"We could be very dangerous": Michael Jordan held high hopes for the Wizards in 2003 despite cartilage tear

Michael Jordan may not have had the same kind of success with the Washington Wizards that he did with the Chicago Bulls. However, that didn't dent the immense confidence he had in the 2003 Wizards.

In his two seasons with the capital franchise, the six-time NBA champion had an impressive stat line, but they failed to make the postseason. The Wizards won 37 games in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

As for Jordan, who was in the twilight of his basketball career, age and injuries, especially a torn cartilage, played its part in limiting his impact. That didn't deter the legend from having high hopes on the Wizards, though.

Speaking to Ahmad Rashad on ABC in 2003, Jordan said that Washington would be one of the more formidable threats in the East.

"We could be very dangerous. The unknown is definitely attached to the Wizards which I love. (Jerry) Stackhouse is playing well. (Charles) Oak comes in and gives us some good defensive presence, and Christian Laettner and T-Lue (Tyronn Lue) and all the other guys contribute, you know we could be a very good team.

"I mean, on paper, we look good already. But in the playoffs, when the atmosphere is a little bit higher and you look at the East, I'm the only one with that type of experience."

In typical Michael Jordan fashion, the standards were set higher. However, the Wizards' record that season was below par as they finished 37-45, despite the Bulls icon playing all 82 games.

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How did Michael Jordan fare in his two seasons with the Washington Wizards?

Michael Jordan played all 82 regular season games with the Washington Wizards in his second season.

While the Wizards didn't live up to expectations, Michael Jordan proved that he was still a force to be reckoned with in the league and could produce at a high level.

In his first season, Jordan averaged 22.9 points per game, the 10th-highest in the NBA, coupled with 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His efficiency saw a dip compared to his prime years (41.6 percent shooting), but he was the leading scorer on a team that lacked quality offensive output.

His 51-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 29, 2001, made him the oldest player in the league to register a 50-point masterclass — a mark that was later broken by Jamal Crawford.

Jordan's second stint saw him notch up 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals.

However, despite Jordan playing all 82 games, the Washington Wizards failed to make the postseason for the second straight year. Soon after that, Jordan called time for good on his incredible basketball career.