Man, I’ve always been a huge Michael Jordan fan. So, I decided to do a deep dive into that whole “number 45” thing he had going on for a bit. It’s a pretty cool story, if you ask me.
First, I started by just hitting up the usual spots online, you know, just to get a feel for what people were saying about it. It seems like everyone knows he wore 45 when he came back to basketball after his first retirement, but I wanted to dig a bit deeper.
- I started with some basic searches, just to get the general timeline down.
- Then, I looked up old game footage. It was kinda wild seeing him in 45, so used to seeing 23.
- I also read through a bunch of old articles and interviews from back in the day.
The story goes that when he came back to the Bulls in ’95, his iconic number 23 had been retired in his honor. So, out of respect, he chose to wear 45. Turns out, 45 was his number when he played baseball, and it was also the number his older brother Larry wore in high school. Jordan had always worn 23 because it was like, half of 45, rounded up. He looked up to his brother a lot, it seems.
It wasn’t just a random decision, you see? There was some real sentimental value behind it. He wanted to pay homage to his brother and kinda start fresh, I guess. It felt like a new chapter for him. But also he felt he failed at baseball, so he wanted to start fresh and see 45 as a new, more positive symbol.
So, I spent a good chunk of time watching games from that ’95 season, trying to see if his playing style was any different with the new number. Honestly, it’s hard to say. He was still Jordan, still dominating. But, it’s like, there was this different vibe. He’s been quoted saying he did not feel like himself in the 23 jersey anymore.
Then, in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic, Nick Anderson famously said that “45 isn’t 23” after he stole the ball from Jordan. It clearly had an effect on him because he switched back to 23 for the next game, even though it meant getting fined by the league. He would wear 23 for the rest of his career and win 3 more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
After that, I focused on finding some good photos of him in the 45 jersey. I even managed to snag a few for my own collection. I may or may not have spent more than I should have, but hey, it’s a part of basketball history.
My Personal Take
The whole “number 45” period is just fascinating to me. It’s a reminder that even legends like Jordan go through changes and have these personal stories that shape their careers. It wasn’t just about the number, but what it represented to him at that moment in his life. A fresh start with a nod to his past. How could you not love that? I think it’s a pretty neat chapter in the Jordan saga, and I’m glad I took the time to really explore it.
