Sports books anticipated Jordan’s return

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 | 9:42 a.m.

A Michael Jordan comeback would not take Las Vegas oddsmakers by surprise.

At the Imperial Palace hotel-casino on the Strip, Jordan's possible return to the NBA has already been factored into the Washington Wizards' odds of winning the league championship.

"We didn't think there was any way an almost-40-year-old would be putting his body through those kinds of workouts unless he had intentions of coming back," said Dan Malak, sports book supervisor at the Imperial Palace.

Malak said the Wizards opened at odds of about 10-1 to win the title in the IP's future book. The line was adjusted to 20-1 shortly after Jordan broke his ribs in a summer practice session, and has since drifted up to 25-1, where it remains.

If the Wizards were in the more competitive Western Conference, Malak estimated their odds would be about 50-1. And if Jordan's return was not a consideration, Malak said, the odds on Washington winning the NBA title would be closer to 100-1.

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