Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: 30 greatest Michael Jordan moments of all time

By Luke Askew

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 10: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Utah Jazz during Game Four of the 1998 NBA Finals on June 10, 1998 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 10: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Utah Jazz during Game Four of the 1998 NBA Finals on June 10, 1998 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. His first NBA Finals win

Coming off of a four-game sweep over the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls would have to meet up with Magic Johnson and the Lakers in MJ’s first-ever Finals appearance. The Lakers were aging and on their last legs as a contender, but it’s still not easy to take on that beast on the biggest stage.

Jordan made it look relatively easy, though. He averaged 31.2 points per game on impressive .558/.500/.848 shooting splits to go along with 11.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks. His assist numbers are what really stick out to me. Over 11 per game in the NBA Finals isn’t bad for a guy not known for his passing.

MJ would go on to win the Finals MVP (rightfully so) as the Bulls took down the Lakers in five games.

This was the moment that started it all. The first of six championships in eight years. The 1991 NBA Finals was the catalyst for one of the greatest dynasties in sports history, and Michael Jordan was the driving force behind all of it.

8. The steal, save, and backward layup

Few plays in NBA history have resulted in as many attempted reenactments by kids in their driveways as MJ’s backward layup.

The magic starts when Bill Laimbeer catches the ball at the top of the key and looks for Isiah Thomas coming off a pindown screen. Jordan sniffs this out and jumps the passing lane, deflecting the ball towards the sideline. He then leaps out of bounds and saves the ball with one hand to his teammate.

After that, he gets back in bounds, fills the lane, receives the pass and meets Laimbeer at the rim for a back-to-the-basket layup. The way Jordan jumps into Laimbeer (anticipating the contact) and spins toward the basket while flicking the ball over his head and into the hoop is mystifying.

Thousands of kids across the world can vouch for me when I say this is way harder than it looks. Spinning while shooting is hard enough, but take away the ability to see the rim and it’s nearly impossible.

Plus, the fact that all of this happened at the expense of Bill Laimbeer makes the play infinitely better.

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