{"id":1459825,"date":"2021-12-28T08:42:17","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T13:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1459825"},"modified":"2021-12-28T09:16:58","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T14:16:58","slug":"gilbert-arenas-says-michael-jordan-threw-away-10-million-check-from-wizards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/gilbert-arenas-says-michael-jordan-threw-away-10-million-check-from-wizards\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Says Michael Jordan Threw Away a $10 Million Check From the Wizards During Their Acrimonious Breakup: ‘MJ Just Chucked It, Left the Building'"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The world still embraces Michael Jordan<\/a> for his Chicago Bulls career. He became one of the greatest players ever while wearing the red and back, and many players have even tried replicating what he did in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Washington Wizards<\/a> version of MJ is not the one many people like to remember. Sure, he was still a good player, but he wasn\u2019t the same Jordan that fans grew to love. His time in the nation\u2019s capital was essentially a disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, during his breakup with the organization, the five-time MVP supposedly threw away a $10 million check the team tried to give him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Jordan had an underwhelming run with the Washington Wizards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Oc8tewsEy1Y\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After his historic run with the Bulls that ended in 1998, Michael Jordan became president of basketball operations and part-owner of the Wizards in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, his time in the front office was less-than-stellar, as he made multiple questionable moves, including the selection of Kwame Brown with the No. 1 overall pick<\/a> in the 2001 NBA Draft (which may or may not have been his decision).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the 2001-02 season, though, MJ made the biggest deal he could: He decided to return to the court to play for the Wizards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Washington\u2019s losing ways didn\u2019t just magically go away. After going 19-63 in 2000-01, the Wizards went 37-45 in both seasons MJ played for them. They also missed the playoffs in each of those years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordan chose to retire from the court for good in 2003, and he planned to continue his front office job, but the organization decided to part ways with him altogether. According to a 2003 Associated Press report in CBS News<\/a>, a source said the decision was based on \u201cplayer dissension, a franchise faltering after the years of Jordan in charge, and deteriorating relationships throughout the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MJ threw away a $10 million check from the Wizards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Michael
Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 30, 2003. | Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Michael Jordan apparently wasn\u2019t too happy<\/a> about the Wizards essentially firing him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gilbert Arenas signed with D.C. the season after MJ left, and he ended up doing what Jordan couldn\u2019t. Arenas became a star on the Wizards and led them to multiple playoff appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, while negotiating a contract with the team, he asked the front office about Jordan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[Former Wizards owner] Abe Pollin was like, \u2018I love basketball. I love the players. So, I asked the players what did they want, and the players said they didn\u2019t want Jordan back,\u2019\u201d the former All-Star recently recalled to DJ Vlad of VladTV<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arenas said he's a big Jordan fan, so he just wanted to know what happened between the two sides. But he then revealed that Pollin supposedly wrote Mike a pretty big check to thank him for his services, and the NBA icon refused to accept it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was like, \u2018Yeah, you know, I wrote MJ a check, $10 million dollars, said, \u201cThank you for your services.\u201d MJ threw that check and said, \u201cF*** off,\u201d and drove out of the arena,\u2019\u201d Arenas said of his conversation with Pollin. \u201c... MJ just chucked it, left the building.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having enough money to just throw away a $10 million check proves that Jordan isn\u2019t just rich. He\u2019s rich<\/em> rich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his breakup with the Wizards, though, the 10-time NBA scoring leader found his way back into another team\u2019s front office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Jordan is now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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