On the morning of September 11, 2001, Michael Jordan’s impending comeback to the NBA dominated the American sports news cycle, with the Washington Wizards selling roughly $750,000 in season tickets in less than 24 hours before terrorist attacks shifted the nation’s focus, according to reports from Basket USA.
The Build-Up to Jordan’s Return
Entering September 2001, anticipation reached a fever pitch across the basketball world. Michael Jordan, who had retired three years earlier, stood on the brink of returning to the hardwood as a player for the Washington Wizards. The night before the attacks, Jordan told reporters that his comeback chances had risen to an “8” on a scale of 10, adding that he expected to make a final decision shortly.
Major sports outlets, including ESPN, treated the potential unretirement as the definitive sports story of the period. Fans and ticket buyers rushed to secure seats. Between Monday night, September 10, and the closure of the franchise’s offices the following morning, the Washington Wizards sold approximately $750,000 in season tickets. Media organizations prepared extensive coverage, with networks planning dedicated television programs to chronicle the comeback of the six-time NBA champion.
How the 9/11 Attacks Altered the Sports Landscape
The unfolding news cycle changed permanently at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Time on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Subsequent impacts hit the South Tower, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths and triggering a national crisis.
In an instant, the sports world halted. The NBA shut down its New York offices, the Washington Wizards closed their administrative headquarters, and the anticipation surrounding Jordan’s return evaporated from public discourse. In the immediate aftermath, sports across the United States paused as the country entered a period of profound mourning.
A Subdued Announcement and Relief Efforts
The tragedy fundamentally shifted how Jordan managed his return to the league. Plans for a grand, celebratory press conference—an event typically associated with major milestones in Jordan’s career—were entirely abandoned. Jordan chose to avoid a media spectacle that would compete with national grief.
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On September 25, 2001, Jordan officially confirmed his return through a formal written statement rather than a live press conference, committing to a two-year contract with the Washington Wizards. Out of respect for the victims of the September 11 attacks and their families, he declined to conduct interviews prior to the start of training camp. Furthermore, Jordan pledged his entire 2001-02 NBA player salary directly to 9/11 relief efforts.
What Comes Next for Basketball History
While Jordan’s second career on the court began under a heavy cloud of national sorrow, his comeback remains one of the most heavily documented eras in modern sports history. Detailed retrospectives, such as Basket USA’s audio series chronicling the historic return, continue to examine how the convergence of a legendary athlete’s comeback and a national tragedy redefined the narrative of the 2001–02 NBA season.
