3. Jordan’s final shot in a Bulls uniform for his sixth championship and second three-peat
When you think of a veteran lacing up for their final game in a movie, the best possible ending would be for them to hit the game-winning shot to win a championship. However, even in a movie, this can seem cliché. Not only did Michael Jordan hit a championship-winning shot with 5.2 seconds left in game six of the NBA Finals, but it was for his sixth championship and third in a row as he took his final shot in a Chicago Bulls uniform.
This was the Chicago Bulls’ second straight year playing the Jazz in the NBA Finals having bested them for the Bulls fifth championship of the decade and second straight in ‘97 during the prior season. The Jazz wanted revenge and came back better the next year with Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton and second all-time leading scorer Karl Malone for a finals rematch in ‘98 with a rivalry brewing for the Bulls in their, “Last Dance”.
Pippen was playing with an injured back limping on the court as Michael would have to go at it alone.
Even with an injured back, Pippen hit a mid-range jump hook for the Bulls, but Stockton quickly responded with a 3-point splash for the Jazz. The Bulls called time out under a minute to go as Jordan took over and immediately hit a finger roll layup over a defender with his signature tongue out pose to put the Bulls within one point of winning their sixth championship. On the next play, Michael Jordan once again proved why he is not only the best offensive player but the best defensive player too by popping up from behind Karl Malone stealing the ball from Malone’s blindside.
Finally, with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Chicago Bulls down by one with everyone knowing this would be Jordan’s last shot in the uniform where he’d begun his NBA career turning this franchise from nothing into an all-time dynasty, Jordan would dribble the ball up court to try and win it for the Bulls one last time.
MJ dribbled as everyone got out of the way knowing the best player on the team was going to take the last shot to win the championship. He was at the top of the free-throw line able to attack, pull up or step back on Utah defender Byron Russell as Jordan crosses him over right to left and pulled up for the shot with his hand hanging in the air as the ball seemingly went into slow motion before swishing through the rim for the championship game-winning shot, which was the only way for MJ and the Bulls to bow out in their last dance.