Remembering the “Last Shot”

1336 days ago - by Matt Halfhill - 110 comments

Michael Jordan's Last Shot Game 6 1998 NBA Finals

Ten years ago this day, June 14, 1998, one of the greatest moments in NBA history occurred. With his team down one point and the ball in the Jazz’s possession, Michael Jordan single-handedly took control of the final moments that lead one of the defining moments of his career. Swatting like a panther, Jordan snatched the ball from a posted Karl Malone and drove the ball down the court as the time was clicking away along with the chances of coming away with a win. From just atop the 3-point arc, a hard drive to his right with a quick cut back leaves a defending Bryon Russell stumbling and remembered as the final person defeated in a one on one with MJ as a Bull. With only one chance to fire, Jordan seized the opportunity as his jumpshot went through the basket with 5.2 seconds left on the clock in what would be in final game wearing black and red.

For some of us, it seems like it was only yesterday that our eyes were peeled to the screen hearing Bob Costas and the NBC crew cover the epic moment in the history of Michael Jordan, the NBA, and the game of basketball. Ten years have passed from this unforgettable and memorable moment, but though the highlight reel has been seen numerous times, watching the legend never tires.

This day we dedicate to you Mr. Jordan for everything you have brought to sport fans, sneakerheads, and those who appreciate the will and determination to accomplish the unthinkable.

Thank you Mike for the memories past, present, and future.

Michael Jordan's Last Shot Game 6 1998 NBA Finals
Another angle of Michael Jordan hitting game winning shot in Game 6 of the NBA Finals

Michael Jordan's Last Shot Game 6 1998 NBA Finals
Air Jordan 14 “Last Shots” worn by Michael Jordan in his final game as a Chicago Bull

