The 1997âÂÂ98 Chicago Bulls season was the 32nd season for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association. The Bulls entered the regular season as the 2-time defending NBA champions, and in the Finals, they met the Utah Jazz in a rematch from the prior year's NBA Finals and just like that year, they would go on to defeat the Jazz in six games to win their sixth championship in eight years and complete the franchise's second "3-peat". During the off-season, the team acquired Scott Burrell from the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agent Joe Kleine.
However, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen would miss the first half of the regular season, due to an injured toe on his left foot sustained from the 1997 NBA playoffs. Without Pippen, the Bulls started by winning the 1997 McDonald's Championship overseas in Paris, France in October, with Jordan being named the Most Valuable Player. In the regular season, the team got off to a slow 8âÂÂ7 start, but then won 15 of their next 18 games, including an eight-game winning streak in December, until Pippen eventually returned in January. However, three-point specialist Steve Kerr suffered a fractured collarbone in January, and only played just 50 games. Despite the injuries, the Bulls held a 34âÂÂ15 record at the All-Star break.
At mid-season, the team traded Jason Caffey to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for David Vaughn. Vaughn only played just three games with the Bulls before being waived on March 2, 1998, as he later on signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets. Also in early March, the team re-signed former Bulls reserve forward Dickey Simpkins, who was previously released by the Warriors, and played in the final 21 games of the regular season. The Bulls posted another eight-game winning streak in February, then posted a 13-game winning streak between March and April, and still finished in first place in the Central Division with a 62âÂÂ20 record, earning the first seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.
Michael Jordan once again led the league in scoring averaging 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, as he was named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and also won his fifth and final NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award. In addition, Pippen averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 44 games, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and also to the All-Defensive First Team, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman once again led the league in rebounding with 15.0 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Toni KukoÃÂ provided the team with 13.3 points per game, playing most of the season as the team's starting small forward in Pippen's absence, Luc Longley averaged 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, Ron Harper contributed 9.3 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Kerr contributed 7.5 points per game off the bench.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Jordan was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Jordan scored 23 points along with 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals, and won his third and final NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 135âÂÂ114. Jordan also finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Rodman finished tied in fifth place, and Pippen finished tied in ninth place; Pippen also finished in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and head coach Phil Jackson finished tied in seventh place in Coach of the Year voting.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1998 NBA playoffs, the Bulls faced off against the 8thâÂÂseeded Nets, a team that featured Sam Cassell, rookie power forward Keith Van Horn, and All-Star center Jayson Williams. In their first two home games at the United Center, the Bulls won Game 1 over the Nets in overtime, 96âÂÂ93, before winning Game 2, 96âÂÂ91 to take a 2âÂÂ0 series lead. The Bulls won Game 3 over the Nets on the road, 116âÂÂ101 at the Continental Airlines Arena to win the series in a three-game sweep.
In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 4thâÂÂseeded Charlotte Hornets, who were led by All-Star forward Glen Rice, Anthony Mason and Vlade Divac. The Bulls won Game 1 over the Hornets at the United Center, 83âÂÂ70, but then lost Game 2 at home, 78âÂÂ76 as the Hornets evened the series. However, the Bulls won the next two games on the road at the Charlotte Coliseum, before winning Game 5 over the Hornets at the United Center, 93âÂÂ84 to win the series in five games.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls then faced off against the 3rdâÂÂseeded Indiana Pacers, a team that featured All-Star guard Reggie Miller, All-Star center Rik Smits, and Chris Mullin, and were also coached by retired All-Star forward, and former Boston Celtics legend, Larry Bird. The Bulls won the first two games over the Pacers at the United Center to take a 2âÂÂ0 series lead, before losing the next two games on the road, as Miller hit a game-winning three-point shot in Game 4, in which the Pacers defeated the Bulls, 96âÂÂ94 at the Market Square Arena to even the series. With the series tied at 3âÂÂ3, the Bulls won Game 7 over the Pacers at the United Center, 88âÂÂ83 to win in a hard-fought seven-game series, en route to advance to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year.
