Michael Jordan is the best ever. The GOAT. It's as simple as that. The records he broke, the championships he won, the dynasty he led, the legacy he left — these are all testament to this undeniable fact. If you need more convincing then perhaps the best place to start is with some of the performances that that brought forth hi GOAT status. It was no easy task, but we were able to round out five of the best ever Michael Jordan games in his entire career. You're welcome.
5. March 28, 1995: The Double Nickel Game
In the mega-hit ESPN/Netflix docu-series “The Last Dance,” Jordan revealed that his favorite stadium to play in was Madison Square Garden. On March 28, 1995, Jordan dropped a cool 55 points to hand the Chicago Bulls a two-point victory. What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact that Jordan had just come out of retirement. This was just his fifth game back, and already, he was able to erase any doubt that he still had it. To this day, this performance remains to be one of the very best in Madison Square Garden history.
4. March 28, 1990: Career-High
As it turns out, Jordan likes the date March 28. Five years prior his Double Nickel Game in MSG, MJ came out with the highest-scoring game of his entire career when he went on a 69-point scoring barrage against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jordan's most memorable game against the Cavs is probably the one where he scored “The Shot” during the 1989 playoffs. But while he did have a commendable outing that evening, that outing is mostly remembered because of his incredible game-winner. As far as overall performances go, however, we have to say that the career-best effort he put forth a year after “The Shot” is more impressive. Jordan finished with 69 points on 23-of-37 shooting, 18 rebounds, six assists, four steals, a block, and two triples in 50 minutes played.
3. April 20, 1986: Mike Drops 63 against the C's
Another unforgettable performance that was featured on “The Last Dance” was Jordan's god-like effort against the Boston Celtics in 1986. Jordan was sidelined with an injury throughout the better part of the 1985-86 campaign. Come playoffs time however, he was more than ready.
Jordan faced off against Larry Bird and the Celtics, who at that time, were on their quest to their third title in five years. MJ knew what was at stake, so he came up with an astounding 63-point gem in Game 2 of that first-round series — in Boston Garden. Chicago may have lost that game (they got swept in the series, too), but there's no denying that at that point, in just his second season in the league, Jordan had proven that he was the future. So much so, that even Larry Bird himself that he had just faced off against “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
2. June 14, 1998: The Last Dance Finale
The most memorable shot in Jordan's decorated career has got to be his last ever shot in a Bulls uniform.
This came in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, as Jordan capped off an amazing night by hitting the game-winner against Bryon Russell. He finished that evening with 45 points on 15-of-35 from the floor. With that performance, Jordan placed an exclamation point on what was a Hall of Fame career with the Bulls. He had just led Chicago to their sixth title in eight seasons, and that game has got to be his crowning glory.
1. June 11, 1997: The Flu Game
Much has been made about the infamous “Flu Game” during the 1997 NBA Finals. This was in Game 5 with the series against the Jazz tied at 2-2. Jordan was suffering from a flu (which was later on revealed to be food poisoning) and was literally sick to his stomach. He seemed lifeless during certain junctures of the ballgame, but somehow, Jordan managed to come out with arguably the best-ever performance of his career.
MJ logged 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block to lead the Bulls to a crucial Game 5 win in Utah. Looking at the numbers, this seemed nothing more than a typical Michael Jordan outing. However, the fact that he was able to dig deep and still perform at the highest level despite the fact that he could have been lying on a hospital bed is the ultimate manifestation of willpower and mental fortitude.
Finally, it is also worth noting that the Top 3 games on our list today came during the playoffs. The Top 2 transpired in the biggest stage of them all — the NBA Finals. This speaks volumes of how Jordan — the ultimate showman — stepped up when it mattered most. As far as clutch performers go, anyone would be hard-pressed to name anyone better than Jordan.
Follow Us
Subscribe