[The idols who once stood ahead of Jordan fell one after another.
Isiah Thomas and his Pistons declined, then disappeared without a trace like melting snow in springtime.
Larry Bird retired in July 1991; age, injuries, and inconsistent shooting prevented him from prolonging his time on the court.
But what shocked Jordan the most was Magic Johnson's retirement.
On November 7, 1991, Jordan was training when Johnson's agent, Lang Rosen, called the Bulls' public relations head, Tim Harleem.
Jordan quickly learned the bad news, and the elite circle of the NBA knew earlier that Johnson would announce his retirement that afternoon due to testing positive for HIV.
Jordan was stunned; when he came to his senses, he asked, "Is he going to die?"
Johnson was Jordan's idol during his school days, a basketball hero, and his departure was utterly unbelievable.
