“Gave him $10 million…” Gilbert Arenas was instructed to ERASE Michael Jordan from Washington Wizards history

Arenas spilled the beans on Wizards' decision to turn the page from the Michael Jordan era.

“Gave him $10 million…” Gilbert Arenas was instructed to ERASE Michael Jordan from Washington Wizards history

Gilbert Arenas reveals the Washington Wizards wanted him to erase the Michael Jordan era from franchise history (Gil's Arena)

Guess what? Gilbert Arenas, the once-shining star of the Washington Wizards, recently dropped a bombshell. He claims he got a fat paycheck and a weird job: to help the Wizards ‘forget’ about the Michael Jordan era. This juicy tidbit gives us a peek into the Wizard’s locker room drama after Jordan hung up his sneakers.

Michael Jordan, the basketball legend, had a short but memorable run with the Wizards, both on the court and in the exec suite. But here’s the scoop from Arenas: Jordan’s style, both as a player and as a potential boss, rubbed the team the wrong way. That led to a gutsy and hotly debated decision by the Wizards.

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Gilbert Arenas said:

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The team had a meeting and basically said we don't want him [Michael Jordan]here we don't want him to be our owner… Mr. Pollen… had the meeting with MJ, gave him that check, and said, you know, team don't want you, gave him 10 million… They told me "erase Jordan’s name and you’re cool" … I got paid $64 million.

The changeover? Not so smooth. Team owner Abe Pollin got some heat for how Jordan was shown the door. On his podcast ‘Gil’s Arena’, Arenas let slip that Pollin handed Jordan a $10 million goodbye check. That moment was a big turn for the Wizards.

Arenas, who rocked the Wizards’ jersey in 2003, became a key player in the team’s glory days, leading them to several playoffs. He made such a mark that he even jokingly calls himself the best Wizard ever, even over Michael Jordan himself. Talk about making an impact!

When Washington couldn’t handle the GOAT’s intensity

In 2001, Michael Jordan made a less-heralded comeback by joining the Washington Wizards. Known for his relentless drive, he entered a Wizards team completely unprepared for the storm that was about to unleash. While his arrival was expected to revitalize the struggling squad, it ultimately became a complex chapter for both Jordan’s legacy and the Wizards’ story.

Even with the Wizards, Jordan averaged 21.2 points, 4.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds playing over 36 minutes each game (NBAE)
Even with the Wizards, Jordan averaged 21.2 points, 4.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds. (Via NBAE)

Jordan’s stint with the Wizards tangled him up in some complicated team dynamics. Even though he wasn’t in his prime anymore, he still averaged a whopping 21.2 points per game over two seasons – the guy still had it.

However, his extremely high standards and rigorous demands marked a complete departure from the team’s usual norms. Players like Kwame Brown really felt the pressure of Jordan’s hardcore style, leading to some locker room issues.

Add to this Jordan’s impact on the team’s management, like picking new players, got a lot of mixed reviews. Having him on board brought attention and drive but revealed the challenge of integrating a legend into an existing team. His departure in 2003 ended a chapter rich with aspirations, leaving many pondering over what might have been.

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