In the 1998 NBA Finals, the Bulls once again faced off against the topâÂÂseeded Utah Jazz, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Karl Malone, All-Star guard John Stockton, and Jeff Hornacek, in a rematch from the 1997 NBA Finals. Despite both teams finishing with a league-best 62âÂÂ20 record, the Jazz had home-court advantage in the series, since they defeated the Bulls twice during the regular season. With the series starting at the Delta Center, the Bulls lost Game 1 to the Jazz in overtime, 88âÂÂ85, but managed to win Game 2, 93âÂÂ88 to even the series at 1âÂÂ1. As the series moved to the United Center, the Bulls won Game 3 over the Jazz by a 42-point margin, 96âÂÂ54, then won Game 4, 86âÂÂ82 to take a 3âÂÂ1 series lead; however, the Jazz won Game 5 on the road, 83âÂÂ81. In Game 6 at the Delta Center, and despite Pippen hurting his back after making a dunk early into the game, Jordan scored 45 points, and hit a memorable game-winning shot over Jazz forward Bryon Russell, as the Bulls defeated the Jazz, 87âÂÂ86. Just like last year's Finals, the Bulls won the series over the Jazz in six games to win their third consecutive NBA championship, and sixth overall in eight years to complete the franchise's second "3-peat"; Jordan was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for the sixth and final time.
At an average age of 32.096 years old, the Bulls became the oldest team to win an NBA championship. The Bulls also led the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 983,444 at the United Center during the regular season.
This was Jordan's last season with the Bulls, as he announced his second retirement in January 1999; however, he did make a second comeback with the Washington Wizards in 2001. Following the season, Jackson resigned as head coach after nine seasons with the Bulls, while Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets, Rodman signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, Longley was dealt to the Phoenix Suns, Kerr was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Burrell signed with the New Jersey Nets, Jud Buechler signed with the Detroit Pistons, and Kleine re-signed with the Suns, his former team.
Because of this dismantling of the team, this was the last season for the Bulls dynasty that had headlined the NBA throughout the 1990s. What followed was a long rebuilding process between 1998 and 2004, and the Bulls did not return to the postseason until 2005. The story of this season was captured in ESPN's The Last Dance, which aired in April 2020.
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 31 | @ Boston | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (9) | Harper & Jordan (4) | FleetCenter<br />18,624 | 0âÂÂ1
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | November 1 | Philadelphia | | Ron Harper (17) | Dennis Rodman (13) | Ron Harper (8) | United Center<br />24,196 | 1âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 3 | San Antonio | | Michael Jordan (29) | Dennis Rodman (22) | Jordan & Harper (4) | United Center<br />23,868 | 2âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | November 5 | Orlando | | Michael Jordan (29) | Michael Jordan (17) | Steve Kerr (5) | United Center<br />23,809 | 3âÂÂ1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 7 | @ Atlanta | | Michael Jordan (27) | Jordan & Longley (9) | Michael Jordan (6) | Georgia Dome<br />45,790 | 3âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | November 8 | New Jersey | | Steve Kerr (21) | Dennis Rodman (12) | Toni Kukoà(7) | United Center<br />23,898 | 4âÂÂ2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | November 11 | @ Cleveland | | Michael Jordan (19) | Jason Caffey (8) | Brown & Kerr (5) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 4âÂÂ3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | November 12 | Washington | | Michael Jordan (28) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Harper & Longley (5) | United Center<br />23,749 | 4âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 14 | Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (28) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Michael Jordan (7) | United Center<br />23,894 | 5âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | November 15 | Cleveland | | Michael Jordan (27) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Toni Kukoà(7) | United Center<br />23,906 | 6âÂÂ4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 11 | November 20 | @ Phoenix | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Ron Harper (5) | America West Arena<br />19,023 | 6âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 21 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Michael Jordan (49) | Luc Longley (17) | Toni Kukoà(6) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena<br />16,199 | 7âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 