PITTSBURGH -- Mario Lemieux couldn't be happier if he is the man to lure Michael Jordan out of retirement.

Lemieux said Tuesday he has talked to his golfing buddy in the last 10 days about his plans and that he expects Jordan to return to the court next season.

"I think it's great for basketball and, obviously, I'm very excited about it," Lemieux said of reports of a possible Jordan comeback. "He's going to give it a shot and he's working very hard. He's taking his time, he's taking a few months to get ready, but I'm sure when he gets back, he'll be the best player again."

On Monday, Washington Wizards majority owner Abe Pollin said Lemieux's successful comeback might be the catalyst that drives Jordan back into uniform.

Jordan is part-owner and president of basketball operations for the Wizards and reportedly is working out up to six hours a day.

"It's his decision. I didn't think he'd come back when I first heard the talk. But when Mario Lemieux came back to the Penguins, it stirred something in Michael," Pollin said.

Lemieux has seen Jordan's competitive nature on the golf course, so Pollin's comments didn't surprise him. Jordan and Lemieux have become good friends in recent years while playing in numerous celebrity golf tournaments, and Jordan regularly plays in Lemieux's charity tournament.

"I think the success I've had coming back, playing at a high level, probably gave him the confidence to do this as well," Lemieux said. "He's a great athlete and he's got a great mind, he's the best of all time, and I'm looking forward to seeing it."

Lemieux shrugged off suggestions that Jordan returning to basketball at age 38 would be much more difficult than Lemieux returning to hockey at 35.

Lemieux ended a 44-month retirement in late December and quickly re-established himself as the NHL's pre-eminent scorer with 35 goals and 41 assists in 43 games.

"He's in great shape," said Lemieux, whose Penguins open the Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday in Washington. "He didn't put on 30 pounds like I did. He was the best player when he retired and I'm sure he's going to be the best player again."

Lemieux and Jordan talk regularly, and Lemieux also hinted last month following a previous talk with Jordan that a comeback was likely.

"It's going to be very exciting for the game of basketball," Lemieux said March 16 during a Penguins road trip to Florida. "When he comes back, he's going to be the best in the game."