WASHINGTON — Just 16 games into the season, Michael Jordan might have to take an extended break.
Instead of practicing with the Washington Wizards on Monday, Jordan was to spend another day in Chicago having his right knee examined by the Bulls' former team physician.
Jordan has tendinitis in the knee, hyperextended it during preseason and barely has been able to practice because it is sore, swollen and needs fluid drained.
The best remedy usually is rest, which means Jordan could go on the injured list and miss a handful of games. If tests show ligament or cartilage damage or worse, he'll be out much longer.
"I have to make sure there's no ligament damage and get it treated, get it drained and see what the doctors say I have to do and see if I can get rid of it," Jordan said after Saturday night's loss to the Orlando Magic.
Jordan last missed an NBA game because of injury on March 5, 1993, against San Antonio, when he was hospitalized with a foot infection.
Coincidentally, the Wizards' next opponent is San Antonio on Tuesday, the start of a four-game road trip.
"I'd rather continue to play," Jordan said. "But if it's not going to get any better other than me sitting out — long-term, I want to play later in the season."
Saturday night's game was the fourth in five night for the Wizards, but coach Doug Collins said Jordan has been ailing all season. Jordan's inability to practice most days has made it hard to develop team chemistry on the court.
"Michael can't go through a full practice," Collins said. "They don't get much practice time with M.J.. We've got to keep him fresh for the game. I can't ask Michael to go through a 1 1/2-hour practice and ask him to play 35 minutes."
Jordan scored a season-low 15 points in the 96-87 loss to Orlando. Matched one-on-one against Tracy McGrady, Jordan was 2-for-12 in the second half, missed all four shots he took in the fourth quarter and was taken out by Collins with 3:50 to play and the Wizards trailing by 13.
"He would have played until the end of the game no matter what, because he doesn't want to make it look like he's walking away," Collins said. "But I saw him stop a couple of times, just shoot his jump shot, and it's almost like he didn't put the leg down. I said to the coaches, 'That's it.' "
The rigors of an NBA schedule on Jordan's 38-year-old body seemed the biggest obstacle in his second comeback. He was slowed by back spasms, two cracked ribs and knee tendinitis in workouts to get in shape over the summer. Nevertheless, when he announced his return, he said he planned to play all 82 regular season games.
Any decision to sit will be made by Jordan and the doctors. Collins said he would never make the suggestion himself.
"I'd never say that to Michael," Collins said. "Michael taught me a long time ago, 'Never keep a thoroughbred from running.' Because at some point and time, if you do, they won't want to run."