Michael Jordan‘s number 23 jersey is the most iconic jersey in NBA history, and, arguably, the most iconic in sports history. Jordan will forever be associated with the number 23. But he briefly wore the number 45 when he played baseball, and for a short while when he returned to the NBA in 1995.
But Michael Jordan changed his jersey number back to number 23 after a few games back. When asked about it, Jordan explained that he felt comfortable with 23, far more than he did with 45. And while his initial motivation to play with 45 was tied to his father, he chose 23 as it was his number.
“It’s me. 23 is me. So I didn’t try to be something else. Even though I know my father’s never seen me play in 45, 23 is something I really feel comfortable with and that’s the reason that I went toward it.”
While that may be a reason for MJ changing back to 23, there is another, more famous reason. After a game where the Orlando Magic defeated the Chicago Bulls, Nick Anderson went to Jordan and told him that 45 wasn’t 23. And as he was known to do, Jordan took it personally.
Michael Jordan Had A Second Run With 23 On His Back
After the comments from Nick Anderson, Jordan went back to number 23 and immediately sent a message to Anderson and the Magic. MJ scored 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists to respond to Anderson and win the game for the Bulls. But things didn’t end well for MJ and the Bulls, as they were eliminated by the Magic.
Jordan had previously explained that he had chosen 45 because his father wasn’t there to see him, and he wanted a fresh start in the NBA. While the number didn’t last long, it was a nice gesture from Jordan toward the man who had helped him reach the pinnacle of basketball.
Jordan’s return to 23 marked the beginning of a new legendary run for His Airness, as he would go on to win 3 NBA championships and Finals MVPs, two MVP trophies, and 5 All-Star appearances as he cemented his legacy as arguably, the greatest of all time.
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