21. The buzzer-beater in the #45 jersey
Upon Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA after his first retirement, he chose to wear the no. 45 jersey instead of his famed (and retired) no. 23 jersey. This didn’t last for very long as he switched back to his classic no. 23 in the playoffs, but some of the moments he had while wearing no. 45 have contributed to his jaw-dropping legacy.
Despite missing almost two years of NBA basketball, Jordan was still incredible when he returned to the Bulls. In only his fourth game back, he beat the Hawks on a buzzer-beater while sporting the no. 45.
Any game-winning shot is cool. It doesn’t matter who the player is or what the backstory is behind that shot. Game-winners always have been and always will be cool. But sometimes the backstory makes it even more magical.
Jordan brought the ball down the court, used a dribble hesitation move to get the defender on his heels, pulled up, sank the shot and then repeatedly fist-bumped and smacked the floor – all while wearing no. 45. How cool is that?
It would be like if LeBron retired for a year and a half in 2012 and then came back wearing a no. 51 jersey.
And then hit a game-winner in his fourth game back.
And then dropped 55 at MSG a few nights later.
Oh wait, did I forgot to mention that that’s what Jordan did? Yeah, he dropped 55 on the Knicks in MSG a few nights later.
20. The and-one dunk on Patrick Ewing
I feel kind of bad for picking on Ewing twice before I even get to no. 19 on this list, but maybe it’s his fault? Maybe he should’ve avoided MJ interactions at all costs? You know what, this is definitely his own fault.
The first MJ on Ewing moment to be featured on this list (no. 25) was a defensive highlight for Jordan, so it’s only right that this one comes on the offensive end of the court.
This play starts with the Knicks applying some fullcourt pressure. When the Bulls finally get it across the halfcourt line and into MJ’s hands, it’s all over.
Jordan faces two separate double-teams on this play. The first one comes when he catches the ball on the wing. He easily evades that on one, though, and is quickly met with a more difficult double-team as he tries to head baseline.
With the baseline cut off, MJ fakes a spin move back to the middle which fools both defenders. Then, he goes back to the baseline and all that’s left is to meet Ewing at the rim.
Like most basketball moments in the ’90s, Jordan left as the victor.