When Michael Jordan retired after the Bulls the 1993 NBA Championship over Charles Barkley and the Suns, everyone thought they were losing a legend forever. Turns out, his teammate and partner in terrorizing opponents, Scottie Pippen, also thought that was it for No. 23.
It’s been 20 years since MJ told us “I’m back,” and that pithy announcement started his second reign of dominance. MJ’s Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs by the Orlando Magic in 1995, but that merely added an urgency to MJ’s work ethic that summer, famously demanding a regulation court on the set of Space Jam, and dominating the stars who came to cameo. Any basketball fan knows what happened that next year, 72-10, and it’s still the best record in NBA history.
Pippen used the 20-year anniversary of MJ’s return to share his thoughts on MJ’s retirement, baseball sabbatical and eventual return.
I see it's been 20 years since two of the most famous words in sports history: "I'm back"
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
To be honest, after MJ retired the first time in 1993 I thought he was done. I think a comeback was the furthest thing on his mind.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
Scottie wasn’t alone; we can remember losing a bet to our Old Man who said he was coming back.
I'll always remember how shocked we were MJ walked away from the game like that. We were ready to go for a 4th straight.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
We weren’t. Jordan’s father was murdered that summer, and after three-straight runs to Finals glory — the first to do so since Bill Russell’s Celtics — plus a gold medal in Barcelona, his father’s death pushed him over the edge. It also didn’t help that there was some speculation that Jordan’s gambling debts had played a role in the killing, which was hogwash.
I kept tabs on him as he played baseball but we didn't talk all that often. I gave him some space as he needed a break from basketball.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
I really didn't know how much he loved baseball until that point. He was pretty passionate about the game and showed he could hold his own.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
When MJ started showing up at Berto spring of 1995 for practices, it didn't take long to see he was serious about getting back in the game.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
Only MJ could take a year and a half off, then come back after a few weeks of practicing.
We all felt after several practices that MJ's return was inevitable but once he said "I'm back" it really gave us a lift.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
He wore 45 of course and we didn't think too much about it in the moment but it wasn't the 23 we were used to seeing.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
He wasn’t the same player, but…
MJ had to shake a little rust off but he showed at the Garden his swagger was back in the double nickel game.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
I think the Knicks were tired of him killing them all night so they over compensated on that last play and MJ found @34billy42 for the win.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
… the Michael Jordan everyone knew would never let Nick Anderson sneak up behind him and steal the ball like he did in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Losing to Orlando was tough. It had been a long time since we had MJ and lost in the playoffs. But it fueled us. He took it hard.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
It was that failure that spurred the pathological MJ’s next three-year run on top of the NBA mountain.
We added some pieces to the roster, including one of the great rebounders of all time in @dennisrodman, and came back ready to work.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
So here's to 20 years ago and ultimately, three more championships.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
What a remarkable moment in NBA history, and we’re glad that Pippen gave us his thoughts on the 20-year anniversary of the moment.
(@ScottiePippen; H/T Yardbarker)
