What age did Michael Jordan retire? (2024)

Within the basketball world, the NBA is one of the toughest leagues, and only a few basketball players have been able to stick around for at least five years. Michael Jordan is one of the few NBA players to achieve this milestone and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. However, regardless of how good a player is, the body wears out, and they retire from the sport at some point.

Michael Jordan retired in April 2003 at age 40, but he had previously retired two times i.e. in 1993 at age 30 and in 1999 at age 36. Jordan first retired from the NBA on October 6, 1993, after winning three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He cited the reason for the early retirement as his lack of desire to play.

What age was Michael Jordan drafted into the NBA?

Michael Jordan was 21 years old when was drafted into the NBA. Chicago Bulls selected Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft, and he played his first game at Chicago Stadium on October 26, 1984.

During the 1984-85 season, Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg pm 51.5% shooting, making him a fan favorite. In November, the New York Times described Jordan as “the phenomenal rookie of the Bulls”, while in December, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline “A Star Is Born”. He was also voted as an All-Star Starter during his first season

How long did Michael Jordan play in the NBA?

Michael Jordan played in a total of 15 seasons and had three retirements and two comebacks during his NBA career. While playing for the Chicago Bulls, he won six championships.

When did Michael Jordan first retire from the NBA?

Michael Jordan first retired from the NBA on October 6^th, 1993 at age 30. Before his retirement, Jordan won three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Jordan stunned the basketball world when he signed a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox in February 1994. After a brief stint in minor league baseball, Jordan made a comeback to the NBA on March 18, 1995, with a two-word press release: "I'm back”. He returned to the Chicago Bulls, and he led them to three more championships.

When did Michael Jordan retire for the second time?

On January 13, 1999, Jordan retired for a second time at the age of 36. This time, Jordan said he was 99.9% certain he was retired for good, and would never play in the NBA again. However, the 0.01% won, and Jordan returned to the NBA on September 25, 2001, as a player and part-owner of the Washington Wizards. He played two seasons with the Wizards.

When did Michael Jordan retire for the third time?

On April 16, 2003, Michael Jordan retired for the third and final time at age 40 after an illustrious NBA career. Jordan became the oldest player to reach the 50-point threshold in a game and averaged over 20 points per game.

Does anyone come close to Jordan’s legacy?

After playing 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan had one of the longest careers in the NBA. He also had one of the biggest endorsem*nt earnings totaling $1.7 billion from big brands like Coca-Cola, Nike, McDonald’s, and Gatorade. While Jordan had a spectacular career in the NBA, there are other NBA players with better longevity than Jordan.

Some of the players who have had the longest careers in the NBA include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, etc. Magic Johnson, one of the NBA greats, had an abrupt retirement in 1991 after he contracted the then-unknown HIV. However, he made a comeback in 1992 and went on to have an illustrious career in the NBA.

Two decades after he retired, Michael Jordan is still the greatest of all time, and he set the standards for players coming after him. He averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals across the 15 seasons. He also claimed six championship wins, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and five MVP awards.

Is Michael Jordan a billionaire?

Michael Jordan is worth $2 billion as of June 1, 2023, according to Forbes. His current net worth makes him the richest NBA player. During his career, Jordan earned $93.2 million when playing for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. When adjusted for inflation, his salary would be worth $161 million today.

Apart from his NBA salary, Jordan earned more than $1.8 billion in pre-tax earnings from brand endorsem*nts like Nike, McDonalds, Hanes, and Gatorade. His net worth also comes from his business ventures that include being a special advisor to the board and an investor in sports-betting firm DraftKings, NASCAR team co-owner, and owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

Who is the oldest player in the NBA?

Udonis Haslem, age 42 (turning 43 in June 2023) is the oldest active NBA player. He was born on September 6, 1980, and has been with the Miami Heat since 2003 when he signed as an undrafted free agent. This makes Haslem the longest-tenured player in Miami Heat’s history. Over the last two decades, he has won multiple awards, including three NBA championships and NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

However, Haslem is not the oldest NBA player of all time. Nat Hickey is the oldest NBA player ever at 45 years, which he set in 1948. Nat originally coached the Providence Steamrollers in the 1947-48 season but moved himself to the active roster after the team got off to a 4-25 start. He played only two games before his 46^th birthday, scoring two points and committing five fouls.