Following on from yesterday's story about Jordan's status for next season, Jordan yesterday hinted that retirement is certainly an option, and if he feels then how he does not he would not hesitate at giving the game up for a third time.
"I think I've been saying all along that physically if I'm not capable of playing next season, why would I play?" Jordan said. "Based on what Doug's seen of what I've been going through as of late, obviously he gave his opinion about it. I'm not mad at him. That's his observation, and as a coach you have observations like that."
"That would be my observation too. If I felt this way, I would be totally surprised if I'm trying to play next year."
Via
Washington Wizards
Read the Full Story
Discuss
Send Feedback
Buy Tickets
He signed a two year contract last September after much debate over his future, and while he is not even through his comeback season and we are already re-asking the same old question.. will Michael Jordan play in the NBA next season?
If you ask his coach Doug Colins what he thinks Jordan's response might be right now and he'd say no. But ever since Jordan signed the two year contract he has maintained his desire to fulfil his obligations, but this offseason more than any other his decision might be dependant on the wear and tear on his body. For this reason Collins states that he'd be 'suprised' if Jordan played next season.
"I'd be surprised next year if he did play," Collins said. "[This] could be [his final season]; I don't know. I just think the wear and tear . . . I'm not saying he's not going to play but right now it's up in the air."
A Wizards team official said that Collins was simply stating his opinion because not even Jordan knows what he is going to do yet. One thing is for certain, Jordan will be letting the Wizards know much sooner what he plans on doing so they can build their team accordingly. While last year the Wizards had to go through the draft then free agency with the status of Jordan up in the air, this time round Jordan plans on letting the organization know before the draft in June. Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that as recent as last Wednesday Jordan said he planned to play next season unless he had a physical setback.
"My contract is two years," Jordan said in January. "Obviously, the way I feel and with all I have to deal with -- all the different [health] problems -- it's a different thought process at the end of the year."
"We'll sit down and talk after the season," Collins said. "Last year, we did not know he was going to play until after the draft and all. This year he said we'd know what he's going to do before the draft so we can move forward with what we have to do."
"I don't think there's any assurances how he's going to be able to play next year and go through a full 82-game season. Michael's got great pride. He doesn't want to come back next year and be injured and go through the season where he's on the injured list."
In other Wizards news the team current sits 2 1/2 game out of the final playoff place with only 11 games to go. Collins said that Jordan's knee is roughly 65% healed from the surgery but he wanted to come back and play to help will the team to a playoff berth. Playing around 20 minutes a game off the bench for the Wizards, Collins said he simply is not ready for more.
"He's not ready to play more minutes," Collins said. "The knee is still bothering him. He doesn't have the strength in that leg back yet. I'm concerned about that. I don't want to play him and then his knee gets swollen. At the same time he wants to play and also he's got to play enough to be able to get himself in some condition. It's sort of a Catch-22."
Via
Washington Wizards
Read the Full Story
Discuss
Send Feedback
Buy Tickets
Mar 27, 2002 11:33 AM EST
Kyle Ringo writes an article on Juwan Howard and the response he received from the Washington fans.
Ringo writes:
"Howard is the fourth-highest paid player in the league this season, making $18.75 million. When he was with the Wizards, many felt he wasn't worth the money he made."
In last nights game he had 7 turnovers and wasn't worth his salary.
He expected the boo's and still likes D.C., it was where he was drafted and played 6.5 years.
Via
Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards
Read the Full Story
Discuss
Send Feedback
Buy Tickets
Wizards Mar 2002 Archive
-
The Denver Post | Mar 27, 2002
Nuggets lose to the Wizards 103-87.
-
Dallas Morning News | Mar 26, 2002
Dallas should win all 4 games against slumping opponents, Finley says
03/26/2002
By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
March in the East is an unappealing prospect for every traveler but the Mavericks.
-
The Rocky Mountain News | Mar 26, 2002
Denver takes on Washington tonight at the MCI Center.
-
| Mar 26, 2002
After showing the heart of a true fighter to come back from their horrific start to the season, the Miami Heat seem to have fallen back into old habits.
-
New York Post | Mar 26, 2002
Vescey doesn't seem to be a MJ fan
-
| Mar 25, 2002
How important was last night's game between the Raptors and the Wizards to both teams, and more importantly how important was the result? Michael Jordan was unable to hit the game winner as time expired, giving the Raptors a 92-91 victory and tied the two teams at 32-38.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 23, 2002
Once again, Michael Jordan has come and gone.
-
Baltimore Sun | Mar 22, 2002
The Utah Jazz and its fans have been waiting a long time to give Michael Jordan some measure of payback for the pain he gave them three years ago when he hit a jumper over Bryon Russell in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
-
Washington Times | Mar 22, 2002
.
