Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am  |  182 responses

At Long Last, MJ’s Comeback Fantasies Have Ended

by Marcel Mutoni

The inevitable took place yesterday, as Michael Jordan entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The GOAT wasn’t too excited, however, about dwelling on his past accomplishments. The man was too busy regretting the fact that he’s no longer an NBA player.

The Philly Inquirer has the quotes:

“This is kind of a love-hate thing for me,” Jordan said. “It’s a great compliment and great respect, but for me, I always wanted to be able to have you think that I could always go back and play the game of basketball. As long as you have that thought, you never know what can happen. You never know what my abilities can do.”

Is he talking comeback? “No, but I’d like for you to think that I am,” Jordan said. “So to me, the Hall of Fame is like, it’s over and done with. You can’t ever put a uniform back on. It’s the total end of your basketball career. It’s a great accomplishment and I know I don’t walk away from it, but I didn’t want to be up here so quickly.

“I wanted to be up here when I was 70 years old, 80 years old. But I’m 45 and I still think I can play. You guys don’t know if I can or can’t, but at least I’ve got you thinking that way.”

I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief now that Jordan has finally realized that playing hoops at the pro level is no longer an option, and certainly something no one would want to see.

Thanks for the memories, Mike.

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  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com/ albie1kenobi

    this comment section, like MJ himself, was magnificent. damn it was good! Farmer Jones and Myles cracked me up especially. i do see how some people thinks MJ can still play in the league, because hey, he is Jordan.
    good times!

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    I just found out that Ryan Jones and B.Long agree on something, and that something is Magic Johnson.

  • chintao

    Also, I love how everyone is jumping all over Russ for trying to tarnish Jordan’s legacy.
    Note that Russ made no comments about what Jordan had accomplished in his career. He merely poked fun at Jordan’s inability to let the past stay where it is. In that way, it seems apparent that it actually is Jordan himself who seems to have no respect for his own vaunted legacy.

  • Bruno, RJ

    good comments on this post… it was really fun, but for me, i would still like to see him play.
    i don’t effin care if he would still be awesome, great, if he would be good average or poor…
    thats not the point.
    he is a myth. a real legend.
    old or not, he would have 15 mistakes, but the genious play would make it up for those…
    does anyone remember the 2 hand steal-block on mercer???

  • Bruno, RJ

    on the other hand… i would like that he preserved history and left basketball after “The Last Shot”…
    anyway… whatever he wants is good for me…
    i mean…he is god, disguised as a basketball player…

  • http://www.nba.com/suns Dacre

    I’m of the thought here that Jordan would not be happy playing again…he would be getting ‘AI-off-the-bench-type-stats’ and would honestly think that he should be playing about 30 mins a game…. looking for his 8 pts a quarter still.

  • http://www.obviated.blogspot.com nick

    As a houston guy, I have to say Russ pretty ended this discussion with the “Hakeem in Toronto” comparison. It was depressing. Last year, Hakeem worked on post moves with Yao in an off-season-photo op, and watching the video, rockets fans immediately got excited. His footwork was immaculate. His form was still there. He looked lithe, strong, deceptive, quick. Immediately, rockets message boards erupted, much like this one has, with cries of “HAKEEM COULD STILL GIVE US 10 GOOD MINUTES!!” If someone like Dream wanted to, he probably could still go out and make a team just because of who he is. He would then procede to suck–miserably–leading to the destruction of my childhood image of him as a conquering hero, and likely to persistent depression culminating in the sacrilegious admission that he only won the chip because jordan quit. Then i’d kill myself. It’s best to let it go…

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Coming to a footlocker near you this summer, the NIKE AIR STUMPS. Design by Farmer Jones, implemented by Beaverton, inspired by a 46 year old Air “damnit, i had to miss a day on the links for this stupid induction?” Jordan. This was a fantastic comments section. Writers justifying, regulars snapping at their heels, and loads of respect for MJ allover. Very entertaining.

