The legend that was Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” continues to be one of the most valiant individual performances by an athlete in any major sport.
But if then Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson had his way in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, the now-iconic moment probably wouldn’t have come to fruition.
Given that Michael Jordan was getting IV fluids moments before the start of the game, Jackson hatched a gameplan to only use him as a decoy and perhaps center the offense on second and third options Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc.
MJ really told Phil during the flu game that if anything, he would be a "decoy" 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZFtQWsUaWU
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 18, 2020
Knowing Jordan’s penchant for remembering slights, this probably irked him and fueled his amazing play that night. Even while looking visibly drained for the majority of the game, Jordan still summoned the strength to give Karl Malone a death stare.
Jordan was on an IV a few hours before the game but still had energy to death stare Malone pic.twitter.com/1cm4wZOQ9w
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 18, 2020
The rest, as we know of, is history. The ailing Jordan willed his team to a razor-close 90-88 road victory, recording 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. Although he did not possess his usual speed and bounce during the match, His Airness delivered the goods when it mattered the most.
Jordan scored 15 points in the final quarter and drilled a clutch three-pointer with 25 ticks left in regulation to give Chicago the lead.
The weakened Jordan even collapsed into Pippen's arms when the final horn sounded, creating one of the most iconic images in league history.
Although Jordan did display flu-like symptoms, Jordan's troubles were actually a case of food poisoning after consuming a pizza the night before Game 5. MJ could have easily begged off from playing that night, but his defiant nature gave us one of the most memorable performances of all time.
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