When we talk about the greatest player in NBA history, most fans believe that Michael Jordan deserves that tag unanimously. The NBA legend took the Chicago Bulls to new heights and won six NBA Championships with them.
Moreover, he was undefeated in the NBA Finals as he had an impeccable record of 6-0 at the biggest stage in the league. Jordan’s resume is full of other incredible accolades, and it’s understandable why most fans consider him the GOAT of basketball.
Speaking of his time with the Bulls, after struggling to succeed in the 1980s, MJ and the Bulls owned the 1990s. Obviously, that’s when MJ won his six rings. What’s even more impressive is the fact that by the time Jordan and the Bulls were competing in the 1997 NBA Finals, everyone had become used to their greatness.
One of the best examples of it was during Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. At that point in time, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Bulls would win their 5th ring, and it would be none other than Mike who would lead them to success.
Coming back to the topic at hand, during Game 1 of the series, the scores were tied at 82-82, and MJ had the ball in his hand for the final possession. Jordan went on to hit an incredible buzzer-beater that helped the Bulls secure a 1-0 lead in the series.
Just take a look at MJ’s cold-blooded look and minimal celebrating after winning the game for the Bulls. Recently the video is going viral again and NBA fans couldn’t stop themselves from praising Jordan’s greatness once again.
Whiteness88: IMO, this is his coolest game winning shot and my personal favorite. It’s just so cold blooded and almost casual, he doesn’t even celebrate much. Nobody’s surprised he made the shot.
Jason Kraatz: Jordan did it so smoothly. Like he could have hit that shot blindfolded. GOAT.
goodbadbill: The fact that Mike just calmly does an interview after hitting the game winning shot in a finals game is hilarious to me.
Tino Brown: There’s nothing you can say about Jordan that hasn’t been said… the one. The only. The greatest.
dzordyn: I can watch this again and again. Pure beauty.
Obi_Wan_Benobi: MJ was damn near a cyborg by the 2nd 3-peat.
Look at him during some moments in his last game with the Bulls; it’s game 6 of the NBA Finals, biggest moment of his life, the possible crowning achievement of a second three peat, and his final game to boot.
And he’s thinking about what he’s eating after the game, apparently.
gruesomeb: Phil Jackson just relaxing on the bench looking on fully expecting Jordan to make it. Love to see it.
BlooregardQKazoo: Jordan regularly made shots like these off the dribble, a foot in front of the line, yet some people still claim that he wouldn’t be able to shoot 3s in the modern game.
icantfeelmyface: Lol dude at the end of the bench is just sitting there with his arms crossed and doesn’t even move a muscle once the shot goes in. I think it’s a mix of MJ being MJ and just how toned-down bench celebrations were back in the day.
TheMipchunk: I feel like it’s also a LOT easier to relax here when the situation is 82-82 compared with Bulls down 81-82, especially with MJ as a strong overtime performer.
It’s moments like these that prove that MJ was an elite big-game performance. Obviously, it was Game 1 of the series, but with this amazing game-winning shot he set the tone for the rest of the series.
And as we know it, MJ and the Bulls ended up winning the NBA Championship in six games. The Bulls faced off against the Jazz once again in the 1998 NBA Finals, but the result was the same.
