A few weeks before officially returning to the NBA, Jordan had already turned an ordinarily forgettable preseason into an event. At 38 and after more than three seasons away from the league, every game measured how much remained of the Chicago player. The early answer was enough to lower the volume of the doubts considerably.
The original column collected opinions from coaches including Pat Riley, Phil Jackson and Doug Collins. The common point was less spectacular than the headlines: Jordan did not need to be the same athlete as in 1998 to keep influencing a game. His reading of the game, technique and ability to attract defenses were still there.
There was also the other half of the story. Washington was a young, limited team, and Collins insisted that the comeback could not be reduced to waiting for a 38-year-old player to solve everything. A reasonable observation. It was not always obeyed.
Expectation extended beyond the court: the regular-season debut against the Knicks turned Madison Square Garden into one of the most sought-after sporting events of those days.