-
Washington Post | Mar 22, 2002
The last time Michael Jordan faced the Utah Jazz on this court, he hit the championship-winning shot in the waning seconds over Bryon Russell to give the Chicago Bulls their sixth and final NBA title in 1998.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 22, 2002
As the man glided onto the Delta Center floor, only a few paces away from his greatest act of thievery, the cameras began clicking furiously.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 22, 2002
So, the Prodigal Son of a Gun returned Thursday night to the home of his most famous -- or infamous -- moment.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 22, 2002
Finally, Bryon Russell could smile.
-
Ogden Standard-Examiner | Mar 22, 2002
There was the Michael Jordan of old, the Jordan of new, and, yes, the Jordan that stuck a dagger in the collective heart of Jazz fans with a picture-perfect jump shot nearly four years ago.
-
Ogden Standard-Examiner | Mar 22, 2002
It was sort of like watching an Elvis impersonator.
-
Washington Post | Mar 22, 2002
Steve Wyche writes, "NBA Commissioner David Stern was at tonight's Washington Wizards-Utah Jazz game at Delta Center and addressed several issues, namely Michael Jordan's return to the site where he hit the memorable championship-winning jumper for the Chicago Bulls in 1998.
-
Washington Post | Mar 22, 2002
Steve Wyche writes, "The last time Michael Jordan faced the Utah Jazz on this court, he hit the championship-winning shot in the waning seconds over Bryon Russell to give the Chicago Bulls their sixth and final NBA title in 1998.
-
Standard Examiner | Mar 22, 2002
Preston Truman writes, "There was the Michael Jordan of old, the Jordan of new, and, yes, the Jordan that stuck a dagger in the collective heart of Jazz fans with a picture-perfect jump shot nearly four years ago.
-
Standard Examiner | Mar 22, 2002
Tom McEachin writes, "It was sort of like watching an Elvis impersonator.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 22, 2002
Patrick Kinahan writes, "As the man glided onto the Delta Center floor, only a few paces away from his greatest act of thievery, the cameras began clicking furiously.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 22, 2002
Columnist Gordon Monson writes, "So, the Prodigal Son of a Gun returned Thursday night to the home of his most famous -- or infamous -- moment.
-
Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 22, 2002
Steve Luhm writes, "Finally, Bryon Russell could smile.
-
The Rocky Mountain News | Mar 22, 2002
Bernie Lincicome decides whether or not to shave his head and grow a sould patch after Jordan's return in Denver on Wednesday.
-
| Mar 21, 2002
Don't look now, but here comes Michael Jordan.
-
Palm Beach Post | Mar 21, 2002
So maybe Miami is not competing with just Charlotte and Indiana for a playoff spot.
-
Sun-Sentinel | Mar 21, 2002
Even after seeing the last of Michael Jordan on his team's schedule, Heat coach Pat Riley was confident he had not seen the last of the Wizards forward in the playoff race.
-
| Mar 21, 2002
Irv Moss writes about how Michael Jordan changed his decision to play.
-
Deseret News | Mar 21, 2002
He earns utmost praise from Jerry Sloan, not only for what he's done but also the way he has done it.
-
Ogden Standard-Examiner | Mar 21, 2002
Michael Jordan is likely to be in uniform tonight at the Delta Center after all.
-
Ogden Standard-Examiner | Mar 21, 2002
If Lagoon could come up with a ride to match the Jazz season, the amusement park would have one of the all-time great attractions.
-
ESPN | Mar 21, 2002
ESPN article link from the AP.
-
The Rocky Mountain News | Mar 21, 2002
Michael Jordan made his return against the Nuggets last night.
-
ESPN | Mar 20, 2002
MJ meets up with the Wizards in Denver
-
| Mar 20, 2002
Michael Jordan rejoined his Wizards teammates yesterday in Denver.
-
The Daily Camera | Mar 20, 2002
Notes from Gary Baines on tonight's contest against the Wizards.
-
SF Chronicle | Mar 19, 2002
-
Washington Post | Mar 19, 2002
Jordan is on the mend and should be back soon
-
Boston Herald | Mar 12, 2002
WASHINGTON - With Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the crowd, the Celtics didn't take the hint.
-
Boston Globe | Mar 12, 2002
ASHINGTON - Thirty-six wins.
-
| Mar 9, 2002
Besides the usual bumps, bruises and weary legs associated with the recently completed seven-game, 11-day roadtrip, the Orlando Magic are becoming increasingly concerned with Tracy McGrady's nagging foot injury.
-
| Mar 9, 2002
On Friday morning, Tracy McGrady said, "Trust me," everything was going to be all right.
-
| Mar 3, 2002
Regardless of when or whether he returns from his arthroscopic knee surgery, the first season of Michael Jordan III is essentially in the books.
-
| Mar 3, 2002
Magic visit Wizards
Who: Orlando Magic (31-27) at Washington Wizards (27-30).
-
| Mar 3, 2002
The most talked about cut here didn't happen on Capitol Hill.
-
| Mar 3, 2002
"No one knows me like me.
