Coming off three consecutive NBA titles and at the peak of his NBA powers in 1993, Michael Jordan did the unthinkable and walked away from the game, retiring to play professional baseball.
There have been several theories as to why Jordan chose to hang up his, well, Jordans and join the Chicago White Sox. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played with Jordan after the six-time champion's baseball hiatus, believes there's a simple explanation for Jordan's decision.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"Make no mistake about it, he faced all kinds of scrutiny, but it was different,” Kerr told ESPN's Rachel Nichols on "The Jump." “I will always maintain that the reason he really went and played baseball was because he was fried emotionally from the scrutiny that really only he felt. Just watching him, by the time I got there, watching the life that he led compared to everyone else, it was insane. And so, I think he had had enough and just stepped away for a little while, then came back and was ready to roll.”
Jordan returned to the court toward the end of the 1994-95 season. While the Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in the playoffs, Jordan's return had reinvigorated the Bulls and Jordan was motivated to get back to the top.
He led the Bulls to a 72-10 record in his first full season back in 1995-96 and rattled off three straight titles with the help of Kerr, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
[RELATED: Why Draymond thinks '17 Warriors better than 73-win team]
Golden State Warriors
Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
The final year of Jordan's run with the Bulls was chronicled by video cameras and is being released in ESPN's 10-part documentary "The Last Dance."
Kerr might be a little embarrassed by being featured on the promotional material for the documentary, but he remains one of the most recognizable faces from the Bulls' second three-peat.
Plus, his credentials as a three-time champion with the Bulls, two-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs and three-time champion as coach of the Warriors give him the necessary clout to be a focal point of "The Last Dance"
Listen and subscribe to the Runnin' Plays podcast
discussion.