Scottie Pippen tells story of Michael Jordan’s return 20 years ago

Second coming

And the second coming of NBA’s messiah was inevitable.

Just a minor roadblock, they were missing one important piece in their three-peat puzzle.

Jordan returned without power forward Horace Grant.

“We had a great year in 1993-94, no thanks to Hue Hollins, but the following season was challenging without Horace Grant.”

“Horace was a huge piece for us so to be without him and Michael felt like starting over to some degree.”

With our without Grant, Jordan was still hell-bent to reclaim NBA’s mountain top.

“We all felt after several practices that MJ’s return was inevitable but once he said ‘I’m back’ it really gave us a lift.”

Jordan’s first game didn’t pan out as “I’m back” promised.

He scored 19 points on 7/28 shooting from the field, 0/4 from three-point range, in a 103-96 loss to Reggie Miller’s Indiana Pacers.

Pippen acknowledged that it was just rust holding MJ back.

“He wore 45 of course and we didn’t think too much about it in the moment but it wasn’t the 23 we were used to seeing.”

Jordan’s no.23 jersey was still technically retired preventing him from wearing it.

His first four games saw him average 24.8 points and 39.4 shooting percentage. And on his fifth game back, the MJ of old returned.

Jordan dropped 55 points in the “double-nickel game” before dishing a pass to Bill Wennington for a dunk and a 113-111 win.

“MJ had to shake a little rust off but he showed at the Garden his swagger was back in the double nickel game.”

“I think the Knicks were tired of him killing them all night so they over compensated on that last play and MJ found @34billy42 for the win.”

And just like that the Bulls were in the playoffs after going 47-35 in the regular season.

These playoffs, however, saw them lose to the Finals-bound Orlando Magic with a nasty young duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway.

“Losing to Orlando was tough. It had been a long time since we had MJ and lost in the playoffs. But it fueled us. He took it hard.”

Just a salt in the wound, Grant was with the Magic then.

In replace of Grant in the four spot was the 90s best rebounder, Dennis Rodman.

And if Grant’s stint with the Magic was a new wound, Rodman in the Bulls was mending an old one.

Rodman was part of the Pistons’ Bad Boys that employed the Jordan Rules.

“We added some pieces to the roster, including one of the great rebounders of all time in @dennisrodman, and came back ready to work.”

What followed was championships, three of them, including a 1995-1996 season where they set the NBA record of 72 wins.

Chicago toyed with a 64-18 Seattle Supersonics, Steve Kerr did a John Paxson in 1997 against the Utah Jazz and Jordan hit the most beautiful jumpshot in the 1998 Finals against the Jazz.

“So here’s to 20 years ago and ultimately, three more championships.”

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