cu3an
THAT WAS THE SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD…..JORDAN+14=TRUE HISTORY!
solesaved
Comment 59 Before the team jordan started ie: Eddie Jones, Vin Baker, Micheal Finley and a few others long before the 2nd gen of players now on team jordan YOU COULD NOT WEAR MIKE JORDANS IN THE NBA WITHOUT HIS PERMISSON HE SAID DIDN’T WANT UNDERACHIVEING PLAYERS WEARING HIS SNEAKS! THEN HE HAND SELECTED THE PLAYERS HE WANTED TO WEAR THE TEAM JORDAN BRAND AT THAT TIME THEY DIDN’T MAKE PLAYOFF EXCLUSIVE WITHOUT THE PLAYER THEY WERE MADE FOR BEING THE ONE TO BE FIRST TO WEAR THEM JEROME KERSEY MIGHT HAD A COLORWAY THEY ALREADY HAD OUT BUT THEY DON’T MAKE SHOES FOR JORDAN LET JEROME KERSEY DEBUT THEM WITHOUT JORDAN HAVING THEM FIRST BET HE DID’NT HAVE THOSE RED&BLACK 14′s before that finals.
c.s brando
no the greatest!!!!! not one of
gold9oh
bkbigjay….i like that…it was a good push off..he still had to hit the shot. so im totally with you
sylvester
I remember watching this game saying jordan has to take the last shot i was about 14years old, that was the sweetest shot i’ve ever seen
sylvester
nice shot
http://www.nicekicks.com Nice Kicks
“Fixed series. Jordan=G.O.A.T., but still fixed. Not the push, either. Six points, three should’ve counted, three that shouldn’t have. (Eisley and Harper, respectively). J and the Bulls probably would’ve won the series even if the game was called correct, but David Stern’s goons with whistles didn’t help matters. They never do.” – dopasaurus
Ron Harper’s shot was a 2 pointer actually so that would be a 5 point swing. But if we are going to get nit picky about every single call this topic will never end. What about Rodman being called for a charge without being able to establish position. You can’t get called for a charge if you catch a ball mid-air and land hitting the guy!
All in all, there were some missed calls, but guess what, that’s basketball and more-so that’s life. The difference between winners and losers is some are looking forward to the next play while others whine, b!tch, and moan about whistles a decade later.
If any one thinks that Jordan’s legacy and rings came from David Stern “fixing” the Playoffs, you probably think TuPac and Biggie are chilling out with Elvis on a deserted island.
The point of this piece was to remember the decade since a historic moment in NBA history. If you need a soapbox to stand on and rant about David Stern and missed calls, find somewhere else to do it please.
Kirk Morris
He totally pushed Byron Russell. He is the greatest but her pushed him. Who cares though? Does anyone hold it against him. The ref let it go cause it WAS Jordan. The shoes are sick, why do we have to bring up a push.
P3
If anyone is interested from the Austin Tx area. I found the 17/6 countdown in a 9.5 at the Barton Creek Square Mall. I didnt have the money to buy it but i saw it sitting there at champs. Just though I would spread the word.
P3
By the way, calls are missed everyday in basketball. If every foul was called every player would be fouled out and there goes the game. Jordan is the greatest ever. No if, ands, or buts!
K
Mike was Ill
PhilWil
I still think its a shame that Brand Jordan didn’t release the “Last Shots” for the year of Jordan 2008. What does he release on the date he played for the Bulls for the last time? The best of both worlds Fusion V’s red white and blue (don’t tell me he released the white and red cause they were no where to be found)
He should have released the 14 + 9 pack today… or a special 14 or something.
Well, anyway, glad Nicekicks.com put this up.
bkbigjay
PhilWil the last shots came out December 05. i remember it like its yesterday. its WAYY to soon to release the last shots again.
you wont see those released for another 5 years at best
http://www.myspace.com/moslovchambliss J.Fonzy
AJ 14′s, damn i was just 12.. now i’ve got to own my own pair.. top 10 in the collectibles. Keep on Keepin On AJ!
NPF 65
I was 8 years old, never had a pair of jordans, loved how he played, 10 years later I have 20+ pairs of jordans, and im 18.
nikeindabutt
BR got owned on this play and will forever be posterized! MJ was the greatest plain and simple…Kobe being compared to MJ is plain blasphemy! Comparing him to Pippen = maybe?, MJ = Hell Naw!
fadeaway_j_23
I recorded this game when it was live and I’ve watched it EVERY June 14 ever since. I remember watching it with my brother, HE thought it was over when Stockton hit that 3 with 41.9 seconds left, I knew MJ would come through no doubt in my mind, and he did. Everyone watching and everyone in the building knew who was going to take the shot, come on even the Bulls spread the floor, everyone was behind the 3 point line. There was no doubt who was taking the shot and they STILL COULDN’T stop him, simply amazing and unbelieveable. And for those that say it was a push, if you notice, AT THE END OF THE GAME MJ was just driving hard to the basket every time he got the ball, he was looking to get fouled every time down the floor so he could go to the line = easy buckets. Since he kept driving to the hole at the end, Bryon Russell thought he was gonna drive again on that possession, that’s why Russell slipped not because of a push. I mean yea MJ had his hand on him but he didnt extend it when they seperated, that’s the only time they’ll call an offensive foul. Either way, all he did was make the Jazz think he was gonna drive again. Some of you say push, I say good fake. He made them think something, and did the total opposite. Thanks MJ for all the memories.
