On June 14, 1998, a moment that would go down in NBA history occurred: Michael Jordan sank a jumper that secured the Chicago Bulls their sixth championship in eight seasons.
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Jordan had led the Bulls throughout the 1990s, but the ending of Game 6 was a capstone moment for him as well as for the team.
The setting: A dynasty on the brink
The NBA Finals of 1998 matched the Chicago Bulls against the Utah Jazz and was the rematch of the previous year’s championship series. With the Bulls up 3-2, Game 6 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City was a glorious chance for Michael Jordan and the Bulls to win their sixth championship.
The Bulls had yet to see a Finals series go to a Game 7. This was the Jazz, who were led by Karl Malone and John Stockton, mission to achieve.
The final moments: Jordan’s masterpiece
Only 18.9 seconds remained in the game and the Jazz held an 86-85 advantage. Then, in a sequence that exhibited the sheer genius of Jordan at both ends of the court, he took the ball from Malone, dribbled up the court, and confronted Bryon Russell.
Using a crossover—timed with a more-than-subtle shove—and rising as only he could, Jordan dropped in a 17-foot jumper with 5.2 seconds left, putting the Bulls ahead 87-86.
The Jazz had one last shot to prevent Jordan’s greatness, but Stockton’s shot from behind the arc went astray, giving the Bulls their sixth title, while sealing the end of this era.
The aftermath: A farewell to His Airness
This game served as Jordan’s last opportunity to play for the Bulls, since he retired not long after. It also functioned as Phil Jackson’s swan song as the coach of the Chicago Bulls, putting the final touches on the story of the Bulls’ dynasty.
To this day, the moment stands as one of the most rewatched, discussed, and honored plays in NBA history. It was a true Jordan moment.
Even years later, the image of Jordan holding his follow-through, looking at the ball as it fell through the net, still seemed vividly alive in basketball memory. It was the right moment, not just for a basketball game, but for a perfect ending to a legendary career in Chicago.
