Michael Jordan’s Retirement and Pursuit of Baseball: The Last Dance Documentary Explained

The tragic murder of Michael Jordan’s father, James Jordan, in 1993 had a profound impact on the NBA legend’s career. According to the documentary The Last Dance, the final conversation between father and son ultimately led to Michael Jordan’s decision to retire from basketball and pursue baseball.

James Jordan was not only a big supporter of Michael’s NBA dreams but also a baseball fan who introduced his son to the sport. After James Sr.’s murder, Michael was devastated, and the memories of their conversations about baseball weighed heavily on him. This led Jordan to question his commitment to basketball and eventually announce his retirement in October 1993.

Honoring his father’s dream, Michael joined the minor league baseball team, Birmingham Barons, but he didn’t find the same success on the baseball field as he did on the basketball court. It became clear that basketball was his true passion, and in 1995, Jordan famously declared, “I’m back,” marking the beginning of his second three-peat championship run with the Chicago Bulls.

The murder of James Jordan was a tragic event that not only affected Michael personally but also had a significant impact on his career. The perpetrators, Larry Demery and Daniel Green, were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite the heartbreaking loss of his father, Michael Jordan’s legacy in basketball remains unmatched, solidifying his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time.