This would go down as one of the greatest ‘what ifs’ in the history of the NBA.
Kobe Bryant has confirmed recently that he would have played alongside Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards in 2004 had a deal between him and the team was worked out.
They have played against each other countless times but never together as a teammate so that possibility would have made big impact on the Washington Wizards and the NBA back then.
When Kobe Bryant joined the NBA as a rookie in 1996, Michael Jordan was at his prime, leading the Chicago Bulls to the second string of three NBA championships.
Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season only to come back and play with the Washington Wizards in from 2000 to 2002 before hanging up his basketball jersey and sneakers for good.
It was during the time when Michael was with the Wizards when Kobe Bryant was at his prime with the LA Lakers, stringing three championships along with Shaquille O’Neal. But it was also during that time when he became a free agent.
Plans of joining Michael
Kobe revealed to the Washington Post recently that after the 2003-04 NBA season, he became a free agent and wanted to sign with the Washington Wizards because he and Michael have previously talked about being in the same team and playing together.
Until 2003, Michael Jordan was also part owner of the Wizards so money was never an issue in getting the services of Kobe Bryant.
But when then-Wizards owner Abe Pollins parted ways with Michael Jordan in 2003, the dream team-up of MJ and Kobe Bryant evaporated with it.
Michael Jordan has since retired and become majority owner in 2010 of the Charlotte Hornets, which changed its name to Bobcats for a few years, before reassuming it again this year. Kobe, on the other hand, is now contemplating about retirement especially with his Lakers team down in the bottom in the company of the NBA’s weakest teams this season.
Looking ahead
It would have brought the entire NBA house down had the legendary guard duo of Michael and Kobe played for the Wizards then. They could have given the franchise its second championship for all we know. But that is a near-miss already, water under the bridge so-to-speak.
But for the throngs of Washington Wizard fans, the issue is also very important at this point. The team, which is currently doing good in the Eastern Conference with its impressive 30-15 win-loss record and certainly bound for the playoffs, is said to be eyeing Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder when the prolific scoring forward becomes a free agent this coming summer.
The team may have lost the opportunity of getting into its fold Kobe Bryant some 11 years ago but it is now pulling all stops to make sure that they make a good run for Kevin Durant during the NBA off-season.