Michael Jordan has plenty of famous shots in his career. The one that may come to most people’s mind is Jordan’s final bucket in the NBA Finals against the John Stockton and Karl Malone-led Utah Jazz. However, many would argue his most incredible shot ever came in the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1992.
Craig Ehlo was unfortunate enough to have his name memorialized forever as the man guarding MJ for that shot. It was the series-deciding Game 5 between Cleveland and Chicago where Jordan hit the first-ever series-winning buzzer-beater of his career. The Bulls went on to win their 2nd championship that year.
Ehlo’s name has been associated with the shot forever and many could consider it a burden to be remembered by fans like that. However, it seems Ron Harper wanted that spot but was passed over for Ehlo. The then Cavalier was on the court to see Jordan drill the jumper over Ehlo to eliminate his team out of the playoffs.
"F— this bulls—." 😅
Ron Harper talking about "The Shot" by MJ in The Last Dance. pic.twitter.com/WYyhBoPhMH
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 28, 2022
“Coach I got MJ. I got MJ. But the coach goes ‘I am going to put Ehlo on MJ’. I was like ‘whatever, f**k this bulls**t.”
Harper would end up becoming a 5-time champion in his career, winning 3 championships with the Chicago Bulls during their second 3-peat. While he got his championship rings, he probably wonders what would have happened if he guarded MJ for that shot and MJ missed. It would be one of the most famous playoff upsets, as the Bulls went into the postseason as the reigning champions.
Harper would win 2 more championships in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers during their era with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. He was a winning player throughout his career.
Wondering whether he could have stopped MJ from making that shot in 1989 is futile because history can never be changed. Harper got plenty of championships to be proud of so that one first-round series had no large impact on his career.
