2 Years Before Tragic Murder, James Urged Michael Jordan to ‘Quit Basketball’ After Winning His First Title

Michael Jordan’s father, James Jordan, was brutally murdered by assailants in a carjacking incident in 1993.  This profoundly impacted his son, Michael, who retired from basketball that year. MJ’s retirement shocked the basketball world, as the Chicago Bulls legend took up a new career stint with baseball. James Jordan was an avid fan of basketball. Even before his son outshined every other prospect in the NBA, he had wished MJ to field a baseball career. Michael had always been receptive to this.

However, it would have been a difficult choice between basketball and baseball. He still honored his father, joining White Sox’s minor league team, Birmingham Barons. In the book Jordan Rules by Sam Smith, the author details this episode in Jordan’s life and his father’s influence in choosing an alternate career.

Michael Jordan’s father James Jordan had influenced him to play baseball

As mentioned, Michael’s father, James Jordan, had enormous aspirations for his son to play Major League Baseball. Like every father and son in the mid-1970s, Jordan enjoyed playing catch with his father in their backyard. Jordan’s father had even suggested he quit basketball after the Bulls’ first championship in 1991. However, Jordan back then was not ready. In the book, Sam Smith noted:

” ‘Two years ago,’ said Michael Jordan, he and his father had talked about Jordan’s trying a major league baseball career. James, in fact, had counseled Michael to quit basketball after the Bulls won their first NBA championship in 1991. But Michael wasn’t ready. ‘This is something my father always wanted me to do,’ Michael explained about the chance to play major league baseball.” 

Michael Jordan played baseball for Birmingham Barons and Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League from 1994 to 1995. He announced his eventual return to the NBA in 1995 with a famous press release quote, “I’m back.” 

Jordan had a decent stint in baseball before his eventual return

Michael Jordan was relatively successful in baseball, with his stint at Double-A minor affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, Birmingham Barons. He had a batting average of .202 with three home runs, 51 runs batted in, 30 stolen bases, 114 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, and 11 errors.

Michael Jordan eventually returned to the NBA on March 18, 1995. He had made a two-worded press release: “I’m back.”  After his return, the Bulls went on to win their second three-peat from 1996 to 1998.