Michael Jordan 1990 Chicago Bulls Game Issued Jersey

From the Collection of Karen Stack, Executive Assistant to Jerry Krause.

This 1990 Chicago Bulls jersey was issued to Michael Jordan. 

Going Deeper - Michael Jordan

His Airness

On March 18, 1995 Jordan made headlines, doing so with possibly the most iconic press release in history. Two simple words: “I’m back.”

With his number already retired and his likeness captured on a statue in front of the United Center, MJ returned to the Bulls midway through the 1994-95 in the number he had used as a Chicago White Sox minor leaguer the summer before, 45. Immediately, and unsurprisingly, he changed the fortunes of the team and after going 13-4 following his return Chicago was back in the playoffs. While they fell in six games to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic, the three-time champion made it clear that the NBA was going to once again be his for the taking.

Ahead of the 1995-96 season, Jordan and the Bulls added dynamic rebounder Dennis Rodman and formed a new big three in the wake of imposing big man Horace Grant’s departure two seasons prior. The move paid dividends as Chicago became the biggest juggernaut in basketball history. That first season the Bulls opened the year with an unreal 41-3 mark and would finish with a then-record 72 wins. The sheer dominance resulted in Michael’s fourth league MVP, championship and Finals MVP. The next year was much of the same as the Bulls won 69 games and another title, and Jordan’s claim as the greatest player in the history of the sport to that point was fairly assured. Yet, with all the success on the court, the infighting and politics off it left the Bulls on shaky ground.

‘The Last Dance’ was Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls (1997-98) and is perhaps the most beloved period in Jordan folklore, as Michael reached the apex of his popularity and powers while simultaneously conquering major internal divisions that were fracturing the team dynamics of the late 90s Chicago Bulls. The season is referred to as The Last Dance in large part due to the smash-hit ESPN documentary of the same name, which chronicled the Bulls efforts in the 1997-1998 season. The players were cognizant that the roster would ultimately be disbanded at the end of the season and knew it was their final opportunity to capture a 6th Bulls Championship of the decade. The Last Dance was Michael Jordan’s ‘magnum opus’ as an athlete – a testament to him as a competitor, a sportsman, a teammate, and ultimately, a champion.

The fairytale season culminated in a rematch of the 1997 NBA Finals with the Bulls squaring off against John Stockton, Karl Malone, and the Utah Jazz. In Game 6, with the Bulls leading the series 3-2, Jordan famously came up with a last-minute steal before sinking a game-winning jumper in the closing seconds. It was a picture-perfect ending that only ‘His Airness’ could have delivered. At the conclusion of the game, Jordan was named Finals MVP for an all-time record 6th time.