Jordan to play again at 38

Michael Jordan, who raised the NBA to unimaginable heights of success and popularity with the Chicago Bulls, is returning to the league with the Washington Wizards. And, in an act of goodwill, the man most experts consider to be the game's greatest-ever player, will donate his salary this season to relief and victim assistance efforts of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

The 38-year-old Jordan once earned $30m (£21m) in a single season, but is believed to be receiving $1m (£685,000) this year because of salary-cap restrictions. "I am returning as a player to the game I love," he said simply. He had expected to announce his comeback in grand fashion two weeks ago but elected to have a low-key return following the terrorist attacks.

Many in the game have expressed misgivings about his return, fearing he might damage his reputation. The Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has already predicted that "Jordan will get his butt kicked".

Since retiring a second time in 1998, after leading the Bulls to three more NBA titles, Jordan has spent much of his time in business, even buying a minority stake in the Wizards. Jordan has signed a two-year contract and resigned as the team's president of basketball operations.