Michael Jordan is synonymous with the No. 23. Sure, he wore 45 when he returned with the Washington Wizards, but he always had the same jersey number with the Chicago Bulls — except for a lone game against the Orlando Magic 34 years ago today.
Someone stole MJ’s jersey and the team was without a backup for its star. Bulls staffers reportedly searched the crowd for a No. 23 kit that would fit the 6-foot-6 Jordan to no avail.
So instead, His Airness took the court wearing a No. 12 jersey without a name on the back.
“That has never happened to me before,” Jordan told the Orlando Sentinel after the game. “It’s pretty irritating because you’re accustomed to certain things and you don’t like to have things misplaced.”
“People were accusing Magic personnel of stealing the jersey, cleaning crews, just about anyone working in the building that day,” said Rodney “Sid” Powell, the equipment manager and director of team operations.
“A couple days later, they found out from security that one of their personnel had set up a plan to get the jersey, had actually gone through another locker room, climbed over the ceilings, came through a ceiling tile, grabbed the jersey, put it back in the ceiling,” Powell added. “Planning for, I guess, a few days later to come back and get it after thinking no one would figure it out.”
The jersey swap didn’t seem to affect Jordan, who scored 49 points on 21-of-43 shooting. The Magic did end up winning, 135-129, in overtime, however.
