Jordan Is Frustrated, but Still Committed to Wizards

As Michael Jordan marked his one-year anniversary Friday as part owner and president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards, the team he predicted would make the playoffs this season is on pace to finish with the worst record in franchise history.

Jordan has been criticized for looking on from afar as the 7-33 Wizards’ season goes from bad to worse. He has attended only six games this season, all losses. Looking back at his first 12 months in management, Jordan addressed the criticism he rarely faced as a player and insisted he is committed to turning around the franchise.

“I take this job very serious, contrary to what some people think,” Jordan said in a telephone interview from Chicago. “I don’t regret this by any means. I take to heart what I’m doing with this organization. It’s not easy. It’s very difficult, yet it’s challenging and that’s what I like. I haven’t given up. I will honor the five-year commitment I made to this franchise.

“Hopefully, after five years, I and the organization can say it was a wise commitment and then we’ll see if they want to keep me around longer. I have the competitive drive to turn things around in a year’s time, but I’ve found out it takes more time. This losing hasn’t deteriorated my thoughts or competitive drive that it can turn around. I just have to be patient.”

Since Jordan joined the Wizards’ front office on Jan. 19, 2000, Washington has gone 24-59. Now the Wizards find themselves in the midst of the worst start in franchise history. The Wizards are on pace to finish 14-68, by far the worst record in the team’s 40-year history.

“Welcome to the NBA,” Commissioner David Stern said Thursday. “What I would ask [Jordan] is, ‘How is the education going?’ It takes a while and it’s not easy. He knows that. Michael Jordan got to be the world’s greatest basketball player by working at it and he’s working at being an owner, too. He’s going to be a great owner.”

Jordan donned a practice jersey and worked out with the team when he first took the job, but he has been around the team’s offices less often this season, and criticism of his absenteeism continues to mount with each loss, Rod Strickland incident or some other disturbance within the team.

Last weekend, Jordan played host to a charity golf tournament in the Bahamas. According to the New York Daily News, he also spent time gambling in a casino with other celebrities. Stern said there is nothing wrong with a team or league official gambling and that the NBA has no rules against it, as long as they don’t bet on NBA games.

With each week, the Wizards’ plight grows worse. On Monday, Coach Leonard Hamilton sent forward Tyrone Nesby--whom Jordan acquired from the Clippers in a trade for center Cherokee Parks on Nov. 28--to the locker room after Nesby cursed out the coach in a heated tirade on the Wizards’ bench.

Some people within the organization who did not want to be quoted said a scenario like that probably would not have occurred if Jordan were around. Jordan said he and team officials are handling the matter in the appropriate way.

Jordan said the most difficult part of his first year has been the failure to make many positive strides on the court and having to deal with criticism from media and fans.

“The toughest part is that the city of Washington expects a winning situation, and they want a quick fix,” said Jordan. “That hasn’t happened thus far. I expected that we’d be able to turn things around with the talent involved but we haven’t been able to find the right mix. Fans want to win now, which I understand. So do I. When you can’t see a whole lot of good on the court, all eyes turn to me. I have to be strong and not let negative criticism deter me from what I’m trying to do.”

Meantime, Jordan continues to explore deals for guards Strickland and Mitch Richmond. Jordan said no player is untradable.