23 | @ Sacramento | | Michael Jordan (33) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Toni Kukoà(8) | ARCO Arena<br />17,317 | 8âÂÂ5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 14 | November 25 | @ Seattle | | Toni Kukoà(30) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Harper & Kukoà(6) | KeyArena<br />17,072 | 8âÂÂ6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | November 28 | @ Indiana | | Michael Jordan (26) | Dennis Rodman (11) | Toni Kukoà(4) | Market Square Arena<br />16,736 | 8âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | November 29 | @ Washington | | Michael Jordan (29) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Ron Harper (7) | US Airways Arena<br />18,756 | 9âÂÂ7
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | December 3 | @ Boston | | Michael Jordan (29) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Toni Kukoà(11) | FleetCenter<br />18,624 | 10âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 5 | Milwaukee | | Toni Kukoà(19) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Dennis Rodman (5) | United Center<br />24,041 | 11âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | December 9 | New York | | Michael Jordan (29) | 3 players tied (9) | Harper & Jordan (4) | United Center<br />24,107 | 12âÂÂ7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 10 | @ Orlando | | Michael Jordan (25) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Toni Kukoà(7) | Orlando Arena<br />17,248 | 12âÂÂ8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | December 12 | @ Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (28) | Dennis Rodman (19) | Toni Kukoà(7) | Charlotte Coliseum<br />24,042 | 12âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 13 | Toronto | | Ron Harper (20) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Toni Kukoà(6) | United Center<br />23,867 | 13âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | December 15 | Phoenix | | Michael Jordan (31) | Dennis Rodman (21) | Brown & Rodman (6) | United Center<br />23,888 | 14âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | December 17 | L.A. Lakers | | Michael Jordan (36) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Toni Kukoà(8) | United Center<br />24,119 | 15âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | December 20 | @ New Jersey | | Michael Jordan (24) | Dennis Rodman (24) | Dennis Rodman (5) | Continental Airlines Arena<br />20,049 | 16âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | December 23 | L.A. Clippers | | Michael Jordan (27) | Dennis Rodman (25) | 3 players tied (4) | United Center<br />23,904 | 17âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 25 | Miami | | Michael Jordan (24) | Dennis Rodman (13) | Toni Kukoà(5) | United Center<br />24,182 | 18âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 | December 27 | Atlanta | | Michael Jordan (47) | Dennis Rodman (29) | Dennis Rodman (5) | United Center<br />24,131 | 19âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | December 29 | Dallas | | Michael Jordan (41) | Dennis Rodman (27) | Dennis Rodman (8) | United Center<br />23,712 | 20âÂÂ9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | December 30 | @ Minnesota | | Michael Jordan (33) | Dennis Rodman (13) | Toni Kukoà(8) | Target Center<br />20,097 | 20âÂÂ10
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 | January 2 | Milwaukee | | Michael Jordan (44) | Dennis Rodman (21) | Luc Longley (8) | United Center<br />23,897 | 21âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | January 3 | @ Detroit | | Michael Jordan (34) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Michael Jordan (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 22âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 6 | Boston | | Jordan & Kukoà(19) | Dennis Rodman (20) | Toni Kukoà(6) | United Center<br />23,804 | 23âÂÂ10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 34 | January 7 | @ Miami | | Michael Jordan (26) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Brown, Harper (4) | Miami Arena<br />15,200 | 23âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | January 9 | @ New York | | Michael Jordan (44) | Luc Longley (10) | Luc Longley (6) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 24âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 10 | Golden State | | Michael Jordan (32) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Scottie Pippen (5) | United Center<br />23,902 | 25âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 13 | Seattle | | Michael Jordan (40) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Dennis Rodman (6) | United Center<br />24,112 | 26âÂÂ11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 38 | January 15 | @ Philadelphia | | Scottie Pippen (22) | Dennis Rodman (20) | Harper & Pippen (5) | CoreStates Center<br />21,104 | 26âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | January 16 | @ Milwaukee | | Michael Jordan (27) | Dennis Rodman (12) | Luc Longley (5) | Bradley Center<br />18,717 | 27âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | January 18 | Houston | | Michael Jordan (45) | Longley & Rodman (5) | Scottie Pippen (10) | United Center<br />24,209 | 28âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 21 | Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (33) | Luc Longley (13) | Scottie Pippen (7) | United Center<br />23,967 | 29âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 23 | @ New Jersey | | Michael Jordan (32) | Scottie Pippen (7) | Kukoà& Pippen (9) | Continental Airlines Arena<br />20,049 | 30âÂÂ12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 43 | January 25 | Utah | | Michael Jordan (32) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Scottie Pippen (10) | United Center<br />24,361 | 30âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 27 | @ Vancouver | | Scottie Pippen (29) | Dennis Rodman (22) | Pippen & Rodman (6) | General Motors Place<br />19,193 | 31âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 29 | @ Portland | | Michael Jordan (29) | Dennis Rodman (20) | Longley & Pippen (8) | Rose Garden<br />21,538 | 32âÂÂ13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | January 30 | @ Golden State | | Scottie Pippen (22) | Dennis Rodman (22) | Scottie Pippen (4) | The Arena in Oakland<br />19,804 | 33âÂÂ13
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 47 | February 1 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Michael Jordan (31) | Dennis Rodman (15) | Brown & Pippen (5) | Great Western Forum<br />17,505 | 33âÂÂ14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | February 2 | @ Denver | | Scott Burrell (24) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Buechler & Caffey (4) | McNichols Sports Arena<br />17,171 | 34âÂÂ14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 | February 4 | @ Utah | | Michael Jordan (40) | Luc Longley (11) | Dennis Rodman (4) | Delta Center<br />19,911 | 34âÂÂ15 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | February 10 | Toronto | | Toni Kukoà(21) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Scottie Pippen (9) | United Center<br />23,881 | 35âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 | February 11 | @ Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (29) | Dennis Rodman (11) | 3 players tied (6) | Charlotte Coliseum<br />24,042 | 36âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 | February 13 | Atlanta | | Michael Jordan (37) | Michael Jordan (7) | Scottie Pippen (7) | United Center<br />24,207 | 37âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | February 15 | Detroit | | Toni Kukoà(22) | Michael Jordan (12) | Jordan & Pippen (5) | United Center<br />24,139 | 38âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 54 | February 17 | Indiana | | Michael Jordan (27) | Dennis Rodman (13) | Michael Jordan (6) | United Center<br />24,131 | 39âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 55 | February 19 | @ Toronto | | Scottie Pippen (22) | Dennis Rodman (19) | Scottie Pippen (6) | SkyDome<br />30,172 | 40âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 56 | February 21 | @ Washington | | Scottie Pippen (23) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Toni Kukoà(5) | MCI Center<br />20,674 | 41âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 57 | February 23 | Cleveland | | Michael Jordan (17) | Ron Harper (10) | Brown & Kukoà(7) | United Center<br />23,902 | 42âÂÂ15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 58 | February 25 | Portland | | Michael Jordan (33) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Kukoà& Pippen (6) | United Center<br />23,821 | 42âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 | February 28 | Sacramento | | Scottie Pippen (29) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Pippen & Rodman (6) | United Center<br />23,914 | 43âÂÂ16
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 | March 3 | Denver | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Toni Kukoà(10) | United Center<br />23,810 | 44âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 61 | March 8 | @ New York | | Michael Jordan (42) | Dennis Rodman (20) | Jordan & Pippen (6) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 45âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 | March 10 | Miami | | Michael Jordan (37) | Dennis Rodman (10) | Kukoà& Pippen (8) | United Center<br />24,102 | 46âÂÂ16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 63 | March 12 | @ Dallas | | Michael Jordan (26) | Dennis Rodman (22) | Toni Kukoà(6) | Reunion Arena<br />18,255 | 46âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 64 | March 14 | @ San Antonio | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Scottie Pippen (5) | Alamodome<br />37,492 | 47âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 65 | March 16 | New Jersey | | Toni Kukoà(21) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Kukoà& Rodman (5) | United Center<br />23,908 | 48âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 | March 17 | @ Indiana | | Michael Jordan (35) | Dennis Rodman (19) | Scottie Pippen (5) | Market Square Arena<br />16,729 | 49âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 | March 20 | Vancouver | | Michael Jordan (24) | Toni Kukoà(11) | Ron Harper (4) | United Center<br />24,023 | 50âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 68 | March 22 | @ Toronto | | Jordan & Pippen (33) | Dennis Rodman (18) | 3 players tied (5) | SkyDome<br />33,216 | 51âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 69 | March 23 | Boston | | Scottie Pippen (27) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Toni Kukoà(10) | United Center<br />23,944 | 52âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 | March 25 | @ Orlando | | Scottie Pippen (23) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Michael Jordan (8) | Orlando Arena<br />17,248 | 53âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 71 | March 27 | @ Atlanta | | Michael Jordan (34) | Dennis Rodman (15) | Ron Harper (6) | Georgia Dome<br />62,046 | 54âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 72 | March 29 | @ Milwaukee | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Toni Kukoà(8) | Bradley Center<br />18,717 | 55âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 73 | March 31 | Detroit | | Scottie Pippen (27) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Michael Jordan (8) | United Center<br />23,942 | 56âÂÂ17
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 74 | April 3 | Minnesota | | Scottie Pippen (27) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Michael Jordan (8) | United Center<br />23,985 | 57âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 75 | April 5 | @ Houston | | Michael Jordan (40) | Dennis Rodman (12) | Pippen & Rodman (8) | Compaq Center<br />16,285 | 58âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 76 | April 7 | Washington | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (20) | Scottie Pippen (7) | United Center<br />23,969 | 59âÂÂ17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 77 | April 9 | @ Cleveland | | Michael Jordan (29) | Dennis Rodman (20) | Scottie Pippen (8) | Gund Arena<br />20,562 | 59âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 78 | April 11 | Orlando | | Michael Jordan (37) | Dennis Rodman (10) | Pippen & Rodman (6) | United Center<br />24,104 | 60âÂÂ18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 79 | April 13 | Indiana | | Scottie Pippen (28) | Dennis Rodman (9) | Harper & Rodman (4) | United Center<br />23,957 | 60âÂÂ19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 80 | April 15 | @ Detroit | | Michael Jordan (19) | Dennis Rodman (15) | Harper & Kukoà(5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 60âÂÂ20 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 81 | April 17 | @ Philadelphia | | Michael Jordan (24) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Scottie Pippen (4) | CoreStates Center<br />21,305 | 61âÂÂ20 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 82 | April 18 | New York | | Michael Jordan (44) | Dennis Rodman (8) | Scottie Pippen (10) | United Center<br />24,182 | 62âÂÂ20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 24 | New Jersey | | Michael Jordan (39) | Dennis Rodman (8) | 3 players tied (5) | United Center<br>23,844 | 1âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 26 | New Jersey | | Michael Jordan (32) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Burrell & Rodman (4) | United Center<br>23,844 | 2âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 29 | @ New Jersey | | Michael Jordan (38) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Scottie Pippen (10) | Continental Airlines Arena<br>19,889 | 3âÂÂ0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 3 | Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (35) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Jordan & Pippen (4) | United Center<br>23,844 | 1âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 6 | Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (22) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Michael Jordan (6) | United Center<br>23,844 | 1âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 8 | @ Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (27) | Dennis Rodman (17) | Michael Jordan (6) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,799 | 2âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 10 | @ Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (31) | Dennis Rodman (18) | Scottie Pippen (8) | Charlotte Coliseum<br>23,799 | 3âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 