Michael Jordan Opens Up About The Worse NBA Player Of All Time
Every sports fan knows the thrill of watching a legend in their prime—the impossible athletic feats, the clutch performances, the sense that time itself might bend for a chosen few. But what happens when those legends stay beyond their prime, refusing to let go even as their bodies betray them and the game moves on? In the NBA, the stories of stars who lingered too long are both cautionary tales and poignant reminders of the human side of greatness.
From Michael Jordan’s final years in Washington to Shaquille O’Neal’s nomadic twilight, Kobe Bryant’s injury-ravaged goodbye, and Vince Carter’s marathon run, the league has witnessed icons battling time, injuries, and expectations. Their journeys reveal not just the cost of chasing one last moment of glory, but also the enduring passion that keeps them coming back.
Michael Jordan: The Superhero’s Final Fight
Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA with the Washington Wizards at age 38 was nothing short of remarkable. Averaging 21.2 points per game over two seasons, Jordan defied age and expectation. Yet, for all his achievements, the Wizards years were bittersweet—a superhero fighting a battle he could no longer win.
Jordan’s efficiency plummeted from the heights of his Bulls dynasty, dropping from the 84th percentile to just the 16th. His true shooting percentage nosedived, and injuries mounted. A collision with teammate Etan Thomas in February 2002 aggravated a meniscus tear, turning his right knee into a source of constant pain. Before the injury, Jordan was averaging 24.3 points on 47.1% shooting with the Wizards a respectable 26-21. Afterward, his numbers fell to 20 points on 35.6%, and the team collapsed, losing nine of their next ten games.
Initially, Jordan’s return electrified Washington, selling out the MCI Center and drawing 20,000 fans a night. But as losses piled up, the narrative shifted: faded jerseys, missed shots, and a sense that even the greatest could not escape Father Time. Agent David Falk summed it up: “I just don’t think it was a good dessert to a great meal.” Teammate Jerry Stackhouse regretted the experience, citing ego clashes that poisoned the locker room.
Jordan’s final NBA game in April 2003 was met with a standing ovation and a hollow thank you. There was no grand ceremony, just quiet acceptance that his time had passed. Jordan’s post-retirement bitterness was palpable, especially after being fired from his executive role with the Wizards. “If I had known I would be fired, I never would have come back,” he reflected.
Why did he do it? Jordan’s own words offer insight: “I would be content in the sense that I gave the game of basketball as much as I could give it physically.” He donated his salary to 9/11 relief, framing his return as pure love for the game. Ultimately, ego and passion conspired, showing that even the GOAT couldn’t outrun time. But at least he went down swinging.
Shaquille O’Neal: The Diesel Runs on Fumes
Shaquille O’Neal’s post-2006 career was a nomadic nightmare. After winning his fourth championship with Miami, Shaq spent four years chasing a fifth ring, averaging just 10.2 points in 163 games, missing 70% of possible contests. His prime—23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks—was a distant memory, replaced by garbage-time minutes and constant injury.
Knee surgeries, swelling, and negative net ratings plagued his Miami exit. Phoenix brought hope in 2008, but Shaq averaged only 8 points in the playoffs. Cleveland’s experiment in 2009-10 was even worse: thumb and knee issues, 8.4 points in 14 playoff games, and a sweep by Boston. His final season in Boston ended with an Achilles tear, 9.2 points in 37 games, and a playoff cameo of just 3 points in five games.
Shaq announced his retirement in June 2011, tweeting “19 years, baby. Love you.” He rejected a farewell tour, saying, “I felt like I was robbing people, averaging 7 to 9 points. That’s not Shaq.” It was a rare moment of self-awareness from a man who’d spent his career declaring, “I’m in the security business now,” while collecting vet minimum checks.
Reflecting on his retirement, Shaq offered advice to fellow athletes: “If you are going to retire, accept it. Enjoy your family.” For Shaq, the pursuit was always about championships, not stats. Injuries and stubbornness kept him hanging on, but even the Big Aristotle couldn’t defeat time.
