Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time.
What he was able to achieve on an individual and team basis with the Chicago Bulls from 1984 to 1998 has yet to be replicated.
Unfortunately, Jordan’s story didn’t end there. He also spent an ill-fated two-year stretch with the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003.
In 2003, his playing career ended for good.
Up until this point nobody knew the real reason Jordan didn’t continue with the Wizards past 2003.
During a recent VladTV interview, Gilbert Arenas cleared the air once and for all on why Jordan’s run with the Wizards came to such an abrupt conclusion.
“When I went there that was one of my questions,” Arenas said.
“My dad’s question like ‘hey, what’s up with the Jordan thing? Why didn’t you sign him back?’ And (Abe) Pollin was like ‘I love basketball, I love the players. So, I asked the players what did they want. The players said they didn’t want Jordan back.’”
Given Jordan’s relationship with then-teammate Kwame Brown, that makes sense.
Jordan’s legacy and story is beyond reproach at this point. Nothing that comes out could ever truly tarnish his legacy.
Yikes. https://t.co/cjlBwBxeNJ
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 31, 2021
That said, it’s always interesting to fill in previously unknown blanks.
And Arenas’ story definitely does that as it pertains to the end of Jordan’s NBA run.
Related: Is A Big Trade Brewing Between Lakers And Celtics?
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
