It's been 22 years since Michael Jordan said 'I'm back'

With the All-Star break and trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the playoffs still a month away, and college ball dominating the sports landscape, mid-March may very qualify as the dog days of the NBA season.

Not in 1995.

It was on March 18 of that year that Michael Jordan made his comeback official following a 21-month layoff, announcing his highly anticipated return to the court with the most iconic, two-word fax of all time.

"I'm back."

As ESPN's J.A. Adande reported in a 2015 feature on Jordan's 1995 return, the 11-character masterpiece was His Airness' own doing.

Falk (Jordan's agent) wrote a couple versions of a news release and gave them to Jordan for his consideration.

"He didn't like the feel of them," Falk said. "He said, 'I'll do it myself.'"

So Jordan grabbed a piece of paper and wrote the two words that captured everything he wanted to say: "I'm back."

Jordan made his return a day later in Indiana, debuting his No. 45 as he scored 19 points on an abysmal 7-of-28 shooting, and his Bulls fell to 34-32. He quickly shook off the rust, however, going for 55 points at Madison Square Garden a week-and-a-half later as part of a 12-2 Bulls run to end the season.

Chicago would fall to Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway's Orlando Magic in the 1995 East semifinals, but with Jordan back in his familiar No. 23 jersey by the following season, the Bulls embarked on their second three-peat in eight years.