1997–98 season looking to win yet another NBA championship, referring to their goal as a “three-peat.”
But NBA insiders wondered if that was realistic. Jordan and his teammates were getting older, and the competition was getting
better.
But beyond that, many expected Bulls management to break up the team at the end of the season. There were rumors that coach
Phil Jackson planned to retire, and Jordan indicated that if Jackson left, he didn’t expect to return. Forward Scottie Pippen
and other Bulls were due new contracts at the end of the year and Bulls management indicated that they didn’t believe they
could afford to keep the team together. As the season progressed it became clearthat the campaign might represent a last hurrah for Jordan and the Bulls.
Although they struggled at times, the Bulls still won the division championship and took aim at the NBA title. In the first
two rounds of the playoffs the Bulls easily dispatched the New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Hornets, losing only one game. But
in the conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, the Bulls were pushed to the limit. They won in seven games, beating
the Pacers, 88–83. But at the end of the game Jordan was so tired that instead of celebrating, he just bent down, gasping
for air. They entered the finals against Utah exhausted.
Both teams gave it everything they had. Entering game six in Utah, the Bulls led the series three games to two. They were
one game away from another championship.
But the Bulls were at something less than full strength. A sore back bothered Scottie Pippen, and the long season had taken
a toll on the team. It would be up to Jordan to lead his team to victory.
Just a few moments into the game, Pippen was forced to the bench when his back started acting up. Jordan took over, scoring
23 points in the first half tokeep the Bulls in the game. At the half, they trailed by four points.
Although Pippen returned in the second half, his aching back limited what he could do. Jordan appeared to be running out of
steam himself. Early in the fourth quarter he missed five straight shots. Nevertheless, the Bulls hung close, knowing that
if they were forced to play a seventh game they would be more fatigued than they already were.
With only 42 seconds left in the game, Jazz guard John Stockton drained a long three-pointer to give the Jazz an 86–83 lead.
Bulls fans feared the worst.
But Chicago put the ball in Michael Jordan’s hands. Everyone watching knew that if anyone could win the game singlehandedly,
it was Jordan.
He dribbled the ball downcourt, probing the defense as the Jazz scrambled to contain him. He hesitated twenty feet from the
basket and then made his move.
He spun around guard Byron Russell and shot toward the hoop. Burly forward Antoine Carr moved over to stop him.
Since Jordan’s return from retirement, basketball fans had grown accustomed to seeing him start todrive, then stop and shoot a deadly fadeaway jumper. He rarely attacked the basket anymore.
Antoine Carr may have been thinking the same thing. Only this time, Jordan attacked.
He soared in the air above the bigger player, and before Carr could react, Jordan shoveled a layup off the glass for two points.
With 37 seconds remaining, the Bulls trailed by one.
Utah tried to run the clock down as far as possible, then put the ball in the hands of Karl Malone. Jordan reacted immediately.
He spun behind the big man, then reached in and tipped the ball away. Jordan had stolen the ball!
The clock was ticking down. The Jazz sprinted downcourt to stop the Bulls. Jordan streaked toward the basket. Fifteen feet
short of the basket, he stopped. Byron Russell tried to skid to a stop and stick with Jordan, but Jordan took a short step
back and then lofted a seventeen-foot jump shot. Russell, too late, went up to stop the shot.
The ball seemed to hang in the air forever as Jordan dropped to the ground and kept his hands in the
But NBA insiders wondered if that was realistic. Jordan and his teammates were getting older, and the competition was getting
better.
But beyond that, many expected Bulls management to break up the team at the end of the season. There were rumors that coach
Phil Jackson planned to retire, and Jordan indicated that if Jackson left, he didn’t expect to return. Forward Scottie Pippen
and other Bulls were due new contracts at the end of the year and Bulls management indicated that they didn’t believe they
could afford to keep the team together. As the season progressed it became clearthat the campaign might represent a last hurrah for Jordan and the Bulls.
Although they struggled at times, the Bulls still won the division championship and took aim at the NBA title. In the first
two rounds of the playoffs the Bulls easily dispatched the New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Hornets, losing only one game. But
in the conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, the Bulls were pushed to the limit. They won in seven games, beating
the Pacers, 88–83. But at the end of the game Jordan was so tired that instead of celebrating, he just bent down, gasping
for air. They entered the finals against Utah exhausted.
Both teams gave it everything they had. Entering game six in Utah, the Bulls led the series three games to two. They were
one game away from another championship.
But the Bulls were at something less than full strength. A sore back bothered Scottie Pippen, and the long season had taken
a toll on the team. It would be up to Jordan to lead his team to victory.
Just a few moments into the game, Pippen was forced to the bench when his back started acting up. Jordan took over, scoring
23 points in the first half tokeep the Bulls in the game. At the half, they trailed by four points.
Although Pippen returned in the second half, his aching back limited what he could do. Jordan appeared to be running out of
steam himself. Early in the fourth quarter he missed five straight shots. Nevertheless, the Bulls hung close, knowing that
if they were forced to play a seventh game they would be more fatigued than they already were.
With only 42 seconds left in the game, Jazz guard John Stockton drained a long three-pointer to give the Jazz an 86–83 lead.
Bulls fans feared the worst.
But Chicago put the ball in Michael Jordan’s hands. Everyone watching knew that if anyone could win the game singlehandedly,
it was Jordan.
He dribbled the ball downcourt, probing the defense as the Jazz scrambled to contain him. He hesitated twenty feet from the
basket and then made his move.
He spun around guard Byron Russell and shot toward the hoop. Burly forward Antoine Carr moved over to stop him.
Since Jordan’s return from retirement, basketball fans had grown accustomed to seeing him start todrive, then stop and shoot a deadly fadeaway jumper. He rarely attacked the basket anymore.
Antoine Carr may have been thinking the same thing. Only this time, Jordan attacked.
He soared in the air above the bigger player, and before Carr could react, Jordan shoveled a layup off the glass for two points.
With 37 seconds remaining, the Bulls trailed by one.
Utah tried to run the clock down as far as possible, then put the ball in the hands of Karl Malone. Jordan reacted immediately.
He spun behind the big man, then reached in and tipped the ball away. Jordan had stolen the ball!
The clock was ticking down. The Jazz sprinted downcourt to stop the Bulls. Jordan streaked toward the basket. Fifteen feet
short of the basket, he stopped. Byron Russell tried to skid to a stop and stick with Jordan, but Jordan took a short step
back and then lofted a seventeen-foot jump shot. Russell, too late, went up to stop the shot.
The ball seemed to hang in the air forever as Jordan dropped to the ground and kept his hands in the
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