Editing Michael Jordan (section)

==== Second retirement (1999–2001) ====
[[File:Michael Jordan Achievements.jpg|thumb|Plaque at the United Center that chronicles Jordan's career achievements]]
With [[Phil Jackson]]'s contract expiring, the pending departures of [[Scottie Pippen]] and [[Dennis Rodman]] looming, and being in the latter stages of an owner-induced [[1998–99 NBA lockout|lockout]] of NBA players, Jordan retired for the second time on January 13, 1999.<ref>Kruger, pp. 55–56, 59.</ref><ref>Wise, Mike (January 19, 2002). [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/19/sports/pro-basketball-it-s-bitter-in-chicago-for-jordan.html "Pro Basketball; It's Bitter In Chicago For Jordan"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703031118/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/19/sports/pro-basketball-it-s-bitter-in-chicago-for-jordan.html |date=July 3, 2017 }}. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref>Wise, Mike (January 21, 1999). [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/21/sports/pro-basketball-the-business-of-basketball-now-begins-in-earnest.html "Pro Basketball; The Business Of Basketball Now Begins In Earnest"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310211407/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/21/sports/pro-basketball-the-business-of-basketball-now-begins-in-earnest.html |date=March 10, 2014 }}. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> On January 19, 2000, Jordan returned to the NBA not as a player but as part owner and president of basketball operations for the [[Washington Wizards]].<ref>Sandomir, Richard (January 20, 2000). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E4D9153DF933A15752C0A9669C8B63 "Jordan Sheds Uniform for Suit as a Wizards Owner"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109171009/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/20/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-sheds-uniform-for-suit-as-a-wizards-owner.html |date=November 9, 2012 }}. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan's responsibilities with the Wizards were comprehensive, as he controlled all aspects of the Wizards' basketball operations, and had the final say in all personnel matters; opinions of Jordan as a basketball executive were mixed.<ref name="Pollin">[https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1550445 "Pollin's decision to cut ties leaves Jordan livid"]. [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1550445]. ESPN. May 9, 2003. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref name="Brady">Brady, Erik (May 7, 2003). [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/wizards/2003-05-07-jordan-out_x.htm "Wizards show Jordan the door"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218093128/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/wizards/2003-05-07-jordan-out_x.htm |date=February 18, 2013 }}. ''USA Today''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> He managed to purge the team of several highly paid, unpopular players (like forward [[Juwan Howard]] and point guard [[Rod Strickland]])<ref>Associated Press (February 22, 2001). [https://web.archive.org/web/20010618015443/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/02/22/mavs_wizards_trade/ "Making his move"]. CNN/''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Matthews, Marcus (March 1, 2001). [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/wizards/2001-03-01-strickland2.htm "Losing never looked so good for Wizards"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114136/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nba/wizards/2001-03-01-strickland2.htm |date=October 23, 2012 }}. ''USA Today''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> but used the first pick in the [[2001 NBA draft]] to select high school student [[Kwame Brown]], who did not live up to expectations and was traded away after four seasons.<ref name="Pollin" /><ref name="Wilbon">[[Wilbon, Michael]] (July 16, 2005). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/15/AR2005071501705.html "So Long, Kwame, Thanks for Nothing"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107081925/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/15/AR2005071501705.html |date=November 7, 2012 }}. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref>

Despite his January 1999 claim that he was "99.9% certain" he would never play another NBA game,<ref name="classicbio" /> Jordan expressed interest in making another comeback in the summer of 2001, this time with his new team.<ref name="ha-nytimes">Araton, Harvey (October 2, 2001). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E5DD133DF931A35753C1A9679C8B63 "Sports of The Times; Old Coach Rejoins Old Warrior"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110041028/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/02/sports/sports-of-the-times-old-coach-rejoins-old-warrior.html |date=November 10, 2012 }}. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref><ref name="jwhite-cbc">White, Joseph (September 23, 2001). [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/jordan-comeback-raises-questions-1.255007 "Jordan comeback raises questions"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128115307/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/09/23/jordan010923.html |date=January 28, 2013 }}. [[CBC.ca]]. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Inspired by the [[NHL]] comeback of his friend [[Mario Lemieux]] the previous winter,<ref>Associated Press (October 2, 2001). [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1258469&type=news "Jordan watched Lemieux's comeback very closely"]. [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1258469&type=news]. ESPN. Retrieved October 30, 2023.</ref> Jordan spent much of the spring and summer of 2001 in training, holding several invitation-only camps for NBA players in Chicago.<ref name="comebackcamp">[https://web.archive.org/web/20011109140349/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/jordan/news/2001/08/25/jordan_report/ "Penny outshines MJ at 'Comeback Camp'"]. CNN/''Sports Illustrated''. August 25, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.</ref> Jordan hired his old Chicago Bulls head coach, [[Doug Collins (basketball)|Doug Collins]], as Washington's coach for the upcoming season, a decision that many saw as foreshadowing another Jordan return.<ref name="ha-nytimes" /><ref name="jwhite-cbc" />