Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals will always be remembered as the legendary game where Michael Jordan was dealing with illness but still went on to dominate the opponents. Being dubbed ‘the flu game‘, it is one of the most iconic moments in Jordan’s career. Now, 26 years later, a former teammate of LeBron James has shared his thoughts on the game.
While on a journey to debunk and give their opinions on NBA conspiracy theories, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye reveal that they feel differently about the flu game than what people are accustomed to.
Debunking the 26-year-old Michael Jordan conspiracy
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In a new video by Road Trippin, Allie Clifton, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye were revealing NBA conspiracy theories and giving their takes on the matter. As they were going through the theories one by one, Michael Jordan’s flu game was brought up.
The theory was that Jordan didn’t actually have the flu and was just hungover. As soon as they heard it, both Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye replied, ‘Facts’. Channing Frye then explained that they knew it wasn’t the flu because, before the match, they mentioned that Jordan had food poisoning from eating pizza.
Jefferson chimed in and said, “Only one ate pizza, and only one bite”.
?
This is because, according to reports from the time, there were more people with Jordan in the room, but only he ate the pizza, and no one else even had a bite.
Michael Jordan’s iconic flu game
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The Chicago Bulls needed Jordan for the game. However, they wanted to limit his usage because he was not feeling well. Phil Jackson kept him away from the media and was planning on regulating his minutes. As for the strategy on the court, Scottie Pippen allowed Jordan to just focus on scoring and take the defensive assignment off his shoulders.
Michael Jordan went on to play 44 minutes in the match. He ended with a stat line of 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Well, Scottie Pippen’s take on the flu game has changed following the release of ‘The Last Dance’. He said playing with a herniated disc in the 1998 final was much tougher than playing with the flu.
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Do you agree with Jefferson & Frye’s theory? Do let us know in the comments below.
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