Top Ten Michael Jordan Games

Trying to pick just 10 of Michael Jordan’s best games takes some time. Okay a lot of time. No two lists would be the same. Well, here goes and don’t worry, no games from his days with the Wizards are included.

10. 1993 NBA Finals vs. Phoenix Suns Game 4

Fans in the old Chicago Stadium had flashbacks to the 1987 version of Jordan on this night. Determined to bounce back from a triple overtime loss the previous game, Jordan put on a show, leaving Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle and anyone else who tried to stop him in his dust. Giving the Bulls back control of the series, Jordan went for 56 points, trailing only Elgin Baylor for highest point total in a NBA Finals game. The Bulls would need every one of them, including Jordan’s three point play with 15 seconds left and his team nursing just a one-point lead. Best bud Charles Barkley could just look on in awe. Five days later, Jordan had his third straight championship.

9. 1995 Regular Season at New York Knicks

With only four games under his belt after coming back from retirement, Jordan still put on his customary Madison Square Garden show. Even the usually vicious New York fans, Spike Lee included, could only stand up and applaud. Forget the 55 points for a second. What most people remember is the game-winning assist to none other than Bill Wennington. Drawing three defenders in the lane, Jordan found a wide open Wennington for an easy dunk with only seconds to play in a tie ballgame. That basket perhaps even started the Wennington craze (McDonalds would later serve a Beef Wennington sandwich). Going from a scuffling minor league baseball player back to the national pastime in a few short weeks, Jordan proved he still knew how to take over a game. The fact he was guarded by nemesis John Starks for much of the night only made it that much sweeter.

8. 1988 NBA All-Star Game at Chicago

Flashback to the same game three years ago, Jordan’s rookie year. Supposedly, a few older players, mainly Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird, and Julius Erving, formed a plan to snub Jordan on the offensive end. Not on this night. In a season that saw Jordan average 35 points and win his first of many more MVP’s, the home-town fans were treated to quite a show by their hero. Down the stretch, his East teammates had apparently learned their lesson, as they were content to watch his airness go for 16 fourth quarter points on his way to 40 for the night, two off the all-time record set by Wilt Chamberlain. Starting alongside Thomas, Bird, Dominique Wilkins and Moses Malone, Jordan went 17 of 23 from the floor, also adding nine rebounds and five assists. Not even his triple double in the 1998 All-Star game could match this performance.

7. 1990 Regular Season at Cleveland Cavaliers

This just shows how incredible Jordan was. His highest scoring game comes in only 7^th on this list. All throughout his career, Jordan had a habit of terrorizing the Cavs, largely thanks to two men; Lenny Wilkins and Craig Ehlo. Wilkins would sit stubbornly on the bench and refuse to double team Jordan, while Ehlo had about the speed and quickness of your average high schooler. No wonder the Bulls knocked Cleveland out of the playoffs four different times in the late 80s/early 90s. The stats from this game will knock your socks off. Seemingly playing one-on-five, Jordan put in 69 points, 18 rebounds, and 7 assists. Afterwards Jordan, never one to rank his performances, said it had to be his best game ever. In his first year as head coach, Phil Jackson got just a taste of what was to come from his superstar. One year after “The Shot” (see below) Jordan managed to tear the hearts of Cleveland fans yet again.

6. 1992 NBA Finals vs. Portland Trail Blazers Game 1

Will anyone ever forget the shrug? How about the look of disbelief on Jordan’s face as he ran past Magic Johnson, who was broadcasting the game for NBC. Before this series started, people began chirping that maybe Clyde Drexler was closing the gap on Michael as the game’s most exciting player. Apparently, Michael heard the ridiculous talk, and as was his custom, played with a little something extra in his step. Just when sportswriters and commentators thought they had seen it all, MJ hit six three pointers in one 16 minute first half stretch, on his way to 35 points for the half. The famous expression came after his final trey. Running down the court with a horrified Danny Ainge lagging behind, Jordan couldn’t even believe his newfound three-point shooting. Never known as a three-point shooter, Jordan showed the only to defend him was a hope and a prayer. Oh yeah, the Bulls won by 33, setting the tone for a series they controlled throughout.

