Michael Jordan is synonymous with the No. 23. Certain, he wore 45 when he returned with the Washington Wizards, however he all the time had the identical jersey quantity with the Chicago Bulls — aside from a lone recreation towards the Orlando Magic 34 years in the past as we speak.
Somebody stole MJ’s jersey and the workforce was and not using a backup for its star. Bulls staffers reportedly searched the crowd for a No. 23 package that might match the 6-foot-6 Jordan to no avail.
So as an alternative, His Airness took the courtroom sporting a No. 12 jersey and not using a title on the again.
“That has never happened to me before,” Jordan advised the Orlando Sentinel after the sport. “It’s pretty irritating because you’re accustomed to certain things and you don’t like to have things misplaced.”
“People were accusing Magic personnel of stealing the jersey, cleaning crews, just about anyone working in the building that day,” mentioned Rodney “Sid” Powell, the tools supervisor and director of workforce operations.
“A couple days later, they found out from security that one of their personnel had set up a plan to get the jersey, had actually gone through another locker room, climbed over the ceilings, came through a ceiling tile, grabbed the jersey, put it back in the ceiling,” Powell added. “Planning for, I guess, a few days later to come back and get it after thinking no one would figure it out.”
The jersey swap didn’t appear to have an effect on Jordan, who scored 49 factors on 21-of-43 taking pictures. The Magic did find yourself successful, 135-129, in additional time, nonetheless.
