Michael Jordan to retire - paper

Basketball legend Michael Jordan will retire next spring, ending a 14-year playing career that began in 1984 with the Chicago Bulls, the Washington Post reported in its Friday edition.

"Right now I'm fulfilling my contract," Jordan, who is in the final season of a two-year, $2.1 million deal with the Washington Wizards, told the Post. "At the end of this season I'm not looking to enter another contract."

Jordan said he plans to resume his role as the Wizards' president of basketball operations after the current season.

"That's my intent," Jordan said of becoming the team's top basketball official.

Jordan, 39, came out of his second retirement before last season after working as the Wizards' top basketball official since Jan. 19, 2000. He signed a two-year, $2.1 million contract upon his return to the court.

Months before his comeback, Jordan said he was "99.9 percent" certain he would not play again, only to restart a basketball career that had been spent exclusively with the Bulls.

But Jordan insisted this time he would definitely retire, "100 percent, I'm sure."

Jordan has been dogged by injury since joining the Wizards. Right knee problems that led to surgery forced him to miss 20 games last season. This season, Jordan has made most of his playing appearances off the bench and is the Wizards' second highest scorer.

Also read: The Jordan Files