Turning Down $10 Million After Feeling ‘Disrespected’, Michael Jordan Was Taken Aback by His Firing from the Wizards

Michael Jordan‘s wonderful farewell from the NBA in 2003 was adopted by in all probability the most embarrassing second of his life. He was fired by the Washington Wizards’ majority proprietor Abe Pollin throughout a short assembly in the workforce’s enviornment. The choice was not supposed to be dramatic however vital. However, Jordan driving away in his convertible after shouting expletives at minority proprietor Ted Leonsis was nothing in need of drama, however in all probability one thing the administration ought to have seen coming.

After his ‘Last Dance’ with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan retired from skilled basketball following the Jerry Krause-led Chicago entrance workplace’s choice to take away Phil Jackson as the Head Coach of the workforce. However, he returned to the NBA simply days after the flip of the century as the Washington Wizards’ President of Basketball Operations. A yr and a half later, Jordan would make the choice to lace his boots for a 3rd time.

“You both die a hero, or stay lengthy sufficient to see your self grow to be the villain,” Harvey Dent had mentioned in The Dark Knight. Jordan selected the latter as he regarded to return to the Wizards’ entrance workplace after an underwhelming and lackluster two-season stint as a participant. His ‘demise’ as a hero was epic – from a four-minute standing ovation at United Center to Vince Carter providing him the beginning place in the 2003 All-Star sport.

But MJ trudged alongside after the curtains closed. Pollin and Leonsis had been annoyed with the franchise’s poor file underneath Jordan, alongside the infighting and resentment from the gamers. After the Bulls legend’s failed stint as the majority proprietor of the Charlotte Hornets, it is going to be simpler for posterity to simply accept the firing of Michael Jordan. But what Pollin and Leonsis did at the moment was blasphemy. They knowledgeable the biggest participant of all time that his companies had been now not required by the group.

Even Jordan was shocked by the verdict and clearly offended. “Without any prior dialogue with me, possession knowledgeable me that it had unilaterally determined to alter our mutual long-term understanding. I’m shocked by this choice, and by the callous refusal to supply me any justification for it,” MJ had mentioned, as per this ESPN report, earlier than storming away rejecting a $10 million severance compensation.

Were the homeowners justified in firing Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan stacked up one poor choice over one other throughout his stint with the Wizards. It was as if he was on a self-destructive mission to undo his life’s work in the NBA and tarnish his enduring legacy.

Jordan’s poor 110-179 file as an government was the least of his issues. Everything he touched took a nosedive into the depths of hell. The Wizards had a 37-45 file in MJ’s last yr as a participant. Everyone blamed head coach Doug Collins, who was Jordan’s former coach and was favored for the job to make the latter really feel extra at residence.

Jordan made one mistake after one other as an government, which included memorable ones like drafting Kwame Brown as the #1 decide in the 2001 NBA Draft. He would retain these defective strategies throughout his stint as the Chairman of the Charlotte Hornets as effectively. His Airness lastly hung up his NBA government boots for good earlier this yr after promoting the Hornets for a staggering $3 billion.