Kobe Bryant: The Black Mamba’s Painful Goodbye
Kobe Bryant’s final act was a study in perseverance and pathology. From 2013 to 2016, Bryant averaged 17.6 points across three injury-ravaged seasons, shooting 41.6% and posting career lows that made his 81-point game feel like ancient mythology.
The Achilles tear in April 2013 was the death knell, robbing him of explosiveness and turning him into a volume shooter. He played just six games in 2013-14, returned for 35 in 2014-15 before a knee fracture, and gutted through 66 games in 2015-16, shooting 28.5% from three. The Lakers went 17-65, the worst in franchise history, with Kobe leading the league in missed shots and posting a usage rate of 29.5%.
Injuries cascaded: a knee fracture ended his season in January 2015, followed by a rotator cuff tear in January 2016. Kobe’s final NBA game in April 2016 was Shakespearean—60 points on 22 of 50 shooting against Utah, a vintage explosion masking three years of decline. His postgame speech, “Mamba out,” resonated, but analysts debated whether modern load management could have extended his career.
In his Oscar-winning “Dear Basketball,” Kobe wrote, “You asked for my hustle. Black Mamba never retired, but you made me realize my heart can take no more.” Bryant’s legacy endures, but his final years were a testament to the toll of greatness.
Karl Malone: The Mailman Delivers Disappointment
Karl Malone’s final season with the Lakers at age 40 was supposed to be a coronation. Instead, it became a cautionary tale of injuries and ego. Malone averaged 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in 42 games, a solid output for a quadra-genarian but far from his MVP peak.
A knee sprain in December 2003 tore his MCL, sidelining him for 39 games. Pre-injury, Malone averaged 16.6 points and the Lakers were 18-3. Without him, they went 23-7. The finals injury was peak tragedy: a re-sprained knee in Game 3 versus Detroit limited him to 18 minutes in Game 4 and forced him to miss Game 5 entirely.
Malone’s retirement came quietly in February 2005 after offseason knee surgery ended comeback talks. The Spurs had offered a deal, but pain and the infamous Kobe rift sealed his exit. “Things happen for a reason. Spent time doing others’ wants, now mine,” Malone reflected. His end proved even Iron Men bend.
Hakeem Olajuwon: The Dream Deferred
Hakeem Olajuwon’s final NBA seasons with the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves saw the two-time champion and all-time blocks leader reduced to a bench afterthought. Chronic knee cartilage degeneration, back disc problems, and leg blood clots plagued his twilight.
His stint in Toronto was limited to 61 games, averaging just 5.2 points in 15 minutes, with pain shooting down his legs. A brief trade to Minnesota brought hope—11.5 points per game in eight contests—but back issues shut him down. Olajuwon’s end was bittersweet, diminished but dignified. His Hall of Fame induction echoed gratitude for the journey.
Patrick Ewing: From Heart of the Knicks to Hired Gun
Patrick Ewing spent his final two seasons as a role player in Seattle and Orlando after 15 years as the Knicks’ anchor. Averaging 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in Seattle, then 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in Orlando, Ewing’s prime was a memory.
Chronic Achilles tendonopathy and knee degeneration turned the 7-foot, 255-pound center into a defensive liability. The Sonics lost in the first round; Orlando missed the playoffs. Ewing’s true sendoff came post-retirement at Madison Square Garden, where his number was retired amid a sellout crowd. His Hall of Fame induction echoed gratitude for the Knicks’ journey.
Allen Iverson: The Answer Becomes the Question
Allen Iverson’s 2008-2010 finale spanned Detroit, Memphis, and a Philadelphia homecoming. The 2001 MVP and four-time scoring champ was reduced to 6.9 points per game in 25 contests for the Sixers. Chronic back spasms, knee issues, and ankle instability from years of 40-plus minute grinds took their toll.
Detroit’s 2008-09 stint saw Iverson average 17.6 points in 54 games before benching disputes led to his departure. Memphis signed him in 2009, but he played just three games before a mutual release. Iverson’s final NBA game came in February 2010, stepping away for family reasons. His jersey retirement in 2014 was a poignant moment, with Iverson declaring, “Greatest moment besides draft, should have ended as Sixer.”
