Michael Jordan’s final game in the NBA full of fanfare and excitement | ESPN Archives

The first one came in October of 1984 against Washington. 1,250 games, regular and postseason later, the finale for Michael Jordan for Washington in Philadelphia. As you would expect, everybody who could get their hands on a media credential, a ticket, or claim that they knew somebody, were there to see it, hear it, and enjoy it. It's been fun. I'm ready to go. Don't need the hoopla that comes along with it. And obviously, with me coming in the arena, you can see all that it creates. A celebrity row, the likes of a Laker game. Bill Cosby on hand. Warren Sapp and Ron Harper. Spike Lee wearing some jersey from somewhere. Before the game, MJ presented with a personalized golf cart by Dr. J and Moses Malone. How sweet is that? Special moment pregame and the familiar announcement. North Carolina 6-4. Yes, they brought back the old PA voice at the old Chicago Stadium, Ray Clay, for the announcement. Then they played ball in the first quarter. Michael ready, and you hoped there would be a 45-point night. The jumper early ties the game at 11, but Michael Jordan would struggle. It's kind of the way the season was. Every time you went to a Wizards game, you'd hoped it would be a big MJ night, but it was just a lot of jump shots, some short, some long, struggling. First quarter, four points, two of eight field goals. Everything looked the same except the finishes. Those all used to go in. They did not. Meantime, the Sixers were playing for their playoff hopes at home. Still the focus on Jordan. Nice feed to Kwame Brown. One more look at one of Michael's last assists in his brilliant career to the enigmatic Kwame Brown. Michael didn't like Tommy Nunez' call. Hit to the cub. Michael, I didn't see your hands on it, Michael. But I believe you. But I believe you. Tommy's on his way out. He's retiring as well. Last Michael Jordan dunk ever. Right there at the end of the half. He had nine at the break on four of 11. Shooting. Pulled onto that one. You'll never see another one again. Still down big at the half, and here's Dan. Third quarter, Michael came out. Hot with a couple of jumpers that fade away. The Wizards are down 18. Michael, the jumper over Eric Snow. He was 6 of 15 from the floor. The Wizards are down 13. Late in the third, M.J. would take a seat, and the Sixers took advantage. Sixers off and running. Iverson behind the back to Aaron McKee. Sixers up by 23. Under a minute in the third, it's Iverson. The deflection misses the lay-in, but Keith Van Horn. Sixers by 25 after three, and Mike can only watch. It's been a familiar watch for him with this team struggling, but the fans want one more glimpse. We want Iverson! Jordan would oblige. He needed two more points to average 20 points for the season at age 40. And Michael Jordan, his scoring career ends with a pair of free throws. He leads to a standing ovation. A standing ovation not only from the fans, his teammates, but also from the opposition as A.I. applauds. And Jay says goodbye. He's done. Final line for Michael, 15 points, six of 15 from the floor. He played 28 minutes in his first NBA game against Washington. 16 points, five of 16 from the field. Here's Michael Jordan unplugged. Now I guess it hits me that I'm not gonna be in a uniform anymore, so. And that's not a terrible feeling. I'm not, it's not terrible. It's something that I've come to grips with and it's time, you know, it's time. And I've seen a lot of people say my first time, my second time. This is the final retirement that you don't have to worry about, you know, me putting on another uniform. But, and I feel it, and I feel it, you know. And I welcome the time away from the game. When you gotta give up something that you love, I mean, I've experienced an emotional situation. You know, and I dealt with it. You know, I came to grips with it, you know, before tonight, you know. And tonight just brings back, you know, what impact you've had on people, not just in Chicago, not just in Washington, D.C., but everywhere that you've played. And to hear them yell and hear them say their respects that way, I mean, it's a chilling event. And it felt that way. I felt proud about what I've done over the years, playing the game. But in terms of, you know, me, I'm happy with that. I think I can move on without a problem. I never, never took the game for granted. You know, I was very true to the game, you know. And the game was very true to me. It was just that simple. I mean, the NBA is fun. I mean, you got a lot of young players who are starting to come into their own and learning more about their game and understanding the sacrifices of becoming team players, you know, and learning how to do that with an instruction system from KG to Iverson to Trace McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Duncan, all these guys that I named have learned how to involve their teammates, you know. And you still got some young players on the horizon who's going to continue to do that, you know. Vince, you know, those players are starting to understand that you don't do it by yourself anymore. You have to, you have to involve other players. And that's the system that I want in Washington, D.C. I want to be happy. I've given everything I could to the game of basketball physically. I can still contribute mentally, but I've given everything physically that I could to the game. So the final numbers of Michael Jordan. NBA's all-time leading scorer as far as average goes, both in the regular season and the playoffs, 32,292 career points. That's third on the all-time list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.