This Week in NBA History: Week of Sept. 22

Michael Jordan announces he's coming out of retirement for 2nd time in 2001; Bucks acquire Damian Lillard from Blazers in 2023.

At 38 years old, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA as a member of the Washington Wizards in 2001.

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Below is a day-by-day look at landmark moments, games, performances and more from this week in NBA lore.

 

Sept. 24

 

Sept. 24, 1985

 

The Chinese national basketball team arrived in New York to begin a month of training and practice with NBA personnel, as part of the cultural and educational agreements between China and the United States.

 

Sept. 24, 1998

 

The NBA announced that the opening of training camps for the 1998-99 season have been postponed indefinitely because of the stalled collective bargaining negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association. Training camps were to open on Oct. 5.

 

Sept. 25

 

Sept. 25, 2001

 

Michael Jordan announces he is coming out of retirement again and returning to play in the NBA for the Washington Wizards.

 

Sept. 25, 2015

 

Three-time All-Star Bill Bridges passes away at 76.

 

Sept. 26

 

Sept. 26, 2020

 

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals to clinch their first Finals berth in 10 years. It was also the Lakers’ 32nd Finals appearance – the most in NBA history – and the 10-year gap between Finals appearances was the longest drought in team history.

Sept. 27

 

Sept. 27, 2020

 

The Miami Heat defeat the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals to reach The Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers clinched a Finals berth one day earlier, marking the 2020 Finals as the first NBA championship series to feature two teams that missed the playoffs the previous season (2018-19).

Sept. 27, 2023

 

In a blockbuster move, the Portland Trail Blazers trade franchise icon Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal that also involves the Phoenix Suns. The all-time leading scorer for the Blazers, Lillard heads East as the Bucks send Jrue Holiday and three future Draft picks to Portland. The Blazers also get Deandre Ayton from the Suns, with Phoenix getting Grayson Allen from Milwaukee and Keon Johnson, Nassir Little, and Jusuf Nurkic from Portland.

Sept. 28

 

Sept. 28, 1983

 

The NBA and the Players’ Association launched a unique program in professional sports aimed to combat drug abuse. The program called for treatment and rehabilitation for players testing positive for drugs, but it also provided for suspension of repeat offenders and players convicted of drug use or distribution.

 

Sept. 28, 2002

 

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame officially dedicated its new 80,000 square-foot, $103 million facility.

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