The force is strong in the post: The NBA equivalent for every Star Wars film

Episode I — The Phantom Menace is Michael Jordan’s return with the Wizards

When The Phantom Menace hit theaters on May 12, 1999, it had been 16 years since a new Star Wars film was released. The hype surrounding the release of the movie was out of this world as fans and the media anticipated the return of one of the most beloved movie franchises of all-time.

The results were…mixed.

While the movie was a major box-office success reviews from both fans and critics were split on the film. The movie left fans with an “I’m glad this is back, but it’s just not quite the same as I remember” feeling.

Film critic Roger Ebert wrote in his review of The Phantom Menace:

"If it were the first “Star Wars” movie, “The Phantom Menace” would be hailed as a visionary breakthrough. But this is the fourth movie of the famous series, and we think we know the territory; many of the early reviews have been blase, paying lip service to the visuals and wondering why the characters aren’t better developed. How quickly do we grow accustomed to wonders."

The movie was not without amazing moments; the pod race sequence, the final lightsaber battle, and the overall spectacle of the film itself were sights to behold. Ebert wondered whether we had just begun to become bored with it all.

"I am reminded of the Isaac Asimov story “Nightfall,” about the planet where the stars were visible only once in a thousand years. So awesome was the sight that it drove men mad. We who can see the stars every night glance up casually at the cosmos and then quickly down again, searching for a Dairy Queen."

Michael Jordan returned to the NBA as a member of the Washington Wizards in 2001 after two seasons away from the game. His comeback was met with much fanfare and anticipation, but just like the first of the Star Wars prequels, the reality of his return was mixed.

While the team was a major box-office success, selling out every home game for Jordan’s two seasons with the team, the Wizards failed to make the playoffs for each of those years.

Jordan averaged 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in an injury-shortened 2001-02 campaign. On December 21, 2001, he went off for a 51-point performance and entered himself into the record books as the oldest player in history to score 50 points in a game.

He played all 82 games the following season and put up averages of 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while being named an All-Star for the 14th time of his career. He scored 43 points against the Nets on February 23, 2003, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40 points over the age of 40.

Jordan’s return was not without its amazing moments, but while people seemed to be glad he was back, something about him just wasn’t the same.

How quickly we grow accustomed to wonders.