It’s been over 25 years since Michael Jordan’s controversial “final shot” ended championship hopes for the Utah Jazz, but it seems that someone on the team still isn’t over how it all went down that year. On Thursday, the franchise went viral after its fans revealed the name of Delta Center’s iconic WiFi network: “JordanPushedOff.”
Wifi at the Jazz’s stadium is “JordanPushedOff.” Still not over the 1998 Finals 😅😂
(via @utahjazz) pic.twitter.com/Y5KgZsIIIp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 9, 2023
The 1998 Finals was Jordan’s final title run, and the Utah Jazz were the last team standing between him and championship number six. Of course, the Bulls went on to win the series in six games, but it didn’t come without controversy. According to many Jazz fans, their team was robbed of a victory in the final game, which the Bulls only won by a single point. In an iconic moment, Jordan rose up for a jumper to end the game, but some claim that he illegally pushed off to get himself open for the shot. Had a foul been called on the Bulls legend, that shot would have been waved off and the Jazz would have forced a Game 7. Even all these years later, the legitimacy of that shot is debated amongst the community and the Utah Jazz clearly have some objections to how it all went down.
Analyzing “The Shot”
There’s no doubt that the game-winner was a masterclass in shot-making from the NBA superstar, and you can’t discredit him for delivering in the most high-pressure situation a player can be in. Even so, feelings are mixed on whether that shot should have counted. After making a layup to cut the Jazz’s lead to 86-85 with 37 seconds left, Michael forced a turnover on Karl Malone to take possession of the ball in the closing moments. Since Jordan had the ball, head coach Phil Jackson let his team play on and famously described the strategy after the game: “Get the hell out of the way.”
With a quick drive to his right, Jordan shook Bryon Russell off balance before giving him a subtle nudge to secure the space for his shot. No foul was called on the floor, leaving Jordan free to attempt the jumper, which he swished without breaking a sweat. To this day, the shot is regarded as one of the finest moments of Jordan’s career and it would have been the perfect end to his basketball tenure had he not returned to play for the Wizards a few years later. Whether legal or not, there’s no changing NBA history and the most that Jazz fans can do now is dream of a world where he missed that shot.
The Utah Jazz Are Still Looking For Revenge
Looking at it from the other side, Bryon Russell was probably the most ideal person to pick up Michael Jordan, but the 6’7″ swingman obviously wasn’t enough to slow down the GOAT on that final play. For the Jazz, that Finals loss marked the end of an era for the franchise, who proceeded to lose in the second round the very next year. Despite the legendary careers of John Stockton and Karl Malone, the Jazz were unable to win a title, and they haven’t been back to the Finals since Jordan sent them home in ’98.
All these years later, it’s really no wonder why the Jazz and their fans are still thinking about that moment. During a time when Jordan was ripping everyone’s hearts out, the Jazz were probably the team most victimized by Michael’s heroics and until they win a title for themselves, they will never get over that pushoff in 1998.
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