words // Nick DePaula:
Tomorrow, two full decades will have passed since we saw Michael Joran return to the NBA against the Indiana Pacers, after a short-lived retirement that kept him away from the game for the entire 1993-1994 season.
While Michael single-handedly made the #23 jersey one of the most iconic uniform numbers in all of sport, his 1995 return of course saw him don a new number — 45. It was the number that his older brother Larry wore when they were growing up.
To celebrate the anniversary of Michael’s return to the league, Mitchell & Ness will be releasing a true-to-form throwback of the red #45 away jersey.
“Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA on March 19, 1995 is a memorable and iconic moment in the history of the NBA,” says Jonathan Yuska, Head of Mitchell & Ness. “We are proud and honored to be able to commemorate this moment by recreating Jordan’s number 45 jersey. We hope fans of MJ and the NBA enjoy wearing it as much as we enjoyed bringing it back.”
The jersey, which’ll run you $300 at retail, will be available online tomorrow at MitchellAndNess.com, as well as at the five following retailers:
– NBA 5th Avenue store in New York
– Mitchell & Ness Flagship Store in Philadelphia
– Chicago Bulls Team Store at the United Center
– Charlotte Hornets Team Store at the Time Warner Cable Arena
– Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield
