The NBA has seen many great players flaunt their talents in the league. But even among them, Michael Jordan is considered the GOAT of basketball. Jordan’s career in the NBA was full of ups and downs.
Despite that, MJ achieved a lot of great things in his career, including six NBA Championships. Speaking of Jordan’s first 3-peat in the 1990s, he retired from the NBA for the first time in his career. At the time, many thought it was a secret suspension by David Stern. But in an ESPN documentary, Stern laughed at that allegation.
“People were coming in and saying that this is clearly he was being driven from the league for other reasons,” Stern said. “Whether it was his gambling or something else. I laughed at the time.”
(Starts at 31:02)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enYXSzTyeM8
At the time, Michael Jordan’s name was in the headlines for his gambling “addiction.” Sure, MJ used to gamble, but even his agent explained that the Chicago Bulls superstar never had an addiction.
Instead, the agent unveiled, if anything, MJ had a problem with being too competitive. There are many stories about Jordan getting competitive for the smallest of things. Keeping that in mind, it’s no surprise that he flaunted his competitive side during gambling as well.
The Real Reason Why Michael Jordan Retired From The NBA For The First Time
By winning three consecutive NBA Championships in the 1990s, Jordan had already established himself as a legend of the sport. Many were shocked after learning of Mike’s retirement announcement. After all, who would like to see the biggest superstar in basketball retire in the prime of his career?
Well, the real reason behind MJ’s retirement wasn’t something related to gambling. Instead, Mike’s father passed away around that time, and the Bulls legend just wanted a break from everything.
“I didn’t retire because someone kicked me out or they suspended me for a year and a half,” Michael Jordan said. “That is not true… I needed a break, my father just passed. And I retired with the notion that I wasn’t going to come back.”
Michael Jordan is undoubtedly one of the biggest superstars to ever play in the NBA. But beneath all the stardom, he is a human being as well. So keeping that in mind, losing his father impacted him dearly.
But a year and a half later, Jordan’s competitive spirit helped him return to play the game of basketball. Following his return to the league, Jordan helped the Bulls complete another 3-peat.
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