Editing Michael Jordan (section)

==== Return to the NBA (1995) ====
The Bulls went 55–27 in [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94]] without Jordan in the lineup<ref name="dbbulls" /> and lost to the [[1993–94 New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] in the second round of [[1994 NBA playoffs|the playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1993–94 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1994.html |website=Basketball Reference |access-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914044747/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1994.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 1995, Jordan decided to quit baseball because he feared he might become a [[replacement player]] during the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|Major League Baseball strike]].<ref>Lazenby, pp. 511–512.</ref> During the [[1994–95 Chicago Bulls season|1994–95 season]], Jordan returned to the Bulls midway through the season. On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced his comeback to the NBA in a two-word press release: "I'm back."<ref>Collier, Jamal (May 10, 2020). [http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-chicago-bulls-jordan-im-back-last-dance-20200509-xzmp2t63xnfkbcpnawec2tc7cq-story.html "'I'm back.' Everything you need to know about Michael Jordan's 1995 return to the Chicago Bulls—and the famous 2-word fax that preceded it"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323210539/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-chicago-bulls-jordan-im-back-last-dance-20200509-xzmp2t63xnfkbcpnawec2tc7cq-story.html |date=March 23, 2021 }}. ''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> The next day, Jordan took to the court with the Bulls to face the [[1994–95 Indiana Pacers season|Indiana Pacers]] in [[Indianapolis]], scoring 19 points.<ref name="returns">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51 |title=Michael Jordan returns to Bulls in overtime loss to Indiana Pacers – Chicago Bulls |date=April 3, 1995 |magazine=Jet |pages=51–53 |volume=87 |issue=21 |issn=0021-5996 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |access-date=April 7, 2022 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The game had the highest [[Nielsen rating]] of any regular season NBA game since 1975.<ref>Hausman, Jerry A.; Leonard, Gregory K. (1997). "Superstars in the National Basketball Association: Economic Value and Policy". ''[[Journal of Labor Economics]]''. '''15''' (4): 586–624 [587]. {{doi|10.1086/209839}}.</ref> Although he could have worn his original number even though the Bulls retired it, Jordan wore No. 45, his baseball number.<ref name="returns" />

Despite his 18-month hiatus from the NBA, Jordan played well, making a game-winning jump shot against [[1994–95 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta]] in his fourth game back. He scored 55 points in his next game, against the [[1994–95 New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] on March 28, 1995.<ref name="nba.combio" /> Boosted by Jordan's comeback, the Bulls went 13–4 to make [[1995 NBA playoffs|the playoffs]] and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the [[1994–95 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1994–95 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1995_games.html |website=Basketball Reference |access-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512012643/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1995_games.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the end of Game 1, Orlando's [[Nick Anderson (basketball)|Nick Anderson]] stripped Jordan from behind, leading to the game-winning basket for the Magic; he later commented that Jordan "didn't look like the old Michael Jordan",<ref>Lawrence, Mitch (September 10, 2001). [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1250345 "Memories of MJ's first two acts"]. [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1250345] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201144922/https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1250345|date=December 1, 2024}}. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> and said, "No. 45 doesn't explode like No. 23 used to".<ref name="No23" />

Jordan responded by scoring 38 points in the next game, which Chicago won. Before the game, Jordan decided that he would immediately resume wearing his former No. 23. The Bulls were fined $25,000 for failing to report the impromptu number change to the NBA.<ref name="No23">{{cite web |last=Walks |first=Matt |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Flashback: 20 years ago today, Anderson forces MJ back to No. 23 |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nba/post/_/id/2648/flashback-20-years-ago-today-anderson-forces-mj-back-to-no-23 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509143537/http://espn.go.com/blog/nba/post/_/id/2648/flashback-20-years-ago-today-anderson-forces-mj-back-to-no-23 |url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan was fined an additional $5,000 for opting to wear white sneakers when the rest of the Bulls wore black.<ref>Heisler, Mark (May 12, 1995). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-12-sp-65390-story.html "NBA Fines Jordan for Shoes, Bulls for No. 23"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005004348/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-05-12/sports/sp-65390_1_nba-fined-michael-jordan |date=October 5, 2018 }}. ''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> He averaged 31 ppg in the playoffs, but Orlando won the series in six games.<ref name="1994-95">{{cite web |title=1994–95 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1995.html |website=Basketball Reference |access-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603044939/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1995.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>