WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan's comeback bid is back on
track.
Minutes after signing his name on top pick Kwame Brown's
contract, the Washington Wizards president morphed into a Wizards
prospect, making a surprise appearance at practice for the first
time since breaking two ribs.
"Michael was Michael; he looked good," guard Chris Whitney
said. "He didn't even have to try, the way he moved, used screens
and those type of things. He looked good. He went as hard as he
could go."
Jordan even survived some rough contact, getting knocked to the
floor the first time the practice went full court. No. 1 overall
pick Brown, who signed a three-year, $11.9 million deal, said
Jordan showed no effect from the two broken ribs suffered in a
pickup game a month ago.
"He got up and played harder. He's Mike," Brown said. "You
can't keep up with Mike. He's a step ahead of everybody. With two,
three broken ribs, it doesn't matter."
Jordan's injury was supposed to keep him from full-fledged
practices or games for six weeks. His return Friday, the first day
of a Wizards three-day minicamp, was two weeks ahead of schedule.
"He's feeling much better, and I think he's itching to start
getting back into the swing of things," coach Doug Collins said.
"But I know his spirit and heart is to start pushing it and to get
himself into condition. With him, I just sort of sit back and
watch. With him being president of the team, I think we'll keep two
spots open for him."
Jordan tried to keep his workout a secret, leaving by a side
door while reporters were kept waiting in a hallway outside the
Wizards practice court. He was not available for comment. Collins
didn't even mention that Jordan had practiced, leaving the players
to spill the beans.
Brown said he could tell Jordan was in such a hurry to get to
practice when they were upstairs signing the contract.
"He was ready to go down. He just signed his name and left,"
Brown said. "He was ready to play."
As for Brown, the first high school player to be drafted No. 1
overall, he ended his first practice by making his first two clutch
NBA shots. Alone at the, he sank two free throws that kept the team
from running six wind sprints.
Brown was immediately surrounded and congratulated with
hand-slaps and high-fives.
"Nobody likes to run," Brown said.
Brown said the first thing that needs work is his conditioning.
"I'm not ready to compete at an NBA level," Brown said. "I
didn't know the game was this fast. On TV, it looked real slow. I
thought college was faster."
Brown is a 6-foot-11, 240-pound center from Glynn Academy in
Brunswick, Ga. At 19, he is the youngest player taken with the
first overall pick. His first real game action comes next week in a
summer league tournament at Boston.
Meanwhile, Collins confirmed the team has reached an agreement
to sign free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue. The deal can't be
officially announced until Wednesday, the first day free agents can
sign with other teams.
Lue played strong defense on Allen Iverson in the NBA Finals. He
averaged 3.4 points and 1.2 assists in 38 games for the Los Angeles
Lakers last season.
Lue would share point guard duties with Whitney, who said he had
recovered from the ankle injuries that bothered him last season.
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