Michael Jordan Said Utah Was The Hardest Place To Play In: “They Yell A Lot Of Different Things We’re Not Accustomed To Hearing”

Michael Jordan once claimed that Utah was the hardest away city to play in due to the things the fans would say.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

• Michael Jordan faced and beat the Utah Jazz in two NBA Finals

• He believed that Utah was the toughest away arena to play at

• This was due to the Utah fans often using inappropriate ways to heckle the players on the court

Michael Jordan made the lives of fans in Utah miserable in the late ’90s as he prevented their superstar duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone from winning an NBA Championship. Those battles meant that Utah fans would bring extra vitriol for Jordan in their matchups, as he once revealed that playing in Utah was the toughest.

“Hardest place to play? Utah. Without a doubt. The fans are right there on the court, they yell a lot of different things we’re not accustomed to hearing.” 

Michael Jordan played against the Utah Jazz twice in the NBA Finals and beat them both times. In 1997, Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz 4-2, and in 1998 it was the same result. 

Jordan averaged 32.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game in the 1997 NBA Finals, and 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in the 1998 NBA Finals.


Playing In Utah Isn’t Very Easy

When it comes to the experiences of African-American players in Utah, there aren’t many positives to share. Even their own former franchise star Donovan Mitchell admitted that he struggled with the racist behavior of fans in Utah. There have been plenty of racist incidents between players and Utah fans, something Russell Westbrook can attest to. Karl Malone has previously defended Jazz fans and said there’s no racism in Utah.

Racism shouldn’t be allowed in any sport, but the experience in Utah can be improved only with systemic cultural changes. Not all Jazz fans are racist, but the ones that use racial slurs to athletes in games or make racially suggestive comments are really hurting the passionate community of Jazz fans. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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