Michael Jordan heads into his final retirement amid fans' cheers

Jet, May 5, 2003

Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players in history, took his final bow in a uniform, saying that this third retirement--this one as a Washington Wizard--is definitely his last.

"Now I guess it hits me that I'm not going to be in a uniform anymore--and that's not a terrible feeling," the 40-year-old living legend said. "It's something that I've come to grips with, and it's time. This is the final retirement."

Jordan played his last regular season game against the 76ers in Philadelphia. His final moment on the court ended with Jordan receiving applause and a lengthy standing ovation from nearly everyone, including the coaches and opposing team members. He soaked it up with a wide smile and a wave to the crowd.

Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls before he retired and came back in 2001 for a two-year encore with the Wizards. He finished his eve of retirement on a good note. He was in double digits, scoring 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, though his team lost to the 76ers 107-87.

Jordan, who was honored during opening ceremonies at his last home game at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., two nights before, finished his career with 32,292 points-the third highest total in league history. His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best in NBA history, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07.

"I never, never took the game for granted. I was very true to the game, and the game was very true to me. It was just that simple," Jordan said.