The final episode of ‘The Last Dance’ did not disappoint. Here are the 5 best quotes from Episode 10.
5. Mark Vancil on Michael Jordan’s gift
"“His gift was not that he could jump high, run fast, shoot a basketball. His gift was that he was completely present, and that was the separator.” -Mark Vancil"
That’s a really interesting way of thinking about what separated Michael Jordan from his competition, and even though it’s counterintuitive in some ways, it actually makes a lot of sense.
By the time the 1998 NBA Finals rolled around, Jordan wasn’t the same athlete he was in the ’80s and early ’90s. He was older and not as physically imposing. But he was still the best player in the world. Maybe that was simply because of his ability to be in the moment, to be present. Mark Vancil seems to think so.
4. MJ breaking down his day
"“I got up, I stretched, had a couple beers, played the piano, one cigar.” -Michael Jordan"
Wait, what? That’s what Jordan’s day looked like during the 1998 NBA Finals? There are no words to describe how much I love that. With the tools we have now, I can’t imagine the best player in the world having a couple of beers, playing the piano and smoking a cigar unless it was in the offseason. MJ did that during the last Finals of his career.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
3. Jordan on the Bulls’ dynasty
"“Yes, sir. Six of them. Now ya’ll say whatever you want. They can’t win until we quit.” -Michael Jordan"
Everything about this scene in The Last Dance is lovely. Jordan is sitting in the locker room after the Bulls won their sixth and final title. He’s opening a bottle of champagne, wearing a “Repeat 3-peat” shirt. Scottie Pippen is by his side. And Jordan acknowledges that the Bulls own the NBA.
He’s not wrong, either. Other teams literally couldn’t win until Jordan and Co. quit. Fortunately for the rest of the NBA (and unfortunately for Chicago fans), the Bulls’ front office quit on the team before letting them go for a seventh title in nine years.
2. MJ on the city of Chicago
"“I know a lot of people didn’t think we’d end up back in Grant Park this year. Nobody knows if we’re gonna be in Grant Park next year. But the one thing I do know is my heart, my soul, my love has always gone to the city of Chicago. And I do know that no matter what happens, my heart, my soul, my love will still be in the city of Chicago.” -Michael Jordan"
Jordan said this in front of a raucous crowd at Grant Park after the Bulls won their sixth title in 1998. And those words are exactly why he’ll always and forever be a Chicago icon.
MJ has a genuine love for the city of Chicago and that shows in everything he does. That quote was the perfect way for him to wrap up his Bulls career.
1. David Stern on Jordan’s impact
"“In ’92, the NBA was in 80 countries. And now the NBA is in 215 countries. Anyone who understands that phenomenon of that historical arc will understand that Michael Jordan and his era played an incredibly important part in it. He advanced us tremendously.” -David Stern"
David Stern did a fantastic job here of helping fans understand how Jordan shaped the globalization of NBA basketball. Fans today are well aware of the reach the league has. Current stars are always overseas doing promotional events. But none of that happens without Michael Jordan.
MJ helped turn the NBA into the force of nature that it is now.