Michael Jordan

Seasons

Michael Jordan played 15 NBA seasons: 13 with Chicago and two with Washington. His first retirement and baseball season are part of the chronology, but not an NBA season.

The correct count

15NBA seasons played

13With the Bulls

2With the Wizards

The old version spoke of 14 seasons and even counted 1993-94, when Jordan did not play in the NBA. This version corrects the arithmetic rather than preserving it for sentimental reasons.

Chicago · 1984-1993

1984-85Rookie season

1985-86Injury interrupted his second season, but the 63-point playoff game in Boston became one of the defining performances of his early career.

1986-8737.1 points per game and a dunk-contest title

1987-88MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and scoring champion

1988-89Personal highs: rebounds and assists

1989-90Career-high 69 points in Cleveland

1990-91First NBA championship.

1991-92Second championship and Finals MVP

1992-93First three-peat completed · 41.0 points per game in the Finals

1993-94 · First retirement

1993-94First retirement and baseball. Jordan left the NBA after the first three-peat and spent 1994 in the Chicago White Sox organization, playing for the Birmingham Barons at Double-A.

Chicago · 1994-1998

1994-95“I'm back.” He returned wearing 45, scored 55 points at Madison Square Garden and reached the playoffs after only 17 regular-season games.

1995-9672-10 and the return to the title

1996-9769 wins and fifth championship

1997-98MVP and sixth championship

Washington · 2001-2003

2001-02He played 60 games and posted one of the strongest all-around statistical seasons of his career.

2002-03He played all 82 games, averaged 20.0 points and closed his NBA career with a final retirement after the season.

How to read this archive

The timeline keeps Chicago and Washington together, with the first retirement and baseball interlude in their proper place. Fifteen NBA seasons: adding one out of enthusiasm does not improve the average.

NBA profile and official statistics