5. 1982 NCAA Championship Game vs. Georgetown

This is where the legend began. On a team with All-Americans James Worthy and Sam Perkins, Jordan was something of an afterthought as a freshman. Not one of the 60,000 people in New Orleans that night thought Jordan would take the last shot with Carolina trailing by one in the final minute. So why in the huddle did Dean Smith set up a play for Jordan to shoot from the corner? Perhaps he knew something the rest of the world would be finding out in the not-too distant future. With Patrick Ewing clogging the middle, Carolina swung it around the perimeter for a while, until Jordan finally released a 15-foot jumper from the left corner. You could argue the shot propelled his career in hitting pressure shots in big games. After a one point-win in possibly the best title game ever, Jordan went from getting cut by his varsity team three years ago to sitting on the cover of that week’s Sports Illustrated.

4. 1989 First Round at Cleveland Game 5

Remember that great commercial a while back when Jordan said “twenty six times I’ve been trusted to hit the game-winning shot and failed?” Unfortunately for Cleveland, this was not one of those times. How Jordan got free for a 15 footer off a sidelines inbounds play with only three seconds left remains a mystery. Perhaps Craig Ehlo and Lenny Wilkins thought Brad Sellers or Horace Grant would take the last shot. Make-or-break is an understatement. The teams traded leads nine times in the final three minutes. After Ehlo scored to put the Cavs up one, everyone knew where the ball was going. Michael’s hang time on his double pumped free throw line jumper became legendary, soon to be known as “The Shot.” His 44 points pushed the Bulls to the next round, where they eventually reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in the Jordan era. Taunted by Cavs fans for much of the night after guaranteeing his Bulls would win the series in 4, Jordan, as usual, had the last laugh. “Choke” just wasn’t in his vocabulary.

3. 1998 NBA Finals at Utah Game 6

Years later, Bryon Russell still contended Jordan got away with a huge push off. Of course, no one paid attention. It was also the perfect pose. Right after making the go-ahead shot that beautifully swished through the net, Jordan held his follow through for an extra few seconds, likely knowing this was his last game in a Bulls uniform. From the moment it left Jordan’s hands, everyone in the building knew it was good. Look at the circumstances if Jordan misses that shot. An inspired Jazz team had already won Game 5 in Chicago to get the series back to the rowdy Delta Center. If there had been a 7^th game in Utah, Karl Malone and company probably win, especially considering Scottie Pippen was nowhere near 100% after injuring his back. People will never forget Jordan freezing and admiring his work, but think about what led up to that. John Stockton nailed a clutch three to put Utah ahead 86-83 with 40 seconds remaining. Jordan responded with the best 40 second stretch in NBA history. First, a driving lay-in that took about five seconds, meaning the Bulls didn’t have to foul. On the other end, just as Malone was about to make his move in the post, Jordan came in from behind and swiped the ball away, setting the stage for the fitting way Jordan ended his Bulls career. On a night where Pippen barely played, Jordan scored 45 of his team’s 87 points, practically willing the Bulls to a sixth championship.

2. 1986 First Round at Boston Celtics Game 2

Larry Bird claimed afterwards, “That was God disguised as Michael Jordan.” To score 63 points at the Garden against one of the all-time great NBA squads was unheard of. Whether it was jumpers over Bird, drives to the hole through Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, you name it, Jordan did it. A stunned Boston crowd watched Jordan, coming off a severe foot injury that had sidelined him for 64 games that season, pour in 63 points on national television. Opposing players and coaches soon realized Jordan was the future of the league. If only he didn’t have to play with guys like Dave Corzine, Orlando Woolridge, and Kyle Macy. Anyway, the overmatched Bulls lost in double overtime, but that was irrelevant.

1. 1997 NBA Finals at Utah Jazz Game 5

Oh those sneaky room service cooks. Bad pizza from the night before had Jordan throwing up all day. Lying in bed until the team bus departed, it appeared Jordan was a no-go for this pivotal game. Utah was proving to be a formidable opponent, having won the last two games, and playing at home, had a ton of confidence. Barely able to slide on the No. 23 jersey, Jordan did in fact play, despite looking like he should have been hooked up to an IV. Forget about Willis Reed. Anyone who remembers this game recalls the image of Jordan falling into Scottie Pippen’s arms near the end. He somehow summoned the energy to score 38 big points, including 16 in the second quarter after Utah had sprinted out to a huge early lead. The clinching shot was a Jordan three-pointer that gave the Bulls a three-point cushion with 20 seconds left. Most men would have been in a hospital. Jordan is not most men.