Game 6 1998 NBA Finals: Was Michael Jordan?s Bow Out With the Bulls the Best Final Game for a Franchise in NBA History?

Even though we dread it, the time comes when our favorite NBA player has to bid adieu to the game to which they had devoted so many years of their life. This inevitable moment marks the end of an era and often leaves fans in awe, reflecting on the legacy left behind by them. Even though Michael Jordan suited up for the Washington Wizards for a couple of seasons, his last game with the Chicago Bulls is widely remembered even today. It was the perfect bow out for His Airness after an iconic stint in the Windy City.

On June 14th, 1998, Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, played his final game with the Bulls and attempted to make it a memorable one. Today, the author will be taking a look into whether Michael Jordan?s last game with the Bulls was the best swan song by a player for a franchise in the history of the NBA.

Michael Jordan dominated during the 1998 Finals

Having entered the season as the two-time defending champion, they wanted to ensure that they achieved the coveted ‘3-peat’ title again. Eventually, they reached the Finals and for the second year in a row faced off against the Utah Jazz. With the Bulls leading the series 3-2 heading back to Utah, the Jazz hoped to sweep the floor on their home court. However, what took place at the Delta Center in Game 6 became instantly iconic.

Scottie Pippen kicked things off by scoring the opening basket. However, the move resulted in him developing a back injury that remained throughout the game. The pressure to secure a win fell on His Airness.?The Jazz weren?t falling behind, making use of Pippen?s absence to push an achievable lead. Karl Malone worked with precision to score some crucial points.

With the Jazz leading by a score of 86-83, a timeout was called by Bulls Coach Phil Jackson. Only 41.9 seconds remained on the board. The responsibility of carrying the inbound pass was placed on Jordan. When the game resumed, he rushed to the basket, avoiding several Jazz defenders, and made a layup to cut the lead to 1 point. On the next Jazz possession, Jordan came over from the weak side to double-team Karl Malone and managed to swipe the ball away from the 14x All-Star and regain possession with 15 seconds remaining.

Dribbling the ball up the court, Jordan found himself in an isolated position against Byron Russell. He dribbled right, made contact with Russell in the form of a crossover and shove, and stood on top of the paint to drop a mid-range jumper. The Delta Center was left stunned as Chicago took the lead. Out of the 67 shots attempted by the Bulls that game, 35 of them were by Jordan as he scored 45 points.

The Jazz couldn?t recover with just 5.2 seconds remaining. This resulted in the Bulls winning their 3rd straight and 6th overall championship, and Jordan was named the Finals MVP for the sixth and final time in his NBA career. MJ?s final shot and performance in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals was immortalized not only in the history books but also in the minds of the viewers. Nonetheless, Michael Jordan wasn?t the only player who had a memorable last game with their franchise.

Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade had some memorable ‘Swan Songs’ as well.

The late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant played the final game of his 20-year career on April 13, 2016. The game was the season finale for the Lakers after they had failed to reach the playoffs. Playing against the Utah Jazz, the crowd at the Staples Center was filled with his fans and supporters. The game kicked off with Kobe missing his first five shots. Despite this, the Black Mamba managed to recover and score 15 points during the first quarter and ended up with 22 at halftime.

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Many people expected Kobe to score at least 30 points in the game, with his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal even challenging him to score 50. However, defying all expectations, Kobe managed to score an astonishing 60 points. With 31.6 seconds left, Kobe succeeded in making the winning shot, as was the case throughout his career.

Meanwhile, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade played his final game on April 9, 2019, against the Brooklyn Nets. Hoping to leave an impressionable mark, the 3x champion secured his fifth career triple-double during the game. He recorded 25 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds as his great friends LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul watched from the sidelines. Despite losing to the Nets by a score of 113-94, Wade?s memorable final game secured another chapter for him in the history books.

Michael Jordan’s final game with the Bulls reigns supreme

The current generation of NBA fans and enthusiasts use the final games of players like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade to state how a player should go out. However, when comparing the overall history of the NBA, the author holds the opinion that Michael Jordan?s final game with the Bulls was the best out of all of them.

Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals perfectly captured the offensive heroics and the defensive prowess that made Michael Jordan who he is. He made use of Pippen’s absence and played with the prowess of two players. The game carried as much pressure as there could be in an NBA game and Jordan, cool as a cucumber, kept on making shots.

The game was a big one, and fans knew it. To this date, Game 6 remains one of the most watched and highest-rated NBA games. Add the fact that the game was not just about the players but the teams. The Bulls and the Jazz had continued their rivalry from the previous season and Jordan wanted to end it once and for all.

Jordan?s performance was considered a more than suitable swan song. ESPN Journalist John Hollinger placed Jordan?s iconic last shot amongst the ?Top 50 best single game performances?. After the game, there was a considerable decline in ratings. The 1999 NBA Finals were the lowest-viewed Finals in over 18 years. This just goes on to show the impact that Jordan had on the overall game.

Jordan’s final game with the Bulls is a testament to his supreme impact on the game of basketball. It remains etched in the memories of fans and basketball historians alike as one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history. No other final performance of an NBA player comes close to it.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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