Editing Washington Wizards (section)

===2001–2003: The Michael Jordan era===
[[File:Michael Jordan.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Michael Jordan]] served as president of basketball operations and was a minority owner.]]

====2001–02 season====
After retiring from the [[1998–99 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]] in early 1999, [[Michael Jordan]] became the Washington Wizards' vice president of basketball operations as well as a minority owner in January 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/wizards/daily/jan00/20/jordan20.htm|title=Jordan Joins Wizards' Front Office|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 20, 2000|access-date=December 13, 2022|last=Wyche|first=Steve|archive-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127224125/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/wizards/daily/jan00/20/jordan20.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2001, Jordan came out of retirement at age 38 to play for Washington.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/day-michael-jordan-came-out-retirement-again-play-wizards|title=On this day: Michael Jordan came out of retirement (again) to play for the Wizards|work=NBC Sports|date=September 25, 2019|access-date=December 13, 2022|archive-date=December 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213095255/https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/day-michael-jordan-came-out-retirement-again-play-wizards|url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan stated that he was returning "for the love of the game".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-michael-jordan-otd-september-25-2011-story.html|title=Sept. 25, 2001: At 38, Michael Jordan returns 'to the game I love'|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 25, 2016|access-date=December 14, 2022|last=Smith|first=Sam|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214065303/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-michael-jordan-otd-september-25-2011-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of NBA rules, he had to divest himself of any ownership of the team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-players-interested-in-negotiating-for-ownership-stakes-in-teams-in-next-cba-says-michele-roberts/|title=NBA players interested in negotiating for ownership stakes in teams in next CBA, says Michele Roberts|work=CBC Sports|date=January 22, 2021|access-date=December 14, 2022|last=Quinn|first=Sam|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214065307/https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-players-interested-in-negotiating-for-ownership-stakes-in-teams-in-next-cba-says-michele-roberts/|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the All-Star break, Jordan was one of only two players to average more than 25 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds<ref name=dupree>{{cite news|last=DuPree|first=David|title=NBA's brightest stars set to collide|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/jordan/2002-02-12-jordan-bryant.htm|access-date=July 14, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=February 12, 2002|archive-date=February 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212024331/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/jordan/2002-02-12-jordan-bryant.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> as he led the Wizards to a 26–21 record. After the All-Star break, Jordan's knee could not handle the workload of a full-season as he ended the season on the injured list,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0403/1362784.html|title=Wizards place Jordan on injured list|work=ESPN|agency=The Associated Press|date=April 3, 2002|access-date=December 14, 2022|location=Washington|archive-date=March 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326025954/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0403/1362784.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Wizards concluded the season with a {{Win-loss record|w=37|l=45}} record but could not make the Eastern Conference playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/standings?Season=2001-02|title=NBA 2001-02 Regular Season Standings|work=NBA|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214065301/https://www.nba.com/standings?Season=2001-02|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2002–03 season====
Jordan announced he would return for the [[2002–03 Washington Wizards season|2002–03 season]], and this time he was determined to be equipped with reinforcements, as he traded for All-Star [[Jerry Stackhouse]] and signed budding star [[Larry Hughes]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0911/1430627.html|title=All-Star Stackhouse traded to Wizards|work=ESPN|agency=The Associated Press|date=September 12, 2002|access-date=December 14, 2022|location=Washington|archive-date=September 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903205847/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0911/1430627.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/535c38f35ba949baf377c4dac41ca51c|title=Wizards Sign Guard Larry Hughes|agency=The Associated Press|work=The Associated Press|date=July 19, 2002|access-date=December 14, 2022|location=Washington|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214070450/https://apnews.com/article/535c38f35ba949baf377c4dac41ca51c|url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan even accepted a sixth-man role on the bench in order for his knee to survive the rigors of an 82-game season. A combination of numerous team injuries and uninspired play led to Jordan's return to the [[starting lineup]], where he tried to rebound the franchise from its early-season struggles. By the end of the season, the Wizards finished with a {{Win-loss record|w=37|l=45}} record once again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/standings?Season=2002-03|title=NBA 2002-03 Regular Season Standings|work=NBA|access-date=December 14, 2022|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214070451/https://www.nba.com/standings?Season=2002-03|url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan ended the season as the only Wizard to play in all 82 games, as he averaged 20.0 points,<ref name=20points>{{cite news|title=Jordan's top 10 countdown|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2003-04-17-jordan_x.htm|access-date=July 14, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=April 17, 2003|archive-date=January 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119074701/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2003-04-17-jordan_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> 6.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 37.0 minutes per game. Jordan retired from playing for a third and final time after the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-bows-out-for-a-third-time.html|title=PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Bows Out for a Third Time|first=Chris|last=Broussard|date=April 17, 2003|access-date=February 16, 2019|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=February 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002607/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-bows-out-for-a-third-time.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Jordan's departure====
After the season, majority owner Pollin fired Jordan as team president, much to the shock of players, associates, and the public. Jordan felt betrayed, thinking that he would get his ownership back after his playing days ended, but Pollin justified Jordan's dismissal by noting that Jordan had detrimental effects on the team, such as benching Hughes for [[Tyronn Lue]], making poor trades, and using the team's first-round draft pick on high schooler [[Kwame Brown]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1644389|title=Pollin: 'Bad situation' had to end|date=October 23, 2003|access-date=December 14, 2022|work=ESPN|agency=The Associated Press|location=Washington|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214071525/https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1644389|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-09-10-0909100001-story.html|title=Washington, D.C.|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 10, 2009|access-date=December 14, 2022|last=Morrissey|first=Rick|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214071527/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-09-10-0909100001-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Wizards replaced Jordan's managerial role with general manager [[Ernie Grunfeld]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/grunfeld_hired.html|title=Wizards Hire Ernie Grunfeld|date=June 30, 2003|access-date=December 14, 2022|last=Hernandez|first=E.|work=Washington Wizards|publisher=NBA|archive-date=December 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214071508/https://www.nba.com/wizards/news/grunfeld_hired.html|url-status=live}}</ref>