  • KD

    You guys need to let this go. Jordan is jordan he does what he wants he doesnt are what a bunch of people on a internet web page say. hes a millionarie, hes a HOF, and hes the best basketball player alive. Are any of you here that? i didnt think so, so get of his jock and praise the main for the innovations and popularity he has brought to the sport of basketball.

  • Crab Dribble

    Myles createth much hilarity.

    But Myles needeth apostrophe. tis bothersome

  • nbk

    The one thing all you silly people who think Michael could still contribute in an NBA game fail to realize is, NBA games don’t happen once a week in the same gym over and over again. Games are 1 game every 2 days, after horrible hours with little sleep and lots of traveling. A 46 year olds body reacts a lot different from being on a cross country plane trip then the effects to a 40 year old, let alone someone who is in their physical prime. And 10 minutes of running at an open gym pace is tiring for most 45 year old men, hence games lasting barely longer if that long at all, what would an NBA game do to a 46 year old gaurd? Ok back to your fantasies….which is all they are

  • ThomasP

    Jordan scored 24 points in the 1st quarter while never leaving the ground – at almost 39 years old. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCHkX8TaThU

    And all 24 points are off of good shooting and basketball smarts…2 things that Mike’s still got.

  • http://nba.com tealish

    Ahaha, it seems like every 5 months or so certain SLAM staff and certain regular commentors go at it over something ridiculous. It’s almost as if it’s a premeditated arrangement to blow off some pent up E-steam. It’s enjoyable because for the most part, both sides have valid claims.
    .
    Could MJ have his knees crumble the first game he comes back? Possibly.
    .
    Could MJ play an effective 10 mins off the bench for a number of teams? (effective meaning, for the typical NBA bench player forgetting the name on the back of the jersey) Also possible.
    .
    Neither scenario would happen, but in theory both could. How this argument became what it became is beyond me but it was most definitely funny to read.

  • larrylegend

    i bet, mj still wears a pair of carolina short under his suit….

  • Washtub

    Shaq is the only one left from the 92 draft?
    ok, NOW i feel old

  • http://www.mynameinorange.blogspot.com Hisham

    I know this discussion is probably over, but i just wanna say that the REAL question should be: Will Jordan’s competitiveness someday kill him? No let me rephrase that: HOW is jordan’s competitiveness going to kill him? I’m rather convinced that he will someday day die trying to hold his breath longer than somebody else. Or something. Or maybe commit suicide because his son beat him in a game of 1-on-1.

  • Rob

    i am really disappointed this did not break the 200 comments mark.

  • Tuomas

    Late to the party, but Ryan’s 4.38 comment is so much along the lines I was thinking that it ain’t even funny. Sure, MJ could maybe make a roster and – if healthy even at that point – show a couple flashes of what used to be. Consistency, on the other hand, is out of the question. What is the f*cking point now of even trying to get back to game shape and come back? Many folks would probably drool (at first) about the possibility of seeing an aging ultra-competitive man still try to prove himself, and it sure would do wonders in terms of publicity, jersey sales etc. MJ competing against time would make grandiose, storybook Western-type headlines. Then, if and when his knees would go AWOL, it’d be just sad. Beyond sad, actually. Cue for reporters making tons of stories about his problems (competitiveness, gambling, failing to let go and so on). Sh*t, they were raving about his gambling troubles even before he’d retired once. Look, I get it, because of what he could potentially do for short stretches makes me think I want to see it too, if I leave it at just that. However, if I let myself think about the pretty much inevitable consequences just a little further it absolutely gives me the creeps.

  • Manumaniac

    Two words: THE BEST. Just like that. No man, no player will ever reach his level. He is more unique than the game itself.

