. Not that it mattered, but His Airness averaged at least 20 points per game against every NBA team he faced, except the Bulls.