"Nothing has changed more than the lives of the families of the victims”: When Michael Jordan pledged his salary upon unretiring to help 9/11 victims

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s second return to the NBA came in the wake of catastrophic events. Jordan had first returned to the league in 1995, ending his 17-month retirement from basketball. After returning, Jordan led the Bulls to three more championships before retiring again in 1999.

Many thought that this would spell the end of Jordan’s legendary career, but he returned for one last dance, though the circumstances were somber.

In 2001, Jordan came out of retirement for the second time. He announced his decision on Sept. 14, 13 days after the devastating terrorist attacks. In a statement, he said he would donate his entire salary for the season to relief and victim assistance efforts.

Jordan pledged $100,000 of his $1 million salary to help children who lost their parents, with the remaining going to other relief efforts.

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“Obviously, our country has changed forever, but nothing has changed more than the lives of the families of the victims of this tragedy," he said. "This fund is one of several wonderful efforts that will benefit the victims of the September 11th attacks."

Two decades later, Michael Jordan is set for another return to the NBA in a new role

More than two decades after his third retirement from the NBA, Michael Jordan is once again set to return, joining NBC's NBA broadcast crew as a "special contributor" next season.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC," Jordan said in a statement. "The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”

Whether it was to chase championships, provide relief in times of tragedy, or stay connected to the game he loves, Michael Jordan keeps finding himself gravitating towards basketball even four decades after he first made his debut for the Chicago Bulls.

About the author

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

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Edited by Sameer Khan