With 10 scoring titles and six championship rings, Michael Jordan is widely viewed as the greatest player to have ever dribbled a basketball. In this piece, we'll take a look back at some of the best moments throughout his storied career.
Jumper over Georgetown
Most remember Jordan from his days with the Chicago Bulls. After all, he led the team to a pair of three-peats. However, His Airness was knocking down big shots even before his days of playing in the NBA.
With under 20 seconds left to play and his team trailing by one point, a young Jordan knocked down a jumper that led the University of North Carolina Tar Heels past Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas in the 1982 NCAA Championship game, 63-62.
Jordan would later note that this was the moment “Mike Jordan” became “Michael Jordan.”
MJ's first game-winner
Jordan was an assassin on offense, but he was also a hound on the defensive end of the floor. It was 1984, and he was just a rookie. Despite this fact, it was quickly becoming clear that MJ was destined for greatness.
With roughly 12 seconds remaining on the game clock and the Bulls down by one, Jordan knocked down his first game-winning shot to give Chicago a victory over the Indiana Pacers. Notably, he finished the game with 27 points.
The Shot
Ah, yes… Cavs fans know this shot well, as it spelled the end of their playoff run in 1989. Long before Jordan earned six championship rings and Finals MVP Awards, there was this moment, which has become known as “The Shot.”
With great players like Mark Price and Brad Daugherty on the roster, the Cavs actually swept the Bulls that regular season, 6-0. However, Jordan willed Chicago past Cleveland in the postseason with one of the most iconic shots of all-time.
Down by one with three seconds remaining, Jordan buried a foul-line jumper over Craig Ehlo that would soon become legendary.
“That was get the ball to Michael and everyone else get the f*ck out of the way,” Doug Collins said during post-game media availability, referring to the play that was called for Jordan.
The Shot pt. 2
As if one elimination wasn't enough, Jordan sent the Cavs home again in the 1993 NBA Playoffs. This time, Michael had a solid cast of teammates, including Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, John Paxson and Bill Cartwright.
It was Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the Bulls were looking to close out their series against the Cavs inside Richfield Coliseum. With just over 18 seconds showing on the game clock, Jordan received a pass from B.J. Armstrong near the elbow, then proceeded to knock down yet another game-winning shot.
50-piece against the Bucks, including a game winner
We'll go back to 1989 for this clutch MJ moment…
Playing against the Bucks, Jordan proved that he can get hot at the drop of a hat. In fact, he dropped 50 points against Milwaukee, leading the Bulls to a 117-116 come-from-behind victory. Remarkably, 27 of his 50 points came in the fourth quarter alone.
37 and a game winner vs. Pistons
It was 1992, and the Bulls were squaring off against Isiah Thomas and the “Bad Boy” Pistons. Joe Dumars knocked down a jumper over Pippen to give Detroit a one-point advantage with 4.1 seconds remaining in overtime. Chicago then called a timeout to draw up a last play.
Pippen sent the ensuing inbuonds pass to Bill Cartwright, who then found Jordan well beyond three-point line. Before the defense could set up a double-team, MJ took a few dribbles to his right, then buried the long-range shot.
No. 45 shines against the Hawks
It was March 25, 1993, and the Bulls were visiting the Atlanta Hawks. In what was just his fourth game back after retiring, Jordan put on a show, scoring 32 points on 14-of-26 shooting from the field.
There were roughly five seconds remaining on the clock, and the Bulls were trailing by one. And though he had to bring the ball all the way up the floor, Jordan remained cool as a cucumber in a cellar. After breaching the time line, he dished out a few stutter steps to freeze his defender, then rose up from the elbow to sink the game winning shot.
Jordan was back.
Buzzer beater vs. Jazz
For this clutch MJ moment, we'll jump into 1997…
Playing against a Utah Jazz team consisting of Karl Malone and John Stockton in Game 1 of the 97′ NBA Finals, Jordan buried a mid-range jumper over Bryon Russell to take the first game of the series.
Jordan finished this game with 31 points on 13-of-27 shooting, eight assists and four rebounds.
The flu game
In Game 5 of the 97′ Finals, Jordan willed himself to play through an illness. Though he was dealing with flu-like symptoms, His Airness put forth an effort for the ages, scoring 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block, including a 3-pointer with less than a minute left.
“I almost played myself into passing out,” Jordan said after the game, via The Undefeated. “I came in and I was almost dehydrated, and it was all just to win a basketball game. I couldn’t breathe. My energy level was really low. My mouth was really dry. They started giving me Gatorade, and I thought about IV.”
It was an important win for Chicago, as the series was tied at two game apiece heading in. Jordan and the Bulls would go on to defeat the Jazz, 4-2. In Game 6 of this series, Jordan dished a pass to Steve Kerr for a game-winner.
The Last Shot (game winner vs. Jazz in 1998 NBA Finals)
While playing against the Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Jordan knocked down another impressive shot over Bryon Russell.
Jordan's ball handling skills were excellent, but the crossover move he put on Russell in the closing seconds of this game is truly the stuff of legend.
After shaking his defender for separation, Michael rose up for what would become known as “The Last Shot” — his last field goal in the NBA. There were a few seconds left on the clock after his shot went in, but the Jazz were unable to capitalize. As a result, Utah was eliminated in six games for the second consecutive season. Conversely, Chicago had just completed its second three-peat.
Making a list of Michael Jordan's greatest moments is a tall order, as there are so many to choose from. Though he's no longer playing, his legacy continues to inspire young players around the globe.
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