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Reading: Michael Jordan Reveals What Fueled Him the Most To Beat Utah In 1997
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Michael Jordan Reveals What Fueled Him the Most To Beat Utah In 1997

Michael Jordan Reveals What Fueled Him the Most To Beat Utah In 1997

Nico Martinez
May 18, 2020
2 Min Read
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To understand Michael Jordan and his run with the Chicago Bulls, you have to understand the competition he had to face.

We all know of the PIstons and the Pacers because they were MJ’s biggest challengers in the East. They pushed him to the brink multiple teams and (in the case of the Pistons) even beat him the 80s.

Toward the finals years of their run though, in the Finals, it was the Jazz who stood between the Bulls and their titles. And though Michael hardly needed any motivation to perform, he revealed in the latest episode of “The Last Dance” what it was that fueled him to beat Utah during their Finals series in 1997.

MJ finished second to Karl Malone in the 1996-97 MVP voting and he did not forget it. pic.twitter.com/5OvG6NwF1G

— ESPN (@espn) May 18, 2020

Jordan retired with 5 MVP’s, but he might have had six had Malone not won it that year. For context, MJ averaged 29.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 49.7% shooting that year. Malone, meanwhile, put up 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 55 percent shooting.

The case can certainly be made for either player, but (in this case) Malone’s MVP win probably ended up working against him. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about MJ, it’s that it’s never wise to piss him off.

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TAGGED:Michael JordanUtah Jazz Archive
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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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