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‘I felt I was used by the Wizards’: When Michael Jordan slammed his Washington franchise for firing him and not treating him right

Advait Jajodia
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“I’m Competing With What I’m Capable Of”: Michael Jordan, Who Never Lost a Championship Series, Only Competed With Himself

NBA legend Michael Jordan reveals that he felt “used” by the Washington Wizards and was surprised when he was fired from his front-office job.

Without any doubt, Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players the league has ever seen. Looking at the illustrious resume MJ built over 1,072 games, it’s understandable why he is widely considered as the basketball god. Mike was and still is one of the most impactful players to grace the league, who had a surreal amount of influence on his fans and opponents as well.

Playing with an unparalleled competitive spirit, Michael, alongside a few other All-Stars, led the Chicago Bulls franchise to be one of the best dynasties ever. Back in the 1990s, winning 6 championships in 8 years and also finishing the 1996 season with a flawless 72-10 record, the Chicago organisation was the most dominant team in the league.

Because of the majestic 13 seasons, he spent in Chicago, people often forget about His Airness’ shorter 2-year stint with the Washington Wizards franchise. A lot of fans might not know this, but back in 2000, the Wizards approached Mike to be a part of their front office. Seeing the team struggle and barely winning matches, Air Jordan decided to come out of retirement for the second time and make his return on the court, assuming the Wizards would start winning matches.

Also Read: Scottie Pippen Admits He Hasn’t Spoken To MJ Since ‘The Last Dance’ Aired Last Year

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“I felt used by the Washington Wizards”: Michael Jordan

Even though a 38-year-old MJ averaged 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the 2001-2002 season, his team had a subpar 37-45 record, missing out on postseason action. The following year, the GOAT yet again had a great 20/6.1/3.8 campaign but finished with the same record as the previous season.

During the 2005-2006 season, the Hall-Of-Famer, in an interview with “60 minutes”, revealed that he felt used by the Washington organisation. He even was surprised when he learnt that he got fired from his front-office role. Mike disclosed:

“I didn’t have to [start playing again]. But I did it with the benefit of trying to help an organization to get back on their feet,” Jordan said. “And the gratitude that was given? It was ‘your service is no longer wanted or needed.’ So I felt like I was used in a sense. I felt like I played injured. I went through [knee] surgery, and I did the things that a lot of these young kids did not do.”

Also Read: Magic Johnson describes the GOAT’s greatest play ever – a 360 dunk on Hall of Famer David Robinson

Sounds a little odd that a franchise could fire one of the greatest basketball players ever, right? Mike himself was stunned about the whole incident and was clearly angry about getting fired. MJ was so pissed that he didn’t even release a statement thanking the Wizards for his time there. However, Washington did as they felt was right. Whereas, Michael Jordan proved it to the whole world that even at 39, he could score buckets on anyone at his own will.

About the author

Advait Jajodia

Advait Jajodia

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Advait Jajodia, a seasoned NBA journalist, has had a passion for the game for over a decade. His journey from admiring Kobe Bryant's precision to being in awe of Stephen Curry's long-range mastery instilled a profound understanding of basketball. With a background as a two-time National-level player, Advait uses his experience on the hardwood to offer insightful analysis. Over three years of dedicated sports journalism has equipped the 21-year-old with a unique perspective, reflected in his prolific portfolio of 3,350+ articles.

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