On this day 29 years ago: Michael Jordan's first retirement

Nearly 30 years ago, MJ shocked the world, albeit not in the way many were accustomed to.

On this day 29 years ago, Michael Jordan announced his first retirement from the NBA. This was a shocking announcement at the time, as Jordan was in the prime of his career after winning his third championship with the Chicago Bulls. Let's look back at Jordan's decision to retire and explore what led him to come back to the NBA two years later.

A sad day

The date was October 6, 1993. The place: the Bulls' practice center in Deerfield, Illinois. A somber Michael Jordan addressed the gathered media with shocking news: he was retiring from the NBA. It was a stunning announcement. Jordan was only 30 years old and in the prime of his career. He had just won his third consecutive NBA championship with the Bulls and was widely considered the greatest player in the world.

With three NBA championships and every NBA accolade imaginable, Jordan explained that he had lost his desire to play the game of basketball.

"When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of, to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away. It's not because I don't love the game. I always will. I just feel that I have reached the pinnacle of my career."

There were many rumors about why Jordan decided to retire. Some speculated that he was tired of the grind of the NBA season and wanted to spend more time with his family. Others thought Jordan was burned out from the pressure of being the greatest player in the world. Whatever the reason, Jordan's retirement came as a surprise to everyone.

Renowned broadcast journalist Jim Gray best summed it up, saying, "As a reporter and lover of basketball, it was a sad day."

Never say never

Jordan, though, left the door open for a return to the NBA.

"The word retire means you can do anything you want. So, if I desire to come back and play again, maybe that's what I want to do. Maybe that's the challenge I may need someday down the road. I'm not going to close that door. I don't believe in 'never.'"

And sure enough, two years later, Jordan made his much-anticipated return to the NBA. He announced his comeback with a simple two-word press release: "I'm back." The rest, as they say, is history.

Jordan would go on to win three more championships with the Bulls, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. But that first retirement announcement will always be remembered as a sad day in the history of the NBA.