Michael Jordan shockingly retired from the NBA after the Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 1993 Finals for the team's third straight championship. Everyone in Chicago was stunned since MJ was the best basketball player in the world and coming off three consecutive rings.
In the latest episode of The Last Dance, Jordan said he told Bulls head coach Phil Jackson back in '93 that he was done playing because he had no more motivation left.
“I’m about done. I have no more challenges. I have no motivation. I was done,” Jordan shared in The Last Dance.
Jordan and the Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Suns for their three rings. At the time, MJ had averages of 32.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He was on top of the basketball world.
However, the tragic death of his dad surely played a role in MJ's decision to step away from the game. His Airness held a press conference announcing his retirement in Chicago, a scene no one saw coming.
During the 1993-94 season, Jordan played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons. Meanwhile, behind Scottie Pippen, the Bulls won 55 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they ultimately fell to the New York Knicks in seven games.
There were rumors about Jordan possibly coming back to the Bulls for the 1994-95 campaign. Those murmurs ended up being true, as Jordan made his comeback on March 19, 1995 against the Indiana Pacers. He finished with 19 points on 7-of-28 shooting from the floor, but the Bulls lost.
Chicago went 13-4 when Jordan came back and finished the season with 47 wins. However, the team lost to Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway and the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 1995 playoffs.
In the summer of 1995, Michael Jordan trained harder than ever. Eventually, all the blood, sweat and tears paid off, as MJ and the Bulls won three straight titles in '96, '97 and '98.
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