“I didn’t come here to make a statement” – When Michael Jordan downplayed his iconic 55-point explosion after his first return originally appeared on Basketball Network.
When Michael Jordan came out of retirement for the first time in 1995, most expected him to pick up from where he left off in 1993. But after trying himself in baseball, MJ’s immediate concern was getting himself back into playing shape.
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Hence, proving that he could still score heavily hardly meant anything to Mike. So, despite dropping a game-high 55 points in the Bulls’ win over the New York Knicks, he made it clear that he just so happened to find his groove in that game.
“I didn’t come here to make a statement — I forgot how to make a statement,” Jordan said via UPI after that win. “I just let the game come to me. I felt very relaxed. A lot of times I don’t do so well here [Madison Square Garden]. But tonight I felt comfortable. I had low expectations, but just wanted to fit in and go with the flow.”
In that game, Jordan made 21 of his 37 shots from the field and went 3 out of 4 from the three-point region. But beyond his point production, his feed to Bill Wennington helped Chicago win that game.
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Despite his claims, MJ did set a record that night. His 55 points broke the previous individual high-point mark of 53 points, a feat set by Willie Burton of the Philadelphia 76ers on December 13, 1994.
MJ was heating up
Coming from a long layoff, Jordan admitted that he realized that he was on the right track in his comeback in the Bulls’ victory over the Atlanta Hawks before facing the Knicks. Michael scored 32 points in that win, including the game-winning basket at the buzzer.
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With Jordan getting reacquainted with the Bulls system, Chicago seemed to be back to its winning ways, dropping only 2 games until the end of the regular season.
The more Jordan started scoring, the more the Bulls fell back into their bad habits — watching instead of playing. It frustrated him. The load he once carried willingly now felt like a burden.
“It really made me feel pressure from my teammates for the first time in my career. I felt really uncomfortable. I told them, ‘You’ve got to walk on your own two feet,'” Jordan quipped via the New York Times.
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Bulls fall short in 1995 playoffs
Those words from MJ hardly woke up the Bulls to play better as a team. Only Toni Kukoc, Scottie Pippen and B.J. Armstrong helped Jordan, something that would eventually tell on the then-three-time champions.
Chicago easily defeated the Charlotte Hornets in the first round, sweeping them. In the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Bulls met the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O’Neal.
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The Magic had a great starting unit, including former Bulls forward Horace Grant. Aside from him and Shaq, there were also Anfernee Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott. The Magic would boot out the Bulls in that series, 4-2.
Despite the loss, Jordan left a lasting impression on the Magic after averaging 31.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals. Considering Michael was coming off a long layoff, that effort drew praise from a humbled O’Neal.
“I don’t think Michael ever gets tired. He is a real Superman and I am a real Superboy,” Shaq said.
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It was unfortunate, although expecting Jordan to pick up from where he left off after the 1993 Finals was wishful thinking. It takes time for an athlete to get back into shape and recall his old form.
With a full offseason after that disappointing 1995 exit, MJ was able to get back to his old self. That 1995 loss was the warning shot. One year later, Jordan came back with a vengeance and the league never stood a chance.
Related: “I might want to punch him” – Reggie Miller admits he might want to swing on Michael Jordan if they met face-to-face today
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.