Jordan Defends His Hands-Off Strategy With Lowly Wizards

Michael Jordan said it’s no accident that he hasn’t attended Washington Wizards’ practices.

The five-time NBA most valuable player, who is now a fledgling executive, said he’s fighting the urge to lace up his sneakers and show his struggling team what it means to be a winner.

“There’s a strategy to this madness,” Jordan, who joined the Wizards as the team’s president of basketball operations a year ago, said in an interview from his Washington office. “Once I get around practices I get more vocal, I get more hands on. It’s hard for me to keep my hands from dipping into everything that involves basketball.”

Jordan practiced with the team the day after joining the franchise. Since then, though, Jordan sightings have been sporadic, leaving him open to criticism from those who say he doesn’t spend enough time with the players.

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Phoenix acquired guard Vinny Del Negro from Golden State in exchange for reserves Corie Blount, Paul McPherson and Ruben Garces. . . . Atlanta put point guard Brevin Knight on the injured list because of a strained right groin. . . Charlotte signed guard Doug Overton to a 10-day contract.