NBA – On 4 January 2001, Michael Jordan surpassed the 30,000-point mark in his career, but also left his mark on the world with his most famous action for the Wizards. Like a symbol, it was against the Bulls…
In fine form at the end of 2001, after games of 51 and 45 points on 29 and 31 December, Michael Jordan also had an excellent game on 4 January 2002 against his former team Chicago. The Wizards full-back put up 29 points and 7 rebounds.
The icing on the cake was that this performance took ‘His Airness’ past the 30,000-point mark in his career. 22 years ago, he was only the fourth player in history, after Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to achieve such a feat, but Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have since followed suit.
Except that, more than two decades later, there’s only one thing everyone remembers from that game. A huge two-handed counter-attack in the dying seconds on Ron Mercer to seal victory for Washington…
At nearly 39, he can still jump very high
“I can still jump when I have to. Especially when I’m stung,” Michael Jordan told the Chicago Tribune after the game. “It’s one of those moments when anger gives you extra energy.
That counter-attack should never have happened, though. After a big second quarter (19 points), the six-time champion had launched the Wizards to victory in the first half. The Bulls were on the ropes and trailing by more than twenty points.
“We had the impression that he wasn’t there any more, and suddenly he took the ball with both hands”.
But the Chicago players stepped up their defence, Ron Artest muzzled Michael Jordan, who felt that the referees had forgotten his whistle (hence the anger he mentioned above), and none of the Wizards took over. The Bulls came back and in the last 30 seconds there was only a four-point gap (93-89) between the two teams!
“MJ” played this crucial possession, but was thwarted by Ron Artest on his attempt from half-distance. Ron Mercer played in transition and headed towards the circle. He goes up, but Michael Jordan is behind him and catches him with a huge two-handed chasedown block.
Let’s not forget that at this moment, “His Airness” is going on his 39th birthday (which he will celebrate on 17 February 2002)…
“I don’t know where he came from”, remarked his coach Doug Collins. “We had the impression that he wasn’t there any more, and suddenly he took the ball with both hands.
Along with his money-time shot against Shawn Marion in the 2003 All-Star Game, this superb counter-attack is undoubtedly the best-known action from Michael Jordan’s Washington period. It’s the one that comes to mind when you think of him in the Wizards jersey, which he wore for two seasons between 2001 and 2003.
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