What are the best memories of Jordan's two years playing with the Wizards?

[jrong]

From what I read, it seems a lot of people underappreciate the final chapter of his career. The only reason the 01-02 Wizards team didn't make the playoffs was because he got hurt (they were 26 - 21 at the time, and he was averaging 25/5/5). So I decided to create this thread in appreciation of those two years. Anway, here are just a few of mine:

1. Hitting a gamewinning shot against Craig Ehlo, just for old-times sake

2. Hitting a gamewinning shot against the Cavs, just for old-times sake

3. Scoring 51 pts. at age 39, (including a vintage baseline jam)

4. Hitting what should have been the gamewinning shot in the 03 ASG (but the refs awarded Kobe a foul at the other end)

(The game was in Atlanta, but the crowd was going crazy like the Hawks just won a title. At that moment I realized that Jordan didn't belong to the Washington or Chicago, but to America.)

5. Scoring 43 pts. at age 40 in Madison Square Garden

(Shandon Anderson decided he could talk smack to Mike at age 40. That was a mistake. MJ lit him up and shut him up, while he himself started trash-talking Shandon like no tomorrow every time he scored on him. Spike Lee just put his hands in his face and shook his head, and the crowd loved every minute of it. Jordan got a standing ovation at the end of the game. It was the last great moment of his career.)

[DCL]

scoring 51 as an old ass fart.

[stephanieg]

He lit up Reggie Miller and the Pacers and posterized Jermaine O'Neal.

[DuMa]

that block on ron mercer

[Jack]

I'd like to get back in 90's..

[jrong]

Originally Posted by DuMa

that block on ron mercer

Do you mean the two handed-block where he didn't swat it, but just snatched it? I totally forgot about that one!

[JJ81]

Obviously this

[OneMoreSucka]

Originally Posted by jrong

Do you mean the two handed-block where he didn't swat it, but just snatched it? I totally forgot about that one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJriDpfgQNs

[bdreason]

Originally Posted by OneMoreSucka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJriDpfgQNs

MJ obviously stole that move from Kobe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T2Vftd9he8



I remember the 51 point game.

[craigthomasb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4dua...eature=related

schooling the younger kids

knowing you stil got it when your old as ****

pricesless

[Kblaze8855]

A game vs the Nets on NBC. Preseason I think. He went off in the 3rd. He made a crazy ass fadeaway falling into the Wizards bench. Dunked on I wanna say Aaron Williams. Then made back to back 3s....crowd went crazy..he left the game.

[jrong]

Originally Posted by Kblaze8855

A game vs the Nets on NBC. Preseason I think. He went off in the 3rd. He made a crazy ass fadeaway falling into the Wizards bench. Dunked on I wanna say Aaron Williams. Then made back to back 3s....crowd went crazy..he left the game.

I think I remember that now too.

This is good. Keep it going.

[Ron Mexico]

missing that dunk in the philly ASG

getting his knee drained

calling kwame a "flaming f-----"

[Meticode]

Missing the wide open dunk in the all-star game. I actually laughed.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Originally Posted by jrong

From what I read, it seems a lot of people underappreciate the final chapter of his career. The only reason the 01-02 Wizards team didn't make the playoffs was because he got hurt (they were 26 - 21 at the time, and he was averaging 25/5/5).

He was actually averaging 25/6/5 (25.1/6.2/5.2 to be precise iirc), and was one of only two players doing so at that point along with TMac.

Some of my favorite moments/games include:

- the ridiculous 43 point game vs. Marion and Phoenix, where he hit some tremendous shots.

- the repeated abuse of RJeff, Kidd, Martin, and Kittles and a few 40+ point games (45, 43, and another 43 point effort in the preseason), one of which included 22 straight points by MJ.

- a couple of games vs. NY, including the one where he had like 39 (including 18-20 in the second quarter after Shandon Anderson started yapping at him) and another one where he DESTROYED Latrell Sprewell and hit the game winner.

- abusing KG on like 4 straight possessions in a game vs. Minny where he scored 38.

- locking up Vince Carter after he switched onto him for the final 3 quarters after VC got off to a hot start with 16 points in the first quarter. I think VC had like 5-7 points on poor shooting the rest of the way. Even the commentators remarked about what a fantastic job MJ was doing on him.

- when he shut down TMac for the first half of a game vs. Orlando. Tracy couldn't locate a shot, and could barely get the ball across halfcourt.

- when he tricked Vince Carter on an inbounds play by turning his back to the ball, then turning around and catching it right as VC was trying to throw it off MJ's back to step inbounds and grab it again. Total ownage; they were both laughing afterwards, because MJ had played a Jedi mind trick on him.

More later.