It wasn’t as cool as the first time, aka “I’m back,” but the second time Michael Jordan un-retired from basketball he did something special beyond sneakers. As sneakerheads we wanted to see what kicks he would sport Washington Wizards colors. As sports fanatics we wanted to see if the 38-year old still had it in him and how far he could take the young squad. However, we overlook that he didn’t cash his paychecks for his contract, donating his earnings to relief and victim assistance efforts for those affected by the happenings on September 11, 2001.
Jordan’s return to basketball and time with the Wizards is not part of his lore. Really, it was a bit tough to see a man who sometimes seemed like a superhero on court play like an average man. As the saying goes, Father Time always wins. But that didn’t mean we didn’t see some glimpses of MJ from the past. He still had moments like a 51 point outburst, which ironically came after his lowest scoring effort, or fadeaway winners. And for sneakerheads we got to see “his Airness” bust out stuff we would never see him wear with the Chicago Bulls uniforms.
MJ’s time with the Wizards was shortlived and his stats never got past his earlier years. But for a couple of years the world got a little more Michael Jordan and his Air Jordans on the NBA court and that is never a bad thing.
Robbie Falchi
Aaron Nojima
Sneaker History