LeBron James Says He Cried After Michael Jordan Announced Surprise Retirement
After Michael Jordan announced his surprise retirement from the NBA in 1993, many people around the world were shocked and grief-stricken, including a young LeBron James.
"Definitely cried this day," James tweeted Sunday. "9 years of age. Just Couldn’t believe it."
Jordan temporarily retired after winning three NBA championships following his father's death in 1993. The stunning event was highlighted in episode seven of "The Last Dance," a 10-part documentary series about Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan's father, James, was burglarized and murdered after pulling over on a highway in North Carolina to take a nap. After disappearing for months, his body was found in a creek in August of 1993.
Jordan and his father were very close.
He was devastated.
“I told [Bulls coach Phil Jackson], you know, I’m about here. I was done.” Jordan said in the documentary. “I have no motivation.”
Jordan, who was 30 years old and in the prime of his career, announced his retirement on Oct. 6, 1993 in front of packed room filled with reporters. He answered questions for 40 minutes as many people around the nation watched the news conference in tears.
But Jordan left the door open for a potential return.
"I guess the biggest positive thing that I can take out of my father not being here with me today is that he saw my last basketball game," Jordan said during the news conference. "And that means a lot. The word "retire" means you can do anything you want from this day on. So if I desire to come back and play again, maybe that's what I want to do."
Jordan went on to live his childhood goal, playing professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox's AA team in 1994. He hit .202 with three home runs and 51 RBIs.
“It was always his father’s dream that he be a baseball player,” Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in the documentary. “So I didn’t try to talk him out of it.”
But in March of 1995, Jordan decided to return to the NBA, famously writing a two-word fax: "I'm back."
Jordan came back more focused and determined than ever after his time away from basketball. He used that time to recalibrate and reset away from the crushing pressure of being the best -- and when he returned, he was determined to be even better.
He went onto win another three championships, finishing with six over eight seasons before retiring for good in 2003.