Tony Parker: The French Maestro’s Discordant Notes
Tony Parker’s lone season with the Charlotte Hornets after 17 years in San Antonio saw the four-time champ average 9.5 points and 3.7 assists in 56 games. Chronic knee and quad tendonopathy limited his explosiveness, and Parker played just 19.5 minutes per game.
Charlotte missed the playoffs, with Parker’s mentorship appreciated but his impact diminished. Injuries dogged his twilight, and Parker retired in June 2019, citing a desire for a relevant role. “Can’t be Tony anymore,” he admitted, choosing to leave on his own terms.
Kevin Garnett: The Big Ticket’s Gritty Ghost
Kevin Garnett’s 2015-16 Minnesota homecoming was a gritty, understated farewell. The 2004 MVP and 15-time All-Star averaged just 3.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 38 games, limited by chronic knee degeneration and back spasms from 50,000-plus career minutes.
Garnett’s final game was in April 2016; his retirement came via Instagram, reflecting on a career defined by intensity and resilience. “21 years, beat up, but anything’s possible,” he declared. Garnett’s end was gritty, flawed, and fiercely loyal.
Paul Pierce: The Truth Hurts
Paul Pierce’s post-Celtics wanderings across Brooklyn, Washington, and Los Angeles saw the 2008 Finals MVP average just 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over 158 games. Chronic knee and back issues turned the Truth into a benchwarmer.
Pierce’s final game in April 2017 was a quiet exit, with his body quitting on him. “Peace with retiring, but ride left,” Pierce reflected. His legacy endures, but his final seasons proved even truths can wear thin.
Dirk Nowitzki: The German Wunderkind’s Bittersweet Symphony
Dirk Nowitzki’s final three seasons in Dallas saw the 2011 Finals MVP average 14.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 23.8 minutes over 154 games. Chronic Achilles tendonopathy and knee degeneration turned the seven-footer into a spot-up shooter.
The Mavericks missed the playoffs, grooming Luka Doncic for the future. Nowitzki’s exit was cinematic, with a 30-point finale against San Antonio. “Mavs family, pay cuts for cap, mentor Luka, help young guys, enjoy process,” Nowitzki said. His end proved loyalty outlasts athleticism.
Steve Nash: The Maestro’s Silent Symphony
Steve Nash’s final two seasons with the Lakers saw the two-time MVP average 11.4 points and 6.4 assists in 22.1 minutes over 65 games, missing 99 contests due to leg fractures, hamstring and nerve damage, and back spasms.
Nash’s Lakers tenure promised a dynasty but delivered disaster. Injuries destroyed his vision, and Nash retired quietly, turning down farewell tours. “High risk, high reward,” Nash said, reflecting on his choice to chase one last ring.
Vince Carter: Half-Man, Half-Amazing, Whole-Man Hanging On
Vince Carter’s 22-season marathon saw Air Canada evolve from dunk contest king to a 3-and-D specialist with Atlanta at age 43. His final five seasons featured chronic knee osteoarthritis and Achilles tendonopathy, reducing his explosiveness but not his craft.
Carter persisted to inspire kids, playing spot minutes on middling squads. Trainer Mike Benhoer called his knees “like 50-year-olds by 40,” a miracle he played 22 years. Carter’s legacy is endurance and inspiration.
Tracy McGrady: Talent Meets Tragedy
Tracy McGrady’s 2008-2013 twilight spanned Houston, New York, Detroit, Atlanta, and San Antonio. The two-time scoring champ averaged just 8.3 points in 21.1 minutes over 108 games, a 70% drop from his peak.
Back spasms, microfracture surgery, and shoulder injuries derailed his career. McGrady chased one last chance, retiring at 34. “At 34, my body faded, yet I chased final chances in a dream that persisted for 16 years,” McGrady said.
The Human Side of Greatness
Why do legends stay too long? For some, it’s love of the game. For others, it’s ego, unfinished business, or a desire to mentor the next generation. The final act is rarely as glorious as the prime, but it’s deeply human—a testament to passion, resilience, and the difficulty of letting go.
The NBA’s history is richer for these stories. They remind us that greatness is fleeting, but the pursuit endures. As fans, we celebrate the highs and mourn the lows, knowing that every legend’s journey is unique.