CLEVELAND - When it came to basketball excellence, Michael Jordan was so great that his hype couldn't keep up with his real-life hoops accomplishments. In Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, his legend went from stratospheric to intergalactic.Seriously.
Today marks the 12th anniversary of one of the most seminal moments in NBA history. Jordan's historic performance in that super important Game is maybe his most awesome moment ever on a basketball court.
And that's saying a whole lot!
Going into Game 5, the Chicago Bulls were in big-time trouble. After taking the first two games of the series against the Utah Jazz in Chicago, the Bulls lost both games three and four in Salt Lake City. Jordan, 34 at the time had been kept in check in a huge way in those two contests. On his home floor for Games 1 and 2, he averaged 34.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. In the two road games, he managed just 24 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5 assists. The Jazz dynamic duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton stunningly curtailed anything Chicago had and the series wound up tied, 2-2.
Game 5 was do-or-die.
Jordan had come down with a major illness a day prior to the must-win Game 5. At the time, it was reported to have been either food poisoning or a violent stomach flu. Either way, he was advised by doctors not to play the game because it could seriously jeopardize his life. With the rigors of playing a high-stakes pro basketball game and the energy it would require (not to mention his constant dehydration), Michael was literally risking his own life if he decided to play.
Of course, Jordan was the competitor of all competitors and a game this important took precedence over his own health and life. In that way, the hoops hero was suicidal for deciding to play.
Utah jumped out to a double digit lead in the early going and carried that energy and momentum into the second period. Jordan, who looked very gaunt and discolored somehow summoned another level of brilliance and strength as he managed to score a huge 17 points in the 2nd quarter to get his team back into a game they were quickly giving away.
The rest of the game was largely nip and tuck, and by the 4th period, MJ was exhausted and unable to participate in huddles with coach Phil Jackson and his teammates. Instead, he was given constant supplies of fluids, some intravenously.
Go figure that Michael Jordan entered the final frame with 23 points, then scored a yeoman's 15 in the 4th to finish with a game high 38 points along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. For good measure, he hit a foul shot, missed the second then stepped behind the three-point line as teammate Toni Kukoc controlled the rebound. Jordan received Kukoc's pass, then rose up for a deadeye 3-pointer that put the Bulls in the lead with 25 seconds remaining.
When the dust settled, Chicago won their most important road game of the season by the skin of their teeth, 90-88 for the all-important 3-2 series lead heading back to Chicago. Jordan could barely stand at game's end and famously leaned on Pippen (photo above) after the final horn sounded looking as if he might collapse.
The Bulls went on capture the 5th of what would become six NBA championships in their next game, but it was this amazing MJ effort in Game 5 that kept their historic dynasty alive. The passage of time hasn't dulled the greatness of that moment, it has only elevated its stature.
But for the iconic Jordan, that's always to be expected.
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