“Michael Jordan was shocked by it”: Former Wizards coach reveals the GOAT’s feelings following his dismissal from Washington

Former Washington Wizards assistant coach Brian James recently revealed the details of Michael Jordan’s firing from the team.

Brian James has been a career coach in the NBA for well over a decade. Currently at Northwestern University, James was at Jordan’s side during his last bow with the Wizards.

The Bulls legend was team president for the Wizards, and even selected Kwame Brown with the no. 1 overall pick in 2001. He was not satisfied with the quality of the team and insisted on donning the jersey. This meant that he had to renounce his ownership stake and executive position with the Wizards.

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Michael Jordan played out 2 injury-riddle, painful seasons for Washington. At the age of 38 when he returned, Jordan was well past his athletic prime. His skill and drive still served him well at an individual level. Before a knee injury set him back, the Wizards were in playoff contention in 2001-02.

How Michael Jordan was fired from Wizards

Jordan’s firing came as a shock for many people around the world. Brian James narrated the circumstances on a podcast with Gordon Voit:

“Well, I was with him [Michael Jordan] the day he got fired. You know he told us that he looked forward to his retirement, and I thought he could have played one more year and was hoping he would. He had to drain his knee about multiple times in his second and final season for the Wizards.”

“So he just said, I’m done, I can’t do it anymore. And, I was really disappointed. Then he was going to take over as President of the Wizards and do basically what he’s doing now with the Bobcats, the Charlotte Hornets.”

“I go to my office and 10 minutes later I just heard they fired Michael and that’s when you see this TV film, sports highlight of him pulling out of the arena in his convertible. No one ever saw him again. So that was a sad day for me, a sad sad day.” 

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