The Utah Jazz have yet to recover from their 1998 NBA Finals loss to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. It’s understandable how much the team struggled considering they had two chances to win the NBA title and failed both times. times.
But the 1998 NBA Finals was even more excruciating for the Jazz, as it featured Michael Jordan’s most iconic performance. Jordan scored 45 points in a decisive Game 6, while hitting a game-winning jumper to cap off the Bulls’ “Last Dance” with their sixth NBA title.
However, the Jazz maintain to this day that the jumper should not have counted because Jordan allegedly shoved Jazz guard Brian Russell before taking the keyhole shot. As a matter of fact, the franchise still recalls that moment through his WiFi network in the stadium. This network has an interesting name: “JordanPusshedOff”.
Foul or fair?
Jordan’s title-winning play has been scrutinized and reviewed millions of times, with many basketball purists debating the validity of Russell’s claim that Jordan shoved him before he could jump. . However, former NBA insider Ken Mauer argues that rather than Jordan pushing Russell away, it was Russell’s momentum that created the space Airness needed to hit the winning shot.
“Michael is making a move where he lets Russell go over here and then pulls him up. Do you really think that Michael Jordan’s off-arm action caused Russell to do the same thing he did with his body? ?” said Mauer, who was an NBA referee from 1986 to 2022.
Show host Jason Whitlock also suggested that Jordan may have put his hands on Russell’s hips simply to help him regain balance for a stepback jumper.
all time move
Regardless of the conversation surrounding the move, there’s no question that it was one of the most famous moments in NBA history. Jordan’s “Last Shot” against the Utah Jazz continues to be an inspiration to athletes and basketball experts alike, and a debatable topic for Jazz fans. As such, this serves as a reminder of why Jordan will always remain an icon of the game.
