Why did Michael Jordan's jersey number change from 23 to 45 during his second Chicago Bulls stint

Michael Jordan's jersey change was one of the biggest topics of conversation upon his return to the NBA. After retiring at the peak of his powers in 1993, the Hall of Fame guard made his return late in the 1995 season.

When people think of MJ, they often bring up his iconic No. 23. However, upon his return to the Bulls, Michael Jordan's jersey now had 45 on the back.

In The Last Dance documentary, Jordan talked about why he decided to wear No. 45 when he came back to the Bulls. For him, it was about starting a new phase of his life following the tragic death of his father.

“I didn’t want to wear 23 because I knew my father wasn’t there to watch me, and I felt it was a new beginning and 45 was my first number when I was playing in high school,” Jordan said.

Before his death in 1993, Jordan and his father shared a close bond. This emotional event was one of the reasons why MJ walked away from basketball and tried to convert his talents over to the baseball diamond. After briefly playing for the Birmingham Barons, the 14-time All-Star made a triumphant return to the hardwood.

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When did Michael Jordan's jersey number go back to 23?

Michael Jordan's jersey change lasted only a short time, as he eventually went back to wearing his original number. The decision came after a young competitor commented on the change in the postseason.

In the second round of the 1995 playoffs, the Chicago Bulls found themselves facing off against a young Orlando Magic team. Led by Shaquille O'Neal, they were looking to take down the dynasty.

Game 1 went down to the wire, but Orlando came away with the win. After the game, Nick Anderson said that No. 45 Michael Jordan wasn't the same as 23. From then on out, Michael Jordan's jersey once again featured his original number.

Back in his familiar threads, Jordan made sure Anderson ate his words in Game 2. He finished with 38 points, seven rebounds, three assists, four steals, and four blocks. On top of that, Chicago won by double-digits to even up the series. Despite an impressive string of performances from Jordan, the Magic still went on to win the series in six games.

One small comment ignited Jordan's overly competitive fire and brought back one of the most iconic jerseys in sports history.