11-28-2002, 10:32 PM
(per ESPN.com - <a href='http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1128/1468224.html)' target='_blank'>http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1128/1468224.html)</a>
Quote:-- Michael Jordan said Thursday he will retire for the third and final time after this season and resume his role as partial owner of the Washington Wizards.
Jordan told reporters after practice that there is "zero chance'' of him coming back again, The Washington Post and the Carroll County (Md.) Times reported.
"I tell you right now that I'm just fulfilling my contract,'' said Jordan, who signed a two-year, $2.1 million deal with Washington last year after stepping down from his executive duties. "At the end of this season, I'm not looking at another contract. I just want to finish this year out and hopefully fulfill my obligations and let this team take its own course.''
Jordan, who will turn 40 in February, returned to basketball last season because he said he still felt the need to compete.
Asked if he's leaving himself any wiggle room to return next season, Jordan said, "After this, there will be no want. I'm 100 percent sure that after this I'm done.''