LOS ANGELES -- NBA Commissioner David Stern said on Wednesday that he saw "no downside" if Michael Jordan returned as a player.

Is the greatest player of all time really coming back?

Jordan getting close look at prospects

CHICAGO -- Here's one way to evaluate potential draftees. Michael Jordan is working out against some of the Washington Wizards' prospective draft choices in order to gauge their skills, a source claiming knowledge of the situation told the Washington Post in its Thursday edition. Although Jordan declined to comment on his workouts, he said he would not be reluctant to use the No. 1 overall choice on any of the top lottery-bound players -- Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown, DeSagana Diop or Tyson Chandler -- or on a player like Seton Hall forward Eddie Griffin, who has one year of college experience. "In taking a high school player, you have to understand that it's going to take some time for him to reach his peak," Jordan told the Post. "The potential is there but then he has to get to a point where he understands the game and hopefully adapts to the coaching where he eventually becomes an impact player to the organization over the long term." Griffin, Chandler and Curry have worked out for the Wizards, although Jordan, the team president and part owner, did not play against all of those prospects. The Wizards also plan to work out Brown and Duke forward Shane Battier, the only projected top-five choice to play four years of college ball, over the next two weeks. Jordan also refused to discuss his possible comeback. He is still working out daily and practicing with some NBA veterans but has not decided whether to end his three-year retirement, according to several people close to Jordan.

"I don't know. Michael knows," Stern told reporters after his news conference before Game One of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I think he's on a certain course. If he thinks he can do it he'll do it. Otherwise he's spending a lot of time in the gym," Stern said with a laugh. "I think he wants to see if he can get to a place where he's satisfied."

Said Stern: "There's no downside I can see. I guess the downside everyone's worrying about would be like if there was a major prize fighter who shouldn't take any more punches.

"But my guess is that's why Michael is testing himself in the gym, and he'll make that judgement about as coolly and dispassionately as anyone possibly could."

Jordan is reportedly working out hard and has opened the door more and more when talking about a possible comeback, despite those who say they would not want to see him diminished by age and would rather remember him in his freeze-frame pose after winning his sixth championship in 1998 on the last shot of his career.

"The thing I like about it the most, frankly," said Stern, "is that after all of us are busy with our own romantic notions, the guy who is the best basketball player on the planet decides he may want to play what he does best and loves the most. And suddenly us fans are saying no, no, no, remember The Shot.

"No one told Fred Astaire to stop dancing. Why should we tell Michael to stop playing basketball at the highest level that he possibly can?"

Stern claimed no-one in the NBA had encouraged Jordan to return or not return, despite the boost in popularity that a comeback might bring.

"No, I haven't encouraged him," said Stern. "Oh no, you don't tell Michael what to do.

"We didn't encourage him to leave the first time (when he quit to try minor league baseball), we didn't encourage him to come back the first time; we didn't encourage him to leave the second time, we didn't encourage him to come back. He's very much going to do what he wants to do."

But the speculation is good for the game, Stern said.

"It's positive, of course it is. It's all part of the drama of basketball. Will he, won't he? Can he, can't he?"

The commissioner said some of the game's newest stars -- Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Allen Iverson of the 76ers, as well as Toronto's Vince Carter and Charlotte's Baron Davis -- would love Jordan to return.

	“	No one told Fred Astaire to stop dancing. Why should we tell Michael to stop playing basketball at the highest level that he possibly can? ”
		— David Stern

"In fact, Kobe and Allen and Vince and Baron Davis and a slew of speedy guards and others would relish the opportunity to both play against and tell their grandchildren they played against Michael Jordan. Whether he will enjoy that opportunity as much, I don't know."

Stern had already said in his news conference the league rule against owners playing would stand but that Jordan could easily release his share in the Washington Wizards.

"We've issued no instructions yet, but our rules, our Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides that a player cannot own an interest in a team, and it was enforced with respect to a gentleman this city is familiar with, named Magic Johnson."

He added: "Everybody sort of knows our rules and our lawyers talk to team lawyers, they talk to agents, they talk to lawyers for players, so there's no serious issue here about what the rules are or the best way to comply with them."

Jordan could retain his ownership stake in the NHL's Washington Capitals, which he owns through the same holding company that has his stake in the Wizards.

"Sure. Absolutely. But we'll try to help him out," Stern said, smiling. "If he needs any help on the subject, we could help him structure a transaction."