January 13, 1999: This time there would be no comeback in Chicago. Arguably the greatest NBA player in history called it quits for the second time with the Bulls on this day.
With six NBA championships on his resume, including three straight, and six Finals MVPs, Jordan went out on top. He was a 5-time MVP of the league, a 10-time scoring champion, an Olympic champion. Jordan had nothing left to prove. And what a way to go out with this as his last game, and his last shot:
Jordan's jumper in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz will forever live in NBA lore. He hit the game winner with 5.2 seconds left in Utah to avoid a winner-take-all Game 7.
After that season, with Phil Jackson's contract expiring and the pending departures of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, and being in the latter stages of an owner-induced lockout, Jordan decided it was time to ride off into the sunset.
Jordan had retired in 1993, citing a the lack of desire for the game, and mainly due to the murder of his father. He would return in 1995 and lead the Bulls to three more titles. And while Jordan would come back to the NBA for two seasons with the Washington Wizards from 2001-2003, he never had a chance to be at the pinnacle of the league again. His time with the Bulls and what he accomplished and that final season will live on forever.
Here's to you, Michael Jordan.
