How Many Times Did Michael Jordan Retire?
The “Michael Jordan Biography” on ESPN’s website states Michael Jordan retired from the NBA three times. His first retirement came in 1993 after his father was murdered. His second retirement was in 1998 at the end of his contract. His third was in 2003 after playing with the Washington Wizards.
Jordan chose to pursue a baseball career following his first retirement to honor a dream held by his father. He played for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, during the 1994 season. With no real chance of making it into Major League Baseball, Jordan decided to return to basketball in March 1995. He reclaimed his former dominance and won three more NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. After his second retirement, Jordan became part-owner of the Washington Wizards. He returned to the game in 2001 with the desire to bring new life to a failing Wizards team. Following his third and final retirement, Jordan became part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and the primary owner in 2010.
