Scottie Pippen ruminates on MJ’s comeback

Wednesday marked 20 years since Michael Jordan’s famous two-word fax declaring “I’m back.”

His longtime teammate, Scottie Pippen, took a few minutes to reflect on that momentous day and decision in Chicago Bulls history.

Pippen strung his thoughts together through the following series of tweets:

I see it's been 20 years since two of the most famous words in sports history: "I'm back"
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

To be honest, after MJ retired the first time in 1993 I thought he was done. I think a comeback was the furthest thing on his mind.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

I'll always remember how shocked we were MJ walked away from the game like that. We were ready to go for a 4th straight.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

I kept tabs on him as he played baseball but we didn't talk all that often. I gave him some space as he needed a break from basketball.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

I really didn't know how much he loved baseball until that point. He was pretty passionate about the game and showed he could hold his own.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

When MJ started showing up at Berto spring of 1995 for practices, it didn't take long to see he was serious about getting back in the game.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

We had a great year in 1993-94, no thanks to Hue Hollins, but the following season was challenging without Horace Grant.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

Horace was a huge piece for us so to be without him and Michael felt like starting over to some degree.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

We all felt after several practices that MJ's return was inevitable but once he said "I'm back" it really gave us a lift.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

He wore 45 of course and we didn't think too much about it in the moment but it wasn't the 23 we were used to seeing.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

MJ had to shake a little rust off but he showed at the Garden his swagger was back in the double nickel game.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

I think the Knicks were tired of him killing them all night so they over compensated on that last play and MJ found @34billy42 for the win.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

Losing to Orlando was tough. It had been a long time since we had MJ and lost in the playoffs. But it fueled us. He took it hard.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015

We added some pieces to the roster, including one of the great rebounders of all time in @dennisrodman, and came back ready to work.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015