Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals: A Classic
Contents
Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals was one of the most classic games in NBA history Featuring two of the greatest players ever in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant the game was an instant classic.
MJ’s last shot
In Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals Michael Jordan sank a jump shot with 5.2 seconds left in the game, giving the Chicago Bulls a lead they would not relinquish. The shot is considered one of the greatest in NBA history and helped the Bulls win their sixth NBA Championship
The Flu Game
On June 11th, 1997, Michael Jordan took the court for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz He was visibly ill,Having diarrhea and vomiting before the game, and many thought he shouldn’t have been playing. This didn’t stop Jordan from putting up one of the best performances of his career. He willed his team to victory, scoring 38 points and getting sick on the sidelines. The image of Jordan being helped off the court by Scottie Pippen is one of the most iconic in sports history. The game has come to be known as “The Flu Game” because of Jordan’s heroic effort.
The Jordan Rules
The Chicago Bulls were down 3-2 in the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz They were facing elimination in Game 6 at the Salt Lake City arena. The team knew they had to step up their game if they wanted to win the Championship Title
And so they did.
The Bulls came out firing, with Michael Jordan scoring 38 points, and Scottie Pippen adding 28 more. The Jazz simply had no answer for the duo, and the Bulls Won the game 90-86.
It was a classic performance by two of the greatest players of all time, and it ensured that the 1997 NBA Finals would go down as one of the most exciting and memorable series in history.
The Dream Team
The 1997 NBA Finals was the Championship Series of the 1996–97 NBA season The best-of-seven series was played between the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls and the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz with the Jazz holding home court advantage as the higher seed. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, meaning that any team who won four games would win the series. It was also notable for being the last ever NBA Finals appearance for “The Dream Team” of Hall of Famers Michael Jordan Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman who had dominated the 1990s with their six NBA championships in eight seasons.
In Game 6, with the Bulls leading 3–2 in the series, Jordan scored 38 points and hit a game-winning shot with 5.2 seconds left on the clock to give Chicago a 87–86 victory and their fifth NBA Championship in seven seasons. The game has been labelled as one of the greatest games in NBA history and has been replayed numerous times on both television and online.
The Comeback
On June 11, 1997, the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz met in Game 6 of the NBA Finals The Jazz had taken a 3-2 lead in the series after winning Game 5 in Chicago, and they were looking to close out the series at home in Salt Lake City But the Bulls had other plans.
Led by Michael Jordan who scored 38 points, the Bulls came back from a deficit of as many as 12 points to win the game 90-88. The victory gave them their fifth NBA Championship in seven years and cemented Jordan’s legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
The 1997 NBA Finals were one of the most memorable in history, and Game 6 was perhaps the most unforgettable game of all.
The Dynasty
The 1997 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1997 NBA playoffs played between the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz and the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls The Bulls won the series 4 games to 2.
The 1997 NBA Finals were Michael Jordan’s fifth straight appearance in the NBA Finals and his sixth overall. In winning their fifth NBA championship in seven years, the Bulls became only the second team in NBA history to win at least five championships in such a span (the other being the Boston Celtics who did it on three separate occasions: 1957–1966, 1968–69, 1980-1987).
The End of an Era
The end of an era. The Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan won their sixth NBA championship on June 14th, 1997. It was the second three-peat in NBA history and the last championship the Bulls would win with Jordan.
The game was a classic. It went down to the wire, with the Bulls winning 87-86. Jordan was named Finals MVP for the fifth time, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
The 1997 Finals was also notable for being the last time that a team from Los Angeles appeared in the NBA Finals It would be 20 years before another team from LA would make it to the Finals (the 2017 Golden State Warriors).
The Legend
Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He was a 10-time NBA All-Star a five-time NBA MVP a six-time NBA Finals MVP and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. In 1997, he led the Chicago Bulls to their fifth NBA Championship in six years.
The Bulls were facing the Utah Jazz in the Finals, and the series was tied at three games apiece. Game 6 was played on June 14, 1997, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Jazz had won both of their home games in the series, but the Bulls were determined to win Game 6 and take the series.
The game was close throughout, but the Bulls pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and won 87-86. Jordan finished with 45 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals. His game-winning shot with 5.2 seconds remaining is considered one of the greatest moments in NBA history
The 1997 NBA Finals was one of the most exciting and memorable series in NBA history It featured two great teams and two legendary players: Michael Jordan and Karl Malone Game 6 was an instant classic, and it cemented Jordan’s legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
The Myth
The game is often referred to as “the Flu Game” because Jordan was visibly ill during the game, and it has become one of the most iconic moments in NBA history However, the true story of what happened that day has been shrouded in mystery and legend.
There are many different versions of the story, but the basic facts are these: Jordan was suffering from a severe case of flu-like symptoms on the morning of Game 6. He was so sick that he could barely get out of bed, and he was barely able to eat anything. Despite all this, he decided to play in the game.
And what a game it was. Jordan scoring 38 points, including the game-winning shot with just seconds left on the clock. Theiling led the way for the Jazz with 27 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulls won 90-88.
Afterward, many people speculated that Jordan’s illness had been faked or exaggerated in order to give him an edge over his opponents. However, those close to Jordan have always maintained that he was genuinely sick and that his performance was simply a testament to his competitiveness and will to win.
Whether you believe the myth or not, there’s no denying that Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals is one of the greatest games ever played.
The Legacy
The 1997 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1996–97 NBA season and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Western Conference champion Utah Jazz faced the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls with the Bulls holding home court advantage The series was played under a best-of-seven format, with the first 2 games in Chicago, the next 2 games in Salt Lake City, and the remaining 3 games in Chicago.
The Jazz won game 6 on June 14, 1997, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, while Michael Jordan hit “the shot”, a 20-foot jumper with 5.2 seconds left in overtime to give the Bulls an 87–86 victory over the Jazz as time expired. This victory saved them from elimination and gave them their fifth championship in seven years; it also allowed them to tie the 1960s Boston Celtics for most championships won in a decade. Jordan finished with 29 points on 11–23 shooting, including 4-9 from three-point range along with 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Karl Malone led Utah with 27 points on 12–18 shooting and 7 rebounds.