To The Victors, Go The Spoils.
The debate for all-time best between LeBron James and Michael Jordan is not as complicated as you would think. For today’s generation of NBA fans who think the league began when James entered it, you genuinely lack the requisite knowledge of the game before 2003.
In the summer of 1998, the dynasty that was the Chicago Bulls ended. General manager Jerry Krause prematurely decided to close the chapter on one of the top NBA teams to ever win a championship, leaving a void in the national consciousness, and putting to bed the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Lakers dynasty of the 1980s and 1990s. With it, the greatest to play the game began to fade. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, the Bad Boys in Detroit, Kareem, Magic, and James Worthy. Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and Reggie Miller. Easily the best representation of the game the sports world has known.
“Make It Happen.” – Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan played 15 seasons in the league he revolutionized. Bringing serious and casual fans to the game, he dominated like no other. A six-time NBA champion and six-time Finals MVP, Jordan was a dominant figure on and off the court. Beyond the game, he was a cultural and commercial icon. On August 8, 1991, Gatorade released the ad “Be Like Mike”. The initial partnership was for 10 years and paid Jordan $13.5 million. The newest Gatorade edition features Jordan, Caitlin Clark, and A’ja Wilson.
“It’s Got To Be The Shoes!”
Perhaps the brand built around MJ, a brand known globally, and a signature never to be duplicated or matched is Nike. In 2023, the Jumpman logo netted Jordan nearly $500 million. The value of the partnership is mammoth, and in the last several years, sales have exploded.
The sales blitz was something never seen before or sense. Whatever Michael Jordan touched was gold. He was a shrewd, knowing image, along with a game of gold, had an inherent value. He knew, unlike James, that wading into politics was a Fool’s Paradise. When Jordan was asked to endorse North Carolina Senate candidate Harvey Gant, the backlash was significant, but short-lived. When pressed on the matter about supporting a Democratic over a Republican, Jordan deftly replied, “Republicans buy sneakers too.”
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
June 14, 1998 – Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
With 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter, John Stockton would hit a three-pointer to give Utah an 86-83 lead. Michael Jordan, with ice water running through his veins, would go to the basket for a layup to cut the lead to 87-85 with the game clock under 20 seconds.
With 18.9 left on the clock, the Jazz had possession when Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone low in the post and dribbled down court, guarded by Bryon Russell. With 5.2 seconds left in the fourth and final quarter of game 6, Jordan would launch a 20 footer to help Chicago to an 87-86 lead. The Jazz would call a timeout to set up a final play. Stockton would take the inbound pass and heave a three point game winner, but all for naught. The Bulls would hang on, and close out the Utah Jazz in six games.
It was poetic.
It was a fitting end.
It was the end of an era not to be seen again.
Bob Costas of NBC Sports had the call:
“That may have been, who knows what will unfold over the next several months, but that may have been the last shot Michael Jordan will ever take in the NBA.”
15 seasons, six NBA Championships, with not one of those six series championships going seven games. The Bulls at Jazz Game Six was the most watched and highest rated game in the history of the NBA. By contrast, the 2003 NBA Finals had a mere 11.5 million viewers, while Jordan’s last championship game had 72 million watchers.