Jordan back to practice for possible return

Michael Jordan has been showing the youngsters how it is done in Washington Wizard workouts, but the 38-year-old team president is holding off on a decision about returning to the court for the NBA team.

Jordan, who fractured two ribs during some intense workouts last month, measured himself in practices over the weekend with some of the team's draft picks and free-agent hopefuls.

"I wanted to play against some guys who I knew were probably in pretty good shape and were hungry," Jordan, who retired from playing after the 1997-98 season, told the Washington Post.

"It's better than playing with some guys who probably have been taking some time off and aren't in as good of shape."

Jordan, the six-time NBA champion, said he has resumed conditioning work and hoped to begin lifting weights next week. He said he would wear a protective flak jacket to guard his healing ribs when he begins scrimmaging again.

Wizards coach Doug Collins told the Post several players had told him Jordan was dominant in the practice sessions during the team's mini-camp.

"He makes the game look so easy," Collins said. "He never wastes any motion. Michael almost plays the game as if he's watching it in slow motion."

Jordan, who is not planning to play with the Wizards in their six-game summer league, told the newspaper he was planning to steadily increase his workload and hopes to decide whether he can play again in time to avoid distractions for the team.

"At some point I have to go ahead and keep the question from being a nagging situation," Jordan said. "The curiosity is going to increase. I hope to jump ahead of that before it gets to a point where it affects what we're trying to do."

The Wizards open their training camp on October 3.