Some moments in NBA history are etched in the minds of fans forever. From Julius ‘Dr.J’ Erving rocking the baby on a poster dunk on Magic Johnson to LeBron James’ chase-down block on Andre Iguodala, the league has had its fair share of legendary moments. One such moment is the iconic buzzer-beater by Michael Jordan against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989. After 34 long years, a former Cavs player has finally shed light on that “painful” shot and the intense rivalry between the Cavs and the Chicago Bulls.

The now 61-year-old Cavs star shared a lot of details on what went down on the court on that historic night. That shot is widely considered to be the beginning of the dominance of the historic Chicago Bulls team of the 90s.

The Rivalry and the Shot by Michael Jordan

Former Cavs star, Craig Ehlo made an appearance on Stacey King’s Gimme The Hot Sauce?podcast recently and talked about the fierce rivalry between the Cavs and the Bulls during the late 1980s. Both teams were considered rising contenders in the Eastern Conference, and their battles on the court were highly anticipated. Furthermore, Ehlo revealed that the Cavs had a strong season, winning 57 games and facing the Bulls six times, winning all six games that year.

The stage was set for a showdown between Craig Ehlo and the legendary Michael Jordan in the playoffs. Ehlo vividly described the final moments of that fateful game, where the Cavs were the favorites.

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He explained how they tried to double-team Jordan, but a defensive miscommunication allowed Jordan to break free and hit the game-winning shot. He added about the shot, “yeah it was painful watching that shot fall through the net.” The shot by Michael Jordan ended the Cavs’ playoff run and also became a defining moment in NBA history.

The Aftermath and Enduring Legacy

Ehlo also admitted by saying, “it would have been me and Harper double teaming Michael Jordan we probably would have kept him from getting the ball.” In the end, this was a key moment that propelled the Bulls forward and a stepping stone in their journey to becoming a dominant force in the league.

To add insult to injury, the iconic shot was replayed countless times in a popular Gatorade commercial, featuring Craig Ehlo slumping to his knees in horror. Furthermore, Ehlo shared that Gatorade had sought his permission to use the footage, and although he didn’t receive any monetary compensation, he humorously mentioned that they sent him Gatorade for life.

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Ehlo’s recollection of Michael Jordan’s iconic buzzer-beater highlights the pain and disappointment felt by the Cleveland Cavaliers, while also acknowledging the greatness of Jordan. However, despite the heartbreak, Ehlo looks back on his playing days full of pride and gratitude towards the great sport of basketball.