Probably more than any other player in NBA history, the man known to everyone as the G.O.A.T – Michael Jordan, is synonymous with the number 23. That might be because he wore that now signature number for the majority of his playing career with the Chicago Bulls, then additionally later with the Washington Wizards.
Of course, we all know about the time he chose to wear #45 back in 1995 during his first return from retirement. He supposedly chose the number 45 because his original #23 was already retired and 45 was his number during his time in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Jordan wore #45 for a total of 22 games (17 reg season and 5 playoff games). But after losing to the Orlando Magic in the ’95 NBA postseason, Jordan chose to go back to his original #23. His most memorable moment wearing #45 undoubtedly has to be his 55 point comeback game vs the NY Knicks.
Back in 1989, Michael was forced to wear a #12 jersey, coincidentally for a game against the Orlando Magic. The story goes that MJ’s jersey was stolen from the Bulls locker room prior to tip-off and after an exhaustive search of arena personnel and even some fans in attendance, he was forced to wear a nameless #12 Bulls jersey for the game.
The jersey change didn’t seem to matter much to Jordan as he went on to torch the Magic for 49 points but rumor has it that Mike refused to ever sign autographs again in Orlando.
But in a recent pic snapped by former Wichita State standout Ramon Clemente, currently playing for Maccabi Ashdod B.C. in Europe, we find out that owners of a candy shop in Isreal are a little confused by what number jersey MJ wore during his playing career. Can you say epic fail!
MJ Sporting the Number 32?:
Source: The Truth Sports
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
