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Reading: Michael Jordan Explains Why He Didn’t Push Bryon Russell Before Sinking ‘The Last Shot’
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Michael Jordan Explains Why He Didn’t Push Bryon Russell Before Sinking ‘The Last Shot’

Michael Jordan Explains Why He Didn’t Push Bryon Russell Before Sinking ‘The Last Shot’

Orlando Silva
May 18, 2020
2 Min Read
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Michael Jordan’s last shot with the Chicago Bulls was one to remember. For real. The GOAT gave his team a one-point lead that would seal the deal for them, winning the Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, giving the sixth titles to the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan steals the ball from Karl Malone, the Bulls are down by one, 10 seconds left on the clock. He goes against Russell, goes right before crossing over to his left, with his left hand making contact with Russell’s left thigh. He gets enough space to make the shot, which would give the Bulls the lead and the victory.

That was a great shot, no doubt about it, but it wasn’t free of controversy. A lot of people consider MJ pushed off the player who was guarding him during that play, Bryon Russell. Well, that’s not the case for MJ, who addressed that sequence and explained why he didn’t push off Russell as the man was heading in a certain direction anyway.

“Everybody said I pushed off,” Jordan said in the last episode of his 10-part docu-series ‘The Last Dance’. “Bullshit. The man, his energy was going that way, I didn’t have to push him that way.

The Last Shot.#TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/Mhbajti9Nr

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 18, 2020

Jordan has explained why he didn’t push Russell, but that is still debatable for a lot of people, who think His Airness made illegal contact with his defender during that play. Well, 22 years have passed since that moment; MJ is still a 6x NBA champion and despite what people may think of that play, that won’t change.

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TAGGED:Chicago Bulls ArchiveMichael JordanUtah Jazz Archive
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ByOrlando Silva
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Orlando Silva has been a part of Fadeaway World for over three years now, starting in March 2019. Trade rumors, hottest news, controversies, and basketball gossip have become his specialties. After several years of seeing the Spurs dominate the playoffs, they've become his favorite team as players for the franchise either rise to the occasion or fall completely from grace. When he's not talking about the NBA, Orlando can be seen watching other sports, making music, or enjoying television series.
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