Very fit to finish the year 2001, after matches at 51 and 45 points, on December 29 and 31, Michael Jordan also had an excellent match on January 4, 2002, against his former team Chicago. The back of the Wizards had in fact compiled 29 points and 7 rebounds.
The icing on the cake, with this performance, “His Airness” surpassed the 30,000 career points mark. 22 years ago, he was only the fourth player in history, after Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to achieve such a feat, but Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have followed since.
Except that, more than two decades later, everyone only remembered one action from this match. A huge counter, with both hands, in the final seconds on Ron Mercer, to seal the victory for Washington…
Almost 39 years old, he can still jump very high
“I can still jump when necessary. Especially when I'm stung.”Jordan explained after the game, Chicago Tribune. “It’s one of those times when anger gives you extra energy. »
This counter should never have happened though. After a strong second quarter (19 units), the six-time champion launched the Wizards to victory in the first half. The Bulls were on the ropes and were more than twenty points behind.
“It seemed like he wasn't there anymore, and suddenly he grabbed the ball with both hands”
But the Chicago players will step up in defense, Ron Artest will muzzle Jordan, who for his part believes that the referees have forgotten his whistles (hence the anger he mentions above), and no of the Wizards takes over. The Bulls come back and in the last 30 seconds, there are only four points difference (93-89) between the two teams!
“MJ” plays this crucial possession, but is countered by Artest on his mid-distance attempt. Ron Mercer plays transition and heads to the circle. He goes up, but Jordan is behind him and picks him up with a huge two-handed chase-down block. Let's not forget that at this moment, “His Airness” is turning 39 (which he will celebrate on February 17, 2002)…
“I don’t know where it came from”remarked his coach Doug Collins. “It looked like he wasn't there anymore, and suddenly he grabbed the ball with both hands. »
With his shot in “money time”, against Shawn Marion, during the 2003 All-Star Game, this superb counter is undoubtedly the most famous action of Jordan's Washington period. The one that comes to mind when we think of him in this Wizards jersey, which he wore for two seasons between 2001 and 2003.