  • Esco

    Lee Posted: Apr.7 at 6:38 pm
    What I cant understand is who the hell thinks 46 years old is even old.
    I constantly see 60 or 70 year old men run marathons and put up better times then 2/3 of the runners out there.
    ________________________
    Stupid comment. 46 isn’t old per se, but in basketball, it’s old as hell. And your marathon comment is also stupid. Basketball is a contact sport. Marathon running isn’t. Let’s see those same 60 or 70 year old men go up against LeBron driving with a head full of steam to the rim. In marathons you don’t have to defend and try to body up dudes 2 decades younger and way more athletic and stronger than you are. Come on, Jordan is the best ever and everything, but he would get killed. Knowing him, we would want to play against the top dogs and not some scrubs, and he would just get murdered out there. Right now, Jordan would look as human as they come. And it would hurt just watching it.

  • Tuomas

    Not to mention that when you run a marathon, you prepare (depending on your current shape) for maybe a few months, then get it over with in the course of one day. And that’s that. You don’t have to go through the biggest grind every week. It’d be complete waste of time to even start talking about all the other problems with the comparison.

  • http://www.ellisislandcasinobrewery.com EllisIslandCasinoBrewery

    The man, the player… the icon.

  • Dave

    I’m with OneStep. I can 100% tell you that jumpshots do stop falling when your knees go. If you actually play with people who guard you, that is.

  • Josh D(Spurs Fan)

    I wouldn’t put it past MJ to be past the standard of at least a few NBA players at the age of 45?

  • http://basketball-reference.com nbk

    Jordan could not last for an entire season. The NBA is a marathon not a sprint, and Jordan is no longer a marathon runner. He could definately contribute in a one-game scenario like say the all star game ala Magic Johnson in 92 but he could not last on an NBA roster for the rigours of a season.

  • Bruno, RJ

    whatever he wants is good for me…
    i mean…a guy that i really respect once said that he is god, disguised as a basketball player…
    .
    i guess age rules doens’t fully apply to a kind of god…

  • BALLA30

    How is this conversation still going on? MJ- IN HIS PRIME THE BEST EVER. Period.

  • http://slamonline.com Nw09

    Everyone’s fawning over LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade Beasleys and the Durants of the league because of what they’re doing NOW while they’re still in the young stages of their careers (except for Kobe).

    But Micheal Jordan consistently played like he was hungry all the way into his lae 30′s. To substain such passion, and extrodinary play late in you career IS HARD TO DO because that’s where wear and tear comes into play. All of these other guys people are fawning over may not be as dominant in their later years in the league like MJ was. I hate when people compare up and coming players or present players to MJ. He’s MJ he was far more dominant in hos era.

    Just like Tiger Woods is 33 and still playing like he’s 23.

    And please stop comparing Lbj to Mj his style of play is NOTHING like MJ’s just because he wears 23 too doesn’t mean anything, more like Karl Malone and Magic on steroids.

  • Manumaniac

    Good points Nw09 and BALLA30. As I always say: Michael Jordan is the BEST. Everybody else is the REST.

  • Rules are non applicable to me

    ThomasP got it right. 24 points without getting off the ground.

    20 points per game as a Wizard at 39.

    Yes he could still come back and score, but he could not come back and score and play off the bench because he is GOAT and would he listen or pass to Rip Hamilton in the 1st string if he had a better shot (baring in mind he will have limited minutes to score?). The answer to that is no.

    Yes he could play physically, though I would not pick him, but no he could not play mentally because he would damage any team unless he was really prepared to sacrifice his numbers for the team.

  • truthteller

    If MJ still wants to play ball he should organise big time pick up games where current nba players and street ballers are all invited to play. That should satisfy his competitive hunger. No?

  • Epsilon Nupe

    MJ would not have the speed to keep up with today’s game. While his basketball IQ is still there the physical skills are not. When he played in Washington he was playing off of IQ and even then his physical skills were diminishing. Why would one think that after 5 years of no kind of NBA basketball contact that MJ could come off the bench and make a contribution? He would be a liability on defense and a non factor on offense. He would be the smartest playing on the floor but its hard to be a factor when you cant run and jump.

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