Against which team did Michael Jordan make his NBA return in 1995?

Michael Jordan made his NBA return against the Indiana Pacers in 1995.

Jordan announced his return to basketball on March 18, 1995, with the famous two-word statement “I’m back.” The following day, March 19, he rejoined the Chicago Bulls for a nationally televised road game against Indiana at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

He wore number 45 rather than his familiar number 23 and scored 19 points, adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The Pacers won 103–96 in overtime, so Jordan’s first game back was not a victory, but it marked his return after roughly 17 months away from the NBA.

A frequent mix-up is Jordan’s later game against the New York Knicks, when he scored 55 points at Madison Square Garden. That “Double Nickel” performance became his most famous early comeback game, but it was not his first game back. The return itself happened against Indiana.