NBA fans over 40 all remember March 19, 1995. In fact, the whole basketball world is in turmoil: Michael Jordan is back on the court! Words fail to describe the enthusiasm around this Indiana – Chicago regular season. The Team puts it as a banner on its front page: “Jordan, a star is reborn”. In the United States, NBC is changing its programs to broadcast the match.
In France, Canal+ also offers it to its subscribers. We are in 1995, and only “His Highness” can upset a program schedule.
A little less than two years after his retirement and a retraining in baseball, the three-time NBA champion returns to the courts. He announced it the day before with a simple “I’M Back“, ending two weeks of rumors.
The number 45 on the back
He put on weight. He runs slower. And his number 23 gave way to number 45. This is the number he wore in “high school”, and with the Barons during his attempt at baseball.
In the public, in Indianapolis, spectators wear T-Shirts: “He’s Back”. During the day, Nike produced a few, and they are already on sale! On CNN, a journalist explains that the enthusiasm around the match is between a Game 7 of the Finals and the enthronement of an American president: “ I think it makes sense since the King is back“.
While he has not played for 21 months, Phil Jackson inducts him directly into the starting five. Not a gift. Opposite is Reggie Miller. The obstacle will also be a little too high for Michael Jordan. Not on the pace, he finished the game with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals on 7 of 28 on shots. In 43 minutes! ” My shots were either too short or too long. I wasn’t good, but it wasn’t the worst game of my career MJ confided after the match. All smiles, he will add: “I don’t know if it was the right match to come back because Reggie looked very motivated…”
The main thing is that the magic is there, and despite the defeat (103-96 after extra time), millions of fans of the orange ball are asking for more. There will be 35 million Americans in front of their screens, and that still remains a record for a regular season game today!
Ten days later, 55 points at Madison Square Garden
They will be served ten days later. It will be at Madison Square Garden for another legendary match with 55 points on the clock! After the setback against the Pacers, the Bulls will outright win 13 of their last 15 games. Michael Jordan’s stats: 26.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.9 assists. Not bad for a 32-year-old ghost…
Chicago finished 5th, and easily knocked out the Hornets in the first round. We begin to dream of a 4th title… but it will take a great Magic, led by Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal, to prevent them from returning to the Finals.
It is underlined little, but Orlando will therefore be the only team to deprive Michael Jordan of an NBA final between 1991 and 1998! A series that will cost the Bulls a $100,000 fine. For what ? Because Michael Jordan will decide to take over number 23 from Game 2 of the series, and he had no right.
During Game 1, he had lost a ball at the very end of the match, giving the dunk of victory to Nick Anderson. The back of the Magic lets go after the victory: “Number 45 is not explosive like number 23. Number 45 is not number 23. I couldn’t have done that against number 23.” Stung to the quick, Michael Jordan will therefore change his number, and it will cost him a fine of $25,000 per game.
For Michael Jordan, it will only be a postponement since the following season, the Bulls will touch perfection with 72 wins for 10 losses, with the key to a 4th title against the Sonics of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp.
