SPORTS LEGENDS
26 Years Ago Today: MJ over NYC
Five games into his comeback produced a masterpiece
The Setup
Michael Jordan’s famous two-word fax, released to the world on March 18, 1995, was simple in its audacious declaration that the seminal basketball giant was ending his 17-month retirement to return to playing in the NBA.
However, the “I’m Back” fax was a bit misleading in the fact that MJ’s timing was off in the first few games and his shooting was nightmarish.
In other words, he was on the court, but he wasn’t actually “back.”
That is until he showed up in New York City.
The Perfect Setting For a Grand Performance
26 years ago today, Jordan immortalized the term “double nickel” with a signature 55 point explosion in Madison Square Garden in a tilt with the Knicks. MJ’s breathtaking brilliance earned his Bulls a 113–111 victory.
Under the bright lights of the Big Apple and in front of a boisterous sellout crowd and a national television audience, Jordan took the court in his trademark red Bulls road warmup suit and 10th edition Air Jordan shoes with the eyes of the sports world upon him.
