How old was Michael Jordan when he retired? We have three answers for this and but he did finally close his career when he was 40.
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Michael Jordan is regarded as the best player of all time – not just by fans, but even his peers and current NBA superstars agree.
From Shaquille O’Neal to LeBron James, every person in the league for the past 40 years will agree that Michael Jordan influenced them in some way or another. Be it as an opponent who pushed you or an inspiration they aspired to be like, Mike was the man in stone for every single player in the NBA.
During his first stint with the Bulls, there were many times he looked like he was struggling on his own—yet he never threw his toys out of the crib. He always believed he was sufficient to drag his team to glory. That attitude made him the G.O.A.T. in the eyes of many, and when he started winning titles, he was immortalized.
Playoff success came as natural as breathing to Jordan once he matured into a monster. MJ was the best 2-way player this league has ever seen. Defensive accolades and offensive recognition in the same year are a dream for many. MJ did it for 9 straight years.
He was so good that even in 2001, Jordan commanded the same amount of fanfare as he did in 1991. Despite the smell of cigar smoke and puffy eyes due to late-night gambling, Michael Jordan as a player was a sight to behold when he was 20 or 40.
Michael Jordan spent 13 seasons as a Chicago Bull – many people wore the number 23 before him, but he is the one who popularized it
Right from the get-go, MJ has been a superstar. Not many players take to the NBA like fish to water, but he did. He came in with a gold chain around his neck and his tongue out. Scoring at will, Mike made people sit and watch Chicago play. Up until then, nobody cared about the Bulls—it was all about the Lakers, Celtics, and Knicks.
But in the 13 seasons that he played, Jordan created a whole generation of Bulls fans. Countless awards and legendary status. Michael Jordan cemented his name on the throne atop the basketball pyramid. To this day, he sits on the throne, watching people try and climb the path like Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Unbothered, unfiltered, unbridled. Three words to describe Jordan’s tenure with the Bulls. To this day, the most popular Bulls jersey is MJ’s and the 23 will forever live on a sea of red, white, and black.
His 2 seasons in Washington are not talked about enough – He was still effective in the league even though he was nearing 40
When Michael Jordan decided to return to the NBA for the third time, fans were shocked that he was no longer a Bull. Instead, he chose to be a wizard, even though he had no flowing white hair or a long, wispy beard. He chose to play for the Wizards because he felt “there was nothing like being a player.“
Jordan resigned from his position as President of Basketball Operations and joined the team in 2001. The signs were there—fans were clamoring to see the 23 on the court again. Even if it was in Wizards blue. After spending almost 3 years without a care in the world, and long days of golfing and smoking cigars, the Black Jesus was ready for his second coming.
His start was terrible-after being out of the game for so long, he was rustier than a bag of nails in the rain. He had his career low of 6 points in a Wizards uniform. Not even as a rookie, he scored that low, and fans were wondering if he made the right choice. And then he took it personally.
In coming back from that horror show, he scored 51 points at the age of 38-and in his whole Wizards career, he averaged 21 points a game. Even at the age of 40, he played all 82 games of the season. LeBron James is nearly 38, but he will hope to emulate what his idol did in the twilight of his career.
Maybe a couple of retirements will prolong his career even further who’s to say Bron won’t be playing even at 45?
So, when we ask How old was Michael Jordan when he retired? The answer should always be 40. The final time he closed his basketball chapter.
Also Read: MJ’s 45 points in 1998 NBA Finals Saved Him From His First-ever Game 7
