Michael Jordan’s legacy is built on perfection at the highest level: six trips to the NBA Finals, six championships, and six Finals MVPs. But one of the most overlooked aspects of his postseason dominance is the fact that he was never the underdog in a single playoff series during any of his championship runs.
Not once did oddsmakers pick against his Chicago Bulls from the first round to the Finals, and he delivered every single time.
In fact, Jordan’s Bulls went a staggering 28-1 in a series where they entered as the favorite, a mark that speaks to the consistency and superiority of those 1990s Chicago teams.
The lone series loss? The 1995 second-round series against the Orlando Magic after Jordan had just returned from his baseball sabbatical midway through the season, wearing No. 45. It was the only time Jordan lost a playoff series after 1990, and he came back the next year with a vengeance.
Let’s break down his six title runs and the matchups he faced:
1991 NBA Playoffs
– Beat New York Knicks 3-0 in 1991 1st Round
– Beat Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 in 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals
– Beat Detroit Pistons 4-0 in 1991 Eastern Conference Finals
– Beat Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in 1991 NBA Finals
1992 NBA Playoffs
– Beat Miami Heat 3-0 in 1992 1st Round
– Beat New York Knicks 4-3 in 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals
– Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2 in 1992 Eastern Conference Finals
– Beat Portland Trail Blazers 4-2 in 1992 NBA Finals
1993 NBA Playoffs
– Beat Atlanta Hawks 3-0 in 1993 1st Round
– Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals
– Beat New York Knicks 4-2 in 1993 Eastern Conference Finals
– Beat Phoenix Suns 4-2 in 1993 NBA Finals
1996 NBA Playoffs
– Beat Miami Heat 3-0 in 1996 1st Round
– Beat New York Knicks 4-1 in 1996 Eastern Conference Semifinals
– Beat Orlando Magic 4-0 in 1996 Eastern Conference Finals
– Beat Seattle SuperSonics 4-2 in 1996 NBA Finals
1997 NBA Playoffs
– Beat Washington Bullets 3-0 in 1997 1st Round
– Beat Atlanta Hawks 4-1 in 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals
– Beat Miami Heat 4-1 in 1997 Eastern Conference Finals
– Beat Utah Jazz 4-2 in 1997 NBA Finals
1998 NBA Playoffs
– Beat New Jersey Nets 3-0 in 1998 1st Round
– Beat Charlotte Hornets 4-1 in 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals
– Beat Indiana Pacers 4-3 in 1998 Eastern Conference Finals
– Beat Utah Jazz 4-2 in 1998 NBA Finals
What Does This Tell Us About Michael Jordan’s Greatness?
Now let’s put that into context. While Jordan was 28–1 as the favorite, he was 4–4 in playoff series where he was the underdog, all before his championship runs began or during his Wizards years.
Meanwhile, LeBron James is 32–3 when favored and 5–10 when the underdog. That 5–10 underdog record is often framed as heroic, and in many ways, it is. His 2016 comeback over the 73–9 Warriors is one of the greatest upsets ever. But it also highlights how many times LeBron’s teams entered series as the less favored side.
Kobe Bryant was 32–5 as the favorite and 1–6 as the underdog. His lone upset win as an underdog came against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals. This shows Kobe struggled to win a playoff series when the odds were stacked against him.
Being the favorite doesn’t mean it’s easy. It means you carry the burden of expectations, and Jordan carried that weight every single spring. Not once did his Bulls shrink under pressure during his Finals runs. Not once did they let a lesser team catch them slipping.
In fact, what’s remarkable is that Jordan’s dominance wasn’t just about rings. It was about never being in doubt. He didn’t need a Game 7 in the Finals. He didn’t blow a 3–1 lead. He didn’t get swept. And he didn’t enter a single playoff series during his title runs as the underdog.
This is part of why Jordan’s mythology is untouchable. He didn’t just win, he was expected to win, and he did every time. No missteps. No excuses. No lost Finals. Perfect record. Perfect legacy.
