Michael Jordan is more threat than thrill these days, more professor than prodigy.

To enjoy watching him play, we must appreciate that his contributions are less flamboyant than we recall.

We must to be patient while Jordan picks his spots. In the old days, we knew going in that all the spots were Michael's.

Friday night we waited until a couple of minutes into the third quarter, when Jordan, trademark tongue flapping, penetrated the lane and made a blind, curving pass around a defender to Popeye Jones for an easy shot. That was the highlight, the only play that was even close to the Jordan we all remember.

Michael's shooting touch never arrived. He was just 3-for-16 from the floor and scored a season-low 12 points. His teammate and emerging star Richard Hamilton got hurt, and still the Wizards beat the Magic 93-75.

Instead of shooter and star, Jordan was was teacher and facilitator, a dad hitting his kids with his passes that would allow them to fire easy shots, later praising them for their efforts.

"They impressed me by stepping up and making big shots," he said afterward. "It took me a while to realize that these guys have confidence in themselves; I might as well have confidence in them too. They really made a name for themselves tonight."

Jordan, of course, doesn't need to make a name for himself. He misses no chance to remind us that he should not be compared to his old self.

"I think a lot of people pictured what happened in 1998 with the Chicago Bulls, but that's a past life in a certain sense," Jordan said. "As long as the young kids understand what winning is all about, if I can pass some of that education along on the floor instead of up in the offices, it can be a big turnaround for our franchise and I think so far it's been working pretty good."

Indeed, the Wizards won their eighth straight Friday night and continued their run as the league's biggest surprise.

Jordan has been no flop in his old age. He leads his team not just in birthdays and wrinkles, but in points and assists as well.

And brains, according to Magic head coach Doc Rivers.

"He's so much smarter than anybody else on the floor," Rivers said. "And he's the most mentally tough player ever to play the game."

Smart enough to know he's not going to outrun or out-quick the young guys and that it's silly to try.

Mentally tough enough to deal with it when a journeyman named Don Reid steals a rebound right out of his hands, or a guy named Pat Garrity dribbles around him to make a wide open shot.

It can't be easy being Mike and having once-unthinkable things like that happen to you.

NO ICE FRIDAY

But Jordan won't admit to any discomfort in his new role.

"I can step back and . . . where the team needs me that's where I can step forward and give them support," he said. "(When) I don't have to exert so much energy, that's fine with me, I'd rather sit down and ice my knees in the fourth quarter."

Friday he didn't get to do that. But he didn't take a shot in the fourth quarter either, letting the kids have the fun.

A different Michael Jordan, to be sure, but still a classy, successful one.