On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan dropped a bomb on the basketball world with a two-word press release: "I'm back."
After retiring from the NBA in 1993 and briefly pursuing a baseball career, Jordan decided it was time to once again dominate the league he had left behind. This Jordan looked a bit different, though, and it wasn't just about shaking off the rust.
MORE: Michael Jordan's best — and worst — baseball moments
Jordan traded in his iconic No. 23 for No. 45 when he rejoined the Bulls near the end of the 1994-95 season. The 23 jersey was as synonymous with MJ as the image of him flying toward the rim from the free throw line. Why mess with success?
Why did Michael Jordan wear No. 45?
At his retirement press conference in October 1993, Jordan told reporters he had spoken to his father, James, about leaving the NBA before he won his third championship. James was murdered in July earlier that year, only pushing Michael further away from competitive basketball.
With the painful memory of his father's death still on his mind, Jordan wanted a fresh start.
"When I came back, I didn't want to play in the last number that my father had seen me wear," Jordan wrote in his autobiography "For the Love of the Game" (via Sole Collector). "Because he wasn't around, I thought of my return as a new beginning."
What's so special about 45? Well, it actually wasn't the first time Jordan donned the number.
Prior to earning a spot on the varsity roster, Jordan wore No. 45 at Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. His older brother, Larry, already wore No. 45 as a member of the varsity team, so when Michael made it to that level, he cut 45 in half and rounded up. That's how Jordan landed on 23.
Jordan brought 45 back when he played for the Birmingham Barons in 1994, and he carried it over to the Bulls in March 1995.
Michael Jordan switches back to No. 23
Jordan logged only 17 regular season games before the 1995 playoffs, but he did offer a few glimpses of the old MJ, including his "double nickel" performance at Madison Square Garden. The Bulls dispatched the Hornets in the first round, setting the stage for a semifinal battle with a Magic team led by Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal.
At the end of Game 1, Magic guard Nick Anderson poked the ball away from an uncharacteristically careless Jordan — he finished with eight turnovers — leading to an easy dunk for former Bulls forward Horace Grant. Orlando held on for a 94-91 victory, and Anderson thoroughly enjoyed getting the better of Jordan.
"No. 45 doesn't explode like No. 23 used to," Anderson said after the game. "No. 45 is not No. 23. I couldn't have done that to No. 23."
That comment lit a fire under Jordan, who came out for Game 2 with the classic No. 23 on his jersey. The NBA fined the Bulls $25,000 for not reporting the change, but they were fine with the trade-off.
Jordan scored a game-high 38 points, pushing Chicago to a 104-94 win. So much for keeping it in the United Center rafters.
"Michael said he was hitting .202 with No. 45 on his back in baseball," Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. "And I said, 'You're shooting about the same percentage, too. It's about time you get back to 23.'"
The Magic eliminated the Bulls in six games, providing a major source of motivation for Jordan as he worked his way back into shape that summer. Chicago went 72-10 during the 1995-96 regular season, and Jordan captured his fourth MVP and championship ring.
It turns out 45 was not 23. Luckily, 23 was still available.
