Michael Jordan is synonymous with jersey No. 23. Of course, he wore No. 45 when he returned with the Washington Wizards, but his number with the Chicago Bulls was always the same — except for a single game against the Orlando Magic 34 years ago today.
Someone stole Jordan’s jersey and the team lost its star backup.Bulls staff reportedly Search the crowd The No. 23 jersey that would fit the 6-foot-6 Jordan has yet to be released.
So, his Airness took the field wearing No. 12 with no name on the back.
“This has never happened to me before,” Jordan told reporters. orlando sentinel After the game. “It’s very annoying because you get used to certain things and you don’t like things misplaced.”
“People have accused Magic personnel of stealing jerseys, cleaning staff and anyone who was working in the building that day,” said Rodney “Sid” Powell, equipment manager and director of team operations.
“They found out a few days later from security that one of their people had hatched a plan to get the jersey and actually go through another locker room, crawl through the ceiling, go through the ceiling, grab the jersey, put the jersey on It goes back to the ceiling,” Powell added. “I thought, after considering that no one could figure it out, I wanted to come back and get it in a few days.”
The jersey swap didn’t seem to affect Jordan, who scored 49 points on 21 of 43 shooting. However, the Magic ultimately won 135-129 in overtime.