Ex-NBA Champion Recalls How 40-Year-Old Michael Jordan Torched His Team Single-Handedly
Former NBA champion Richard Jefferson recently recalled a game during his rookie season with the New Jersey Nets when Michael Jordan torched the team for 45 points by himself.
While reacting to a highlight reel of Jordan from that game on X, Jefferson said:
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"We had the #1 defense and went to the finals that year… Got cooked."
The video showcased the NBA legend's skill, even late in his career. At 40 years old, Michael Jordan still looked nimble and capable enough of dismantling defenses on his own.
The game took place on New Year's Eve during the 2001-02 season. The Washington Wizards emerged victorious after a 98-76 scoreline, dominating the Nets, who would make an appearance in the NBA Finals that season.
Jordan notched a game-high 45 points, to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists, adding three steals to the tally. The second highest scorer on the Wizards for the game was Christ Whitney with 14 points.
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Meanwhile, the Nets saw Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn lead the scoring effort with 16 points each. Jason Kidd was their key player for the game with 10 points and 11 assists. A young Richard Jefferson put up a disappointing five points in 20 minutes of game time off the bench.
The 2001-02 season also marked the second time Jordan came out of retirement to play in the NBA. Seeing the Wizards' performances for the season, the then 38-year-old Jordan decided to step in and take matters into his own hands.
After playing in 60 games for the team, the former Bulls legend put up a respectable average of 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. He also earned himself an All-Star nod and ended 13th in the MVP race that season.
Unfortunately, Jordan's addition didn't see the Wizards improve by a whole lot. Washington ended the season with a disappointing 37-45 record and finished 10th in the Eastern Conference.
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Jordan's time with the Wizards was short. He went on to play another season with the team after deciding to eventually retire in the 2002-03 season. The superstar had already sold his stake in the team before joining them for the season, as league rules prohibited him from being an owner and a player at the same time.
After retiring, the Bulls legend went on to buy a stake in the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and eventually purchased controlling rights by 2010. His ownership of the team ended after he decided to sell the franchise in 2023 to a group of investors Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall.
Related: Michael Jordan Revealed That Coming Out Of Retirement And Playing For The Wizards Was One Of The Biggest Mistakes He Made In Washington
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