Last week Michael Jordan decided to give his knee and Father Time another challenge, saying he will be suiting up yet again in a Washington Wizards uniform to play at least one more year in the NBA.
The announcement does not overshadow the fact that the face of the Wizards has changed yet again.
Jordan came back last year and we were told to be patient, his young team adjusting to his leadership and the old legs getting used to the hard court. When the Wizards started winning and even contending for the playoffs last season, everyone in D.C. said we were seeing some of the old Mike.
It wouldn't last because of Jordan's injury and some of the usual Wizards variables. Jordan, who turns 40 in February and recorded the lowest scoring average since his second season last year, officially has said he does not want to be a scrub. He wants to start.
The Wizards need to take a look around before throwing Jordan right back to where he was at the start of last season, and that's something the recently retired Patrick Ewing, now Assistant Coach Ewing, can help do.
It doesn't hurt to have the newly-acquired shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse in the lineup, who is, like Jordan, a North Carolina alum capable of posting big scoring numbers. Obviously, it's debatable whether it would have been wiser to keep second leading-scorer Richard "Rip" Hamilton, the player Washington had to give up in exchange for Stackhouse, but for the immediate future General Manager Wes Unseld wanted someone with playoff experience. Oh yeah, and don't forget that Stackhouse scored 57 in a game once, not too shabby considering Jordan's career mark is 69.
In addition to Stack, the Wizards added four other key players to their roster, all of whom have the potential to make magic happen in D.C.
One of these newcomers is the man who thought he would be the last player to be schooled by MJ. No one forgets "the shot," and the victim was then-Utah Jazz guard Bryon Russell, who appeared to have tripped or fallen over in bewilderment as Jordan carried the Chicago Bulls to their last title in the waning seconds of Game 6. What a way to end a career. Right?
The truth is, nothing Jordan does or doesn't do on the basketball court will take away from that moment, but why not let the man you supposedly pushed out of the way to have one of your greatest moments play on your side instead of seeking vengeance? Russell's numbers have dropped since, but he's been the third or fourth option on two NBA Finals teams.
Then there's Larry Hughes, a five year veteran at 23, who remains a player with considerable talent, on the brink of exploding into a superstar. With some expert veteran guidance, we may see that happen.
Finally we have the rookies, Jared Jeffries from Indiana and Juan Dixon from Maryland. Though Dixon took the glory in the NCAA Finals last April, expect Jeffries to be the one with immediate playing time at small forward, because the young man from Hoosierville is versatile.
It may be early to ask the upcoming question: Will the Wizards finally make the playoffs again?
No bold statements here about winning the title, but, if everyone's healthy and the right elements are in, the Wizards will do their trick. And remember, for many of you this is your home team, after all.
Just a warning.
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