bkbigjay
nikeindabutt kobe is nothing like pippen at all. that is disrespect right there. actually, kobe is the only guy anyone could think of being like jordan. pippen? LMAO. pippen was one of the 3 best small forwards ever. long arms, lock down defense on par with jordans,. great rebounder. point forward.. insane passing skills. pass first.imagine ron artest with andrei kerilinko with better scoring than both, but less blocks but making plays. if bird wasn’t around scottie might be ranked higher. but he was a better defender. like chuck said, ”as long as larry bird is around, im not the worst defender on earth”. or something like that
PuffDaGod
Remember the PUSH OFF, But we dont want to talk about that HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
P3
ok PuffDaGod. Go ref a game. Seriously. Go do it and we’ll see how many correct calls you get.
dopasaurus
you shoulda known this forum would bring debate, ya big dummy. don’t open it for posting if you can’t take the good with the bad. plus, nobody here brought their own soapbox, you left it sitting there. back to the point, i think we can all agree that the J14′s are all sizzle.
http://www.myspace.comsirecommunications J.King
again solesaved, Jerome Kersey rocked the fives in the 1990 NBA Finals. I already know about the Team Jordan wikipedia notes you posted. I was a jr. in undergrad when Team Jordan was put together with a poster display from the sneaker store display I workered while in college to remind me. Perhaps Kersey went down to the footlocker stood online and bought a pair like the rest of the “Jay” fans. Good use of caps also. Faulkner would be proud.
anj
His name is BRYON Russell not BYRON! Come on, fools! fix dat!
Bradley Lewis
jordan crossed the mess outta dude. thats what the lick read
anj
THANK YOU (thank me).
solesaved
J King I guess you’re the only one old enough at the present time to know anything about jordans. The whole point of my comments was about the kid who said he had the RED&BLACK “14′s” at the time jordan or at the same time jordan was wearing them in the finals they were NOT RELEASED to the general public yet now since you know so much about who wikipedia comments because that from someone who uses it themselves but everybody doesn’t know all things about jordan like you because you’re the ONLY one OLD ENOUGH AND SMART ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU’RE THE KING J before you comment on someone else’s commentS you should really READ THEM FIRST i didn’t say anything about the Fives or if Jerome Kersey wore them or not the 14′s is a few sneaks down from the FIVES’s i never mentioned anything about Jerome Kersey or the “Five’s and if you know so much about were my wikipedia comments came from only means you wikipedia and one more thing i’m not cool enough or hip enough or i guess OLD enough to care or give a sh*t who FAULKNER is
solesaved
J King Since you college educated and “workered” in the shoe store at the time with all your posters then you should know or wikipedia when the “14′s” was released because that was what the purpose of the comments was about but you so educated and with all your knowledge and you talkin about FAULKNER.
http://www.nicekicks.com Nice Kicks
Easily fellas, its just J’s. I think MJ would rather us all be happy than spur.
On another note, I received probably 15 emails over the weekend requesting a wallpaper of the photo that I posted. For those not familiar with Photoshop I just made everything except MJ and the ball greyscale.
I will post the wallpaper tomorrow morn or early PM.
Sneaker King
best moment in sports
kjpe
This is by far the best shot ever taken in NBA history, no one will compare to him. There is no “2008 Jordan”. My collegues believe Kobe is todays jordan.. siiiiiiikeee
http://www.myspace.com/porn0graffiK Darneezy
Everyone’s STILL saying “it’s a push,” even 10 years later. LET IT GO! lol
Sure, MJ took his hand and placed it on Byron Russell’s rear, and cleared him out a bit, but to say he PUSHED him, when Russell’s momentum was carrying him that direction ANYWAY, is crazy.
It wasn’t a blatent, “get out of my way” push, but an instinctive thing, much like if you were to go up for a dunk, with an opponent going up with you and you extend your elbow a bit, to clear some space.
“No harm, no foul” is as cliche as you can get here and there was NO HARM, nor a FOUL on that play.
6 Championships, 2 3-peats, in 8 seasons…
Chicago Bulls, 1998 NBA Champions!
jimmysupahfly
One of sports greatest plays by one of sports greatest players… Simply legendary… While this was when the NBA was at its prime and worth watching we will soon begin to have moments for our generation with the upcoming Celtics and Lakers rivalry, King James and CP3 on the hunt for the respect by winning a championship… The NBA is finally making a comeback!!
http://www.solefresh.com SoleFresh.com
Mike was definitely the greatest player to ever play the game. The game took a huge hit after his absence but it seems to be coming around! It was good to see Paul P. win a ring he was working super hard and never layed down.
orton
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WALLPAPER?!?!?!
David
MIcheal Jordan RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1