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CNN Live At Daybreak
Michael Jordan's Last Game in an NBA Uniform
Aired April 17, 2003 - 05:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: By career standards, it was not a remarkable performance, but Michael Jordan's last game in an NBA uniform will not be forgotten by those who watched or played.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From North Carolina, help guard, 66, Michael Jordan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Philadelphia 76ers brought in long time Chicago Bulls public address announcer Ray Clay (ph) to introduce the former Bull. Jordan went on to score 15 points, grab four rebounds and dish four assists in 28 minutes for the Washington Wizards.
But as CNN's Josie Karp reports, Jordan's final two points were a long time in coming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Philadelphia fans actually booed Michael Jordan in his final game, but it's not what you think. With time dwindling in the fourth quarter and Jordan still on the bench in full warm-ups, the crowd alternated chants of "We want Mike!" with boos every time he failed to stand up, until Jordan finally relented and went back on the court one last time.
MICHAEL JORDAN: Obviously, you know, they wanted to see me make a couple of baskets then come off. And that was very, very respectful, you know? And I had a good time.
DOUG COLLINS, WIZARDS HEAD COACH: Thank god he went back in, you know. I mean even for the moment, that's -- I wanted him to, I wanted the fans to be able to cheer him, you know, out there one more time.
JORDAN: Now I guess it hits me that, you know, I'm not going to be in a uniform anymore. So -- and that's not a terrible feeling, you know? I'm not, I don't, it's not terrible. It's something that I've come to grips with and it's time. You know, it's time.
ALLEN IVERSON: The whole night is just something that I'll never forget. It's something that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. And the most important thing of it all, you know, looking at the whole thing, is that, you know, I beat him.
JORDAN: It's a chilling event and it felt that way. And I felt proud about what I had done over the years playing the game. But in terms of, you know, me, I'm happy with it. I think I can move on without a problem.
KARP: Unlike his previous two retirements, Jordan said this one's for real for one main reason. He said that while he still feels like mentally he can play, at 40 he said physically he's already given everything he has to the game.
Josie Karp, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And hopefully he will stay in Washington with the Wizards in the management office.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 17, 2003 - 05:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: By career standards, it was not a remarkable performance, but Michael Jordan's last game in an NBA uniform will not be forgotten by those who watched or played.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From North Carolina, help guard, 66, Michael Jordan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Philadelphia 76ers brought in long time Chicago Bulls public address announcer Ray Clay (ph) to introduce the former Bull. Jordan went on to score 15 points, grab four rebounds and dish four assists in 28 minutes for the Washington Wizards.
But as CNN's Josie Karp reports, Jordan's final two points were a long time in coming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSIE KARP, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Philadelphia fans actually booed Michael Jordan in his final game, but it's not what you think. With time dwindling in the fourth quarter and Jordan still on the bench in full warm-ups, the crowd alternated chants of "We want Mike!" with boos every time he failed to stand up, until Jordan finally relented and went back on the court one last time.
MICHAEL JORDAN: Obviously, you know, they wanted to see me make a couple of baskets then come off. And that was very, very respectful, you know? And I had a good time.
DOUG COLLINS, WIZARDS HEAD COACH: Thank god he went back in, you know. I mean even for the moment, that's -- I wanted him to, I wanted the fans to be able to cheer him, you know, out there one more time.
JORDAN: Now I guess it hits me that, you know, I'm not going to be in a uniform anymore. So -- and that's not a terrible feeling, you know? I'm not, I don't, it's not terrible. It's something that I've come to grips with and it's time. You know, it's time.
ALLEN IVERSON: The whole night is just something that I'll never forget. It's something that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. And the most important thing of it all, you know, looking at the whole thing, is that, you know, I beat him.
JORDAN: It's a chilling event and it felt that way. And I felt proud about what I had done over the years playing the game. But in terms of, you know, me, I'm happy with it. I think I can move on without a problem.
KARP: Unlike his previous two retirements, Jordan said this one's for real for one main reason. He said that while he still feels like mentally he can play, at 40 he said physically he's already given everything he has to the game.
Josie Karp, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And hopefully he will stay in Washington with the Wizards in the management office.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
