When Michael Jordan had a message to deliver to the world, he used what was, at the time, the best and fastest medium at his disposal: a fax machine.

Twenty-five years ago, Jordan sent perhaps the most famous fax of all time, a two-word statement that became iconic for its simplicity. All at once, the message served as a declaration to the basketball world and forever changed the Bulls and NBA.

Sunday’s episodes of ESPN’s 10-part documentary “The Last Dance” dived into Jordan’s first retirement from pro basketball, his nearly 18-month sabbatical to pursue a baseball career and his dramatic comeback — kicked off with a two word faxed announcement that read simply, “I’m back.”

As Melissa Isaacson wrote at the time for the Tribune: “The words did not have to be eloquent or poetic. They did not even have to be spoken, and weren’t.”

Rumors had been swirling for weeks in March 1995 that Jordan was going to return to basketball, a process that started when he practiced with the Bulls earlier that month. Yes, Jordan had covered his bases during his retirement ceremony in October 1993 — “Never say never,” he said when asked if he would play basketball again — but the idea of him coming back was far from a certainty.

Here are a few things to know about Jordan’s famous fax and the events leading up to his return:

1. Michael Jordan crafted the famous fax himself.

If Jordan played basketball today, he would have been able to send a message to the masses via social media. Sending “I’m back” as a tweet would have been a banger that broke the internet.

But in 1995, the fax machine was the fastest way to get the message out. David Falk, Jordan’s agent, prepared a few versions of the press release announcing the comeback, knowing he had to nail it.

“He didn’t like the feel of them,” Falk told ESPN in 2015. “He said, ‘I’ll do it myself.’ “

Here’s how the fax read:

WASHINGTON, DC. (March 18, 1995) — The following statement was released today by Michael Jordan, through his personal attorney and business manager David B. Falk, Chairman of Falk Associates Management Enterprises, Inc. (“FAME”) located in Washington, D.C., in response to questions about his future career plans:

“I’m back.”

2. Jordan delivered his message and suited up the next day.

Jordan left the sport at the prime of his career — winner of three straight NBA championships, named the Most Valuable Player in each of those three finals, seven consecutive scoring titles, seven All-NBA first teams and six All-Defensive teams — and he was only 32 when he rejoined the Bulls for his second act.

In a two-word fax, “I’m back,” Michael Jordan announces his return to the Bulls as reported in the March 19, 1995, edition of the Chicago Tribune.
It was a Saturday when Jordan sent word he was coming back to the court — the next day. He returned for a nationally televised Sunday game against the Pacers in Indianapolis, keeping the No. 45 he wore in baseball.

It sent the Pacers media relations staff into a frenzy, as outlined by Sam Smith, who covered the comeback for the Tribune at the time. The Pacers PR chief needed security guards to walk with him on the floor after he had to deny angry media members’ credential requests. Scalpers sold tickets for more than $1,000.

This was Jordan’s first NBA game since June 1993. He spent his time in between playing 127 games with the Double-A Birmingham Barons and hitting .202 — and yet there was no easing him back into action.

Jordan played 43 minutes in his return, and he can be forgiven for a poor shooting effort (7-for-28) while putting up 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals. He played the final 17 games of that season, averaging 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

3. The sports world needed some good news.

Jordan was already the most famous athlete in the world at the time, so his return was a lift for the entire sports world. Major League Baseball was in the midst of the longest strike in its history, one that had led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series and would continue until April. O.J. Simpson, arguably the biggest football star in the world, was on trial for murder.

So the excitement for Jordan’s return was high, and it sparked reaction from more than just sports figures. The Tribune’s report included quotes from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and a statement from President Bill Clinton’s spokesman.

4. The Bulls were struggling at the time.

The Bulls were not in a good spot in their second season after Jordan’s first retirement.

In 1993-94, they absorbed Jordan’s absence to win 55 games and advance to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals before the Knicks eliminated them. But the Bulls struggled to start the 1994-95 season, and Jordan returned to a team just three games above .500.

Most of his old teammates from the first three-peat had moved on. Scottie Pippen and B.J. Armstrong remained, but other mainstays such as Horace Grant, John Paxson and Bill Cartwright were gone.

Pippen famously wore a pair of Air Jordan 10s one day while rumors swirled about Jordan’s comeback and held them up for the camera, waving his finger. The Bulls had almost traded Pippen to the SuperSonics in 1994 for Shawn Kemp; Jordan told ESPN in 2008 that if Pippen had not still been with the Bulls, he would have “probably not” returned to the team.

With Jordan, the Bulls were instantly transformed into a title contender. They had 40-1 odds to win the NBA championship before Jordan returned and 5-1 after. They wound up losing to the Magic in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“I’ve got three words,” Bulls teammate Will Perdue said at the time of Jordan’s return. “Thank you, baseball.”