Michael Jordan Was ‘Nervous’ And Cried Before Playing First Game Back From Retirement In 1995 Since It Was His First Time Playing Without His Dad: ‘I Just Felt Naked Because My Father Just Wasn’t There’

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan returned to the NBA in March 1995 after playing baseball. 

Jordan retired from the NBA in October 1993 following the tragic death of his father. 

Jordan’s first game back was against the Indiana Pacers on March 19, 1995. The Hall of Famer cried before the game since it was the first time he would play basketball without his father. 

“I was nervous because I hadn’t played competitive in a long time,” Jordan said in The Last Dance. “And I just felt naked because my father just wasn’t there.”

Jordan struggled against the Pacers, shooting 7-of-28 from the field and 0-of-4 from beyond the arc for 19 points in 43 minutes. The Bulls lost by a final score of 103-96. 

Jordan played 17 games during the 1994-95 NBA season. He averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks. 

On March 28, Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. That game is known as “MJ’s Double Nickel” game. 

The Bulls went 13-4 with Jordan in the lineup in 1994-95. They were the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

Chicago defeated the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 playoffs in four quick games. However, Jordan and the Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in the second round in six games. 

In the summer of 1995, Jordan filmed the movie “Space Jam.” On the movie set, he practiced and worked out at the “Jordan Dome.” By the time training camp started in the fall, Jordan was in fantastic shape. 

The Bulls went 72-10 in 1995-96. Jordan reclaimed his throne as the best player in the world by winning his fourth MVP and eighth scoring title. The UNC product averaged 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.5 blocks. 

Chicago defeated the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Magic in the 1996 Eastern Conference playoffs to advance to the NBA Finals. The Bulls faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals. 

Behind Jordan, Chicago defeated Seattle in six games. Jordan won his fourth title and fourth Finals MVP on Father’s Day. He cried in the locker room since he was missing his dad. 

With the Bulls, Jordan won six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, 10 scoring titles, three steals titles and one Defensive Player of the Year Award. He’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history. 

Jordan has career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks with the Bulls and Washington Wizards. He’s first in NBA history in points per game, fourth in steals, fifth in field goals and second in player efficiency rating.