NBA legend Michael Jordan experienced unprecedented prosperity in the 1990s, winning six NBA championships over eight years. It wasn’t until 1998 that Michael finally retired (for the second time), but he says the Bulls might have won one more had they kept the team together.
“I do believe we could’ve won 7—we’ll never know, but it’s great for thinking, conversation, and debating,” said Michael in a chat with Michael Wilbon. “Competitive nature would’ve been let’s get to 8… until somebody beat us… till’ I actually lose in the Finals.”
Michael Jordan’s six championships are one of his most impressive feats. With career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 49.7% shooting, he completely dominated the NBA and led the Bulls during their most successful era. He’s accomplished everything there is to do in the NBA, and yet it’s hard to shake the feeling that he left some more championships on the table.
Before the breakup of the Bulls in ’98, Michael took a hiatus for two years from the NBA to deal with the grief of losing his father. That ordeal cost Michael almost two full seasons of his prime and allowed the Houston Rockets to win back-to-back titles with Hakeem Olajuwon.
Based on the timing, you could make the case that Michael cost the Bulls two championships they would have otherwise been favored to win. For MJ, however, the biggest missed opportunity was the year after they won their sixth and final title. That summer, the Bulls let go of head coach Phil Jackson, and it began a chain reaction that led to a massive rebuild.
After working for years to build a dynasty with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson had proven himself as a basketball genius, and the players still believed in his leadership. So when he decided to call it a career in 1998, Michael took it as a sign to follow suit, and he never looked back.
According to former Bulls GM Jerry Reinsdorf, however, Michael needed surgery that summer that would have compromised his availability for the next season. He didn’t know back then that the next season would be shortened due to a lockout and, with Jordan’s availability doubtful, Reinsdorf saw no reason to bring back the old crew.
Had he decided to keep the team together and wait for Michael’s return later the next season, the Bulls might have been able to continue their dynasty. In 1999, the toughest competition was the San Antonio Spurs, who were being led by NBA legends David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
With both teams at full strength, it would have been a bitter and hard-fought series, likely to go to at least six games. Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen could have contained San Antonio’s frontcourt while Michael torched them in the backcourt.
Still, as powerful as the Jordan-era Bulls were, the odds would have been stacked against them. No team since Bill Russell’s Celtics has won more than three titles in a row, and by 1998, many of the Bulls’ core members were already starting to regress.
Ultimately, we’ll never find out for sure what could have happened, but the Bulls have no regrets over how it played out. They’ve already etched their name in the history books, while Michael’s legacy continues to stand as the ultimate example of greatness.
