I still remember being at Grandma’s house, watching a game between the Chicago Bulls and the Seattle SuperSonics with my cousin. It was my first glimpse of the kid from North Carolina flying all over the court — and the other team — leading the Bulls to victory. I was hooked.

Now that the NBA playoffs have begun, and the Washington Wizards missed out on a chance at postseason play, it’s time for us to watch Michael Jordan ride off into the sunset.

Again.

I’ve already seen him retire from basketball three times before. Yes, I did say three times. I used the Wizards while playing in franchise mode on “NBA Live” this year, and after my first season was complete, Jordan retired on me. I tried to convince him to stay by creating Charles Barkley and signing him to a lucrative deal, but it just wasn’t enough to convince MJ to lace up his cyber-Air Jordans for one more year.

Looking back on his two official retirements, I think most would agree with me that they were both completely unnecessary. After the first three-peat, Jordan’s father, James, was murdered. He said he could live the rest of his life knowing that his dad had seen his last game as a pro. But then he came back, completely negating that statement.

While he was out, Jordan got tired of only competing on the golf course, so he used his pull with Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to get himself a shot at professional baseball. Summing up this attempt to fulfill another dream of Jordan’s was best done by Sports Illustrated, who put His Airness on the cover, swinging at an elusive curveball, and missing, with the words “Bag It, Michael” running across the bottom.

You have to give Michael credit for trying to chase this other dream of his, but come on. He deserved to be on a pro baseball team about as much as Iowa quarterback Brad Banks deserves to be in the NFL.

Jordan eventually took SI’s advice and hung up his cleats, and, to everyone’s joy, returned to the game he belongs.

In that comeback, Jordan started out wearing the number 45, still paying tribute to his dad, and boosting Champion’s jersey sales, but then switched back to 23 when Nick Anderson made Mike look like a chump in the Chicago-Orlando series. The Bulls lost anyway, but came back the next season with a much-improved team, adding Dennis Rodman to the mix, and winning three more titles.

After making one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history, again, Jordan retired, leading to the final dismantling of one of the greatest dynasties in sports. Now Jordan’s former coach, Phil Jackson, is trying to grow an extra hand so he has enough fingers for all of his championship rings. He’ll have an extra few years while the Kings dominate the league. Scottie Pippen is riding the pine for the Blazers, Dennis Rodman has probably had a sex change, and the Bulls are venturing into the draft lottery for the fourth consecutive year.

Jordan then got into the league by way of Washington’s front office, and was basically in charge of personnel moves, but realizing that wasn’t good enough, he threw a Wizards jersey on. Jordan showed he could still bring it on any given night, but also showed he actually is human. He was injured. He got tired. And he wasn’t able to will a team to victory like he could while sporting the red and white.

I’m only 22 years old and haven’t been able to see some of the legends of the game, but from what I’ve seen, Jordan is the greatest of all time. He has meant the most to the NBA, and to the world in general. You have to wonder, where would Nike be without the Jumpman?

It’s just too bad that he now uses his name to sell some of the ugliest merchandise I have ever seen, although he does do all right every now and then.

Though there hasn’t been an official announcement on his retirement, MJ has already said he is 100 percent sure he has played his last game.

Should Jordan decide to play another season, he would single-handedly change the face of the mathematical world, since it would mean that 100 percent is still not complete. So what would be the largest percent you could have? Maybe some of the coaches and announcers in the world have all been right this whole time — someone really can give 110 percent.

So, to the man who was responsible for me falling in love with basketball as a kid, and playing it all my life — so long, Michael.

Just do me one favor. Please stay away from the PGA Tour.