Michael Jordan had done it all. Three National Basketball Association MVP awards, three NBA championships, three NBA Finals MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, sponsorship deals and the riches of Croesus.
But on this day in 1993 in Chicago, the Bulls star – only 30 and at his prime – shockingly announced his retirement.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard called his career “a treasure” and said: “I just don’t have anything else to prove. I’m very happy about my decision.” He was also influenced by the recent murder of his father, saying that he understood life was short and precious.
Still, he left the door open a crack. “If I desire to come back and play again, maybe that’s what I want to do.” After a short-lived minor-league baseball career, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995, won two more league MVP awards, three more Finals MVP awards and led the Bulls to titles from 1996 to 1998. He retired again on Jan. 13, 1999, and this time, he really meant it.
But he joined the Washington Wizards lineup in 2001 and at the end of the 2002-03 season, retired again. And this time he really, really meant it.
