Highlights

• Despite being considered the GOAT of basketball, Michael Jordan had some lackluster performances throughout his career.
• Jordan's worst games came in the later years of his career, showing that he aged like any other athlete.
• Even though he had some bad games, Jordan's overall impact and success cannot be disputed.

For most of the fans who love the best basketball in the world, Michael Jordan was and has been the greatest player in NBA history. And really, if we review his spectacular performances and his great dynasty with the Chicago Bulls in the '90s, and the number of individual awards and trophies, there are not many arguments left to dispute such a statement.

But is His Airness an infallible being? He is human, after all, and he had some lackluster performances throughout his career. Although these performances aren't that bad for average players, Mike set the bar too high.

UPDATE: 2024/01/05 18:00 EST BY ROBERTH PEREZ

Throughout NBA history there have been many talented players, such as LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant or Stephen Curry, but many fans think they never lived up to Michael Jordan. "His Airness" is considered the GOAT of basketball, as he had many mind-blowing performances and led the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s.

Some thought Jordan was an alien, but some of his performances were bad, making it clear that he could also have a bad day and a mediocre game. And it was also clear that he aged like any other athlete, as most of his worst games were in the last years of his career.

10 Chicago Bulls Vs. Seattle Supersonics - June 12, 1996

Michael Jordan Was Unrecognizable

The fourth game of the NBA Finals of the 1995-96 season, played at the KeyArena at Seattle Center between the Seattle Supersonics and the Chicago Bulls before 17,072 attendees, was the scene of one of the two worst games of Michael Jordan in postseason stages (in which he was practically flawless). Despite scoring 23 points, his overall performance was terrible, he had a 31.6 field goal percentage, only three rebounds, two assists, and committed four turnovers.

9 Washington Wizards Vs. Chicago Bulls - January 24, 2003

One Of The Worst Games Of Michael Jordan's NBA Career Was Against His Beloved Chicago Bulls

In front of the public that raved about him for years and still idolized him, Jordan played a game to forget. Despite being in the Washington Wizards squad, the ovation he received when he took the ball was incredible. Unfortunately, he was unable to repay the love that night, putting up a line of just 11 points in 39 minutes played, making four of 14 shots from the field, with five rebounds and three assists in the Wizards' 104-97 loss to the Bulls.

8 Chicago Bulls Vs. New Jersey Nets - November 17, 1995

Michael Jordan Had A Below-average Performance

At the beginning of his first full season after the break of his first retirement (playing baseball with the Birmingham Barons), Air Jordan had a very relaxed night with five turnovers in 33 minutes played against a fairly regular New Jersey Nets team, including only three rebounds and three assists and a total of 18 points, numbers that are well below his standards. Despite that bad night, the Chicago Bulls came out victorious 109-94.

7 Washington Wizards Vs. Detroit Pistons - December 26, 2002

Michael Jordan Was Not A Pivotal Player Anymore

Michael Jordan returned (after three years) in 2001 to the best basketball league in the world, now with the Washington Wizards. But as it is completely normal in all aspects of life, time does not pass in vain. In this last stage as an active player, he would star in some of his grayest games.

On December 26, 2002, in the loss at the MCI Center to the Detroit Pistons with a score of 87-82, he had a lackluster performance. Mr. June played 41 minutes, recording four rebounds, one assist, four turnovers, and just 17 points scored.

6 Washington Wizards Vs. New Jersey Nets - December 13, 2002

Michael Jordan Scored Just 12 Points

Against Jason Kidd's New Jersey Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena, Michael Jordan wrote another of his sad stories in terms of on-court performances. Mike had just 12 points scored -four in the whole second half - only five successful baskets in 20 attempts, with five rebounds, four assists, and four turnovers. An unrecognizable Michael Jordan could not help his team, but the defense applied by the Nets was absolutely remarkable, allowing 65 points while scoring 79.

5 Chicago Bulls Vs. Golden State Warriors - January 30, 1998

Michael Jordan Had A Field Goal Percentage Of .118

In his last season with the Chicago Bulls, the last dance, and days before turning 35, Michael Jordan had one of his most unfortunate nights on the court. With a field goal shooting percentage of .118 (two out of 17), anyone would think that it really wasn't him that night. Inexplicable to see him miss so much and for that reason, we include this game among his worst, despite his eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals, with a total of 14 points (10 free throws). Still, the Bulls defeated the Golden State Warriors, 87-80.

4 Washington Wizards Vs. Toronto Raptors - December 15, 2002

Michael Jordan Barely Scored Two Points, The Lowest Of His NBA Career

Play 39 minutes and make only one shot from the field in nine attempts? Not standing at the free throw line even once all night? Awful, right? Do these seem like numbers worthy of Michael Jordan? Absolutely not, but that night they were.

However, he did manage to grab eight rebounds and recorded nine dimes to help the Wizards win 95-82 against the Toronto Raptors. The most incredible thing, and not in a good way, was that MJ only scored two points in that game. Yes, you read that right. This was the lowest-scoring game of his NBA career.

3 Washington Wizards Vs. San Antonio Spurs - January 15, 2002

Michael Jordan Had A Mediocre Performance Against Tim Duncan & David Robinson

After three seasons of absence due to his second retirement, Michael Jordan returned, but it became evident that things for him would not be as "easy" as in his previous seasons with the Chicago Bulls. His Wizards that night faced the San Antonio Spurs of David Robinson and Tim Duncan. The result? Nothing pretty for Michael. In 40 minutes played, he managed to score 20 points, with a 23.8 field goal percentage, with four assists, four turnovers, and a single rebound.

2 Washington Wizards Vs. New Jersey Nets - January 29, 2003

Michael Jordan Had A Forgettable Game

Just a couple of months before the last game of Michael Jordan's professional career, those attending the Washington game of the home team against the New Jersey Nets witnessed one of the worst performances of his successful career. Out of 16 shots attempted, he had only four made, scoring eight points, with no three-pointers, five rebounds, and five assists, plus three turnovers. It's no wonder the Wizards lost the game, 78-86, against the Nets.

1 Chicago Bulls Vs. Orlando Magic - May 7, 1995

Michael Jordan Could Not Prevent Bulls' Elimination

Michael Jordan always shined in the Playoffs, but not this time. In the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic, Michael Jordan played arguably the worst game of his NBA career. Five rebounds, three assists, eight turnovers, and 19 points scored, with a 36.4 field goal percentage in 40 minutes. Mike also had an awful -11.3 box plus/minus. As expected, the Chicago Bulls lost that game, 91-94, in what would be the beginning of a painful defeat in that series.