“Michael Jordan Puff Piece”: Director Reveals ’92 Dream Team Member Didn’t Want to be a Part of The Last Dance

John Stockton would have had two consecutive NBA titles to his name if not for Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. Hence, it wasn’t surprising when he said he didn’t want to be a part of a documentary celebrating Jordan’s greatness.

Stockton played 19 years in the NBA- all for Utah Jazz. The team never failed to make it to the playoffs in each of the 19 seasons. A two-time steals leader and a nine-time assists leader, Stockton had an illustrious career but lacked rings to his name.

He was closest to winning a championship in 1997 and 1998 when he led the team to the finals. But on both occasions, the Bulls took the Championship.

ESPN’s The Last Dance concentrates around the Bulls 1997/98 season. It was not easy for the show’s director, Jason Hehir to get Stockton to recall his consecutive losses.

“I finally got (Stockton) on the phone after like two years of chasing him,” Hehir said on The Dan Patrick show. “(Stockton) said, ‘I don’t want to be a part of a Michael Jordan puff piece.'”

John Stockton was just in time to talk about Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls in The Last Dance

When Hehir finally persuaded Stockton, it was already March. Considering the broadcaster’s initial plan to air the show in July, there was still time. But just days after Stockton finished his interview for The Last Dance, the NBA saw its first positive Coronavirus case in Rudy Gobert and they suspended the league.

“On Tuesday, March 10 we interviewed him in Spokane. It was so deep into this COVID crisis that we decided that I shouldn’t fly to Spokane because we’re afraid that flight would get grounded indefinitely. So we had someone from out there, a stringer from Seattle drive in and do that interview,” Hehir said.

ESPN then decided to change their series’ schedule amidst the pandemic. It did turn out to be a wise move as it received some great viewership numbers. They have aired eight of the 10-episode series. Stockton will make his appearance in the upcoming episodes which will air on Sunday.