Okay, so I was just thinking about basketball jerseys the other day, you know, the iconic ones. And somehow, my mind landed on Michael Jordan’s number 45 jersey. It’s funny, most people just instantly think of the number 23 when MJ comes up, and rightly so. But that short stint with 45? That was a whole different thing.
Digging Up the Memory
I remember when he first came back from playing baseball. It was huge news, obviously. But then he trots out onto the court wearing number 45. Man, that felt strange. It just didn’t look right at first glance. We were all so used to the legendary 23.
So, I started trying to piece together my memories of that time. Why 45? I did a little digging, just refreshing my own memory banks. Here’s what I recalled and confirmed:
- He wore 45 when he played for the Birmingham Barons baseball team. It was actually his older brother Larry’s number back in high school, which MJ also wore then.
- When he came back to the NBA in March 1995, his number 23 had already been retired by the Bulls. So, he opted for his baseball number, 45.
- He didn’t wear it for long, though. Only 17 regular-season games and a few playoff games.
The Switch Back
I distinctly remember the buzz around him switching back to 23 mid-playoffs that year, against the Orlando Magic. There was some talk about Nick Anderson saying “45 isn’t 23” after a crucial late-game steal. Whether that comment really pushed him or not, who knows? But Jordan just showed up for the next game wearing 23 again. Classic MJ move, right? Didn’t even ask, just did it. Got fined for it too, but I bet he didn’t care much.
For me, that whole 45 jersey period represents something unique. It was Jordan trying to find his footing again after being away. It was a transition phase. It wasn’t the six-championships-dominant Jordan we all knew best, but it was still Jordan, fighting his way back. There’s a certain vulnerability or maybe just difference associated with that number 45 jersey.
You don’t see the 45 jersey as often as the 23, which makes it kind of cool in its own way when you do spot one. It’s like a little nod to a specific, unusual chapter in the story of the greatest basketball player ever. Just a quick trip down memory lane sparked by thinking about old jerseys.
