Michael Jordan 2003: Age 40, Final Game Vs. NY Knicks, 39pts

With just 20 games left in MJ's epilogue season, the game itself took a backstage to MJ's historical presence. And at age 40, even Father Time could not steal MJ's singular ability to raise his game at will. With Madison Square Garden as the center stage one last time, there was no doubt we'd see once again why there will never be anyone quite like him.

And we did. Running on sore knees and a stiff back, MJ began the game slowly. The Wizards were in a tight playoff battle and needed to function as a team. But then, Shandon Anderson began to yak and awoke the Beast. MJ took his team's 20 point deficit into his own hands by calmly entering the zone - finishing the half with 19 points in the final 6-7 minutes to get 26 on 9-14 shooting. Thanks Shandon.

In the 2nd half, the Knicks doubled and tripled every possession 40 year MJ had. Passing to get his team involved, the lackluster Wizards just could not match his zone. MJ clawed his way back to the final moment with his customary clutch shots and steals to set up, once again, the game-winner. Only a foul by Sprewell at "The Moment" took the final second away from Mike this time. But the message was clear and MJ's performance was as pure as ever. Win, lose or draw, this night was all MJ as it always has been.

Category:

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[tolopo99]

MJ is better at 40 yrs old than LeBrick in his prime!

[koalalauncher]

@killblackpregnants thats a pretty common opinion. with that said tho, mike wanted to come back, and he was part owner of the wizards, so the wizards were the only team he could've played with. mike was such a competitor, he wanted to show that even as an old man he could still dominate the game. im one of the few who really doesn't care that he didn'f finish his career with the bulls, i don't think his return did anything to diminish what he did in chicago. just my opinion

[samtheman7975]

@tolopo99 he also looks younger than present day lebron

[songtree27]

this was my first basketball game <3 

[rayatum15]

4:16-4:29..a 40 year old does a good defensive play, goes out of bounds, then scores at other end. Great sequence.

[koalalauncher]

@infamousjdmr You're right, I was wrong, I thought as a minority owner he could've played. One mistake doesn't mean I don't know anything.

[koalalauncher]

@infamousjdmr I wasn't aware that I knew nothing, thanks for letting me know :)

[infamousjdmr]

@koalalauncher obviously you know nothing, he could come back with any team and he had to give up and sell his ownership to come back

[iWork4DaSystem]

I wanna see Kobe score 20 points at 40 years old! My ass, he is barely making that much at 33! NO ONE comes close to Jordan, not Kobe, no one.

[tillulillu1]

So wait for M Schumacher to pwn the f1 world

[mvrugby04]

Will Kobe, LeBron or anyone else be able to play like this at age 40? I'd have to say no.

Pippen, Jackson and Larry Brown have said that with the league having softer rules he would be even better in today's game. I agree.

MJ = Greatest player of all-time.

[xaviqaz]

40 years old MJ: 20 points and 6 rebounds per game, 45% FG, in 82 games. Malone and Jabbar where 38 when they made 20 points per game for the last time (both having better teams).