13 | Charlotte | | Michael Jordan (33) | Dennis Rodman (21) | Longley & Pippen (5) | United Center<br>23,844 | 4âÂÂ1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 17 | Indiana | | Michael Jordan (31) | Dennis Rodman (10) | Scottie Pippen (7) | United Center<br>23,844 | 1âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 19 | Indiana | | Michael Jordan (41) | Ron Harper (9) | Jordan & Pippen (5) | United Center<br>23,844 | 2âÂÂ0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 23 | @ Indiana | | Michael Jordan (30) | Dennis Rodman (12) | Michael Jordan (7) | Market Square Arena<br>16,576 | 2âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 25 | @ Indiana | | Michael Jordan (28) | Dennis Rodman (16) | Scottie Pippen (10) | Market Square Arena<br>16,560 | 2âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 27 | Indiana | | Michael Jordan (29) | Scottie Pippen (8) | Kukoà& Pippen (7) | United Center<br>23,844 | 3âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | May 29 | @ Indiana | | Michael Jordan (35) | Dennis Rodman (12) | 3 players tied (2) | Market Square Arena<br>16,566 | 3âÂÂ3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | May 31 | Indiana | | Michael Jordan (28) | Scottie Pippen (12) | Michael Jordan (8) | United Center<br>23,844 | 4âÂÂ3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | June 3 | @ Utah | | Michael Jordan (33) | Dennis Rodman (10) | Steve Kerr (5) | Delta Center<br>19,911 | 0âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | June 5 | @ Utah | | Michael Jordan (37) | Kukoà& Rodman (9) | Scottie Pippen (4) | Delta Center<br>19,911 | 1âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | June 7 | Utah | | Michael Jordan (24) | Ron Harper (10) | Ron Harper (7) | United Center<br>23,844 | 2âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | June 10 | Utah | | Michael Jordan (34) | Dennis Rodman (14) | Scottie Pippen (5) | United Center<br>23,844 | 3âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | June 12 | Utah | | Toni Kukoà(30) | Scottie Pippen (11) | Scottie Pippen (11) | United Center<br>23,844 | 3âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | June 14 | @ Utah | | Michael Jordan (45) | Dennis Rodman (8) | Kukoà& Pippen (4) | Delta Center<br>19,911 | 4âÂÂ2
Player statistics citation:
Legend: OT denotes a game decided in overtime
Bulls win series 4-2
This was the first time in the 1990s that the same two teams played each other in two consecutive finals. The Jazz had won both regular season match-ups, and many analysts predicted a hard-fought seven-game series. Predictions of a Jazz championship were strengthened with their game one victory in overtime in Utah. The Bulls would tie the series in game 2 putting together a fourth quarter run to silence the Delta Center and holding on to win 93âÂÂ88, finally securing their first victory against Utah all season.
The Finals would move to Chicago with control of the series at stake in Game 3. Though anticipation was high, no one could have expected a blow-out of the proportions seen in Game 3. With a 96âÂÂ54 triumph over Utah, the Bulls would help the Jazz set an embarrassing record for the lowest points scored in Finals history and biggest margin of defeat, while everyone on the Bulls scored. The Jazz would pull themselves together in Game 4 in a better attempt to tie the series, but lost 86âÂÂ82.
The early Jazz series-lead seemed like a distant memory, a false indication of a tough series as they hit the floor for Game 5 behind 3âÂÂ1. Chicago fans prepared for the last game they would host with the Jordan-led Bulls of the 1990s. But any notions of a championship at the United Center would be snuffed out when, with 0.8 seconds on the game, Michael Jordan airballed an off-balance 3 to the right of the basket giving the Jazz a narrow 83âÂÂ81 win. The play might have been for Toni Kukoàto shoot a three. With the series shifting back to Utah with a far more generous 3-2 Bulls advantage, the promise of another Chicago championship was not so certain.
The Chicago Bulls had never let a Finals series go to a Game 7.
As they arrived at the Delta Center for Game 6, things didn't look good for the Bulls. Scottie Pippen's back gave out when he dunked the opening basket of the game and he was slowed down and held to just 8 points. The Jazz suffered a bad break when the referees incorrectly nullified a Howard Eisley three-pointer that, replays showed, was clearly released just before the 24-second clock expired. In the 4th quarter, the Bulls closed the gap as Michael Jordan tallied many of his 45 overall points. Then things got worse for Chicago when John Stockton hit a clutch 3 with 41.9 seconds left to give Utah an 86âÂÂ83 lead as the Delta Center crowd roared happily. Down by 3, the Bulls had one last chance to stay alive. Running perilously low on energy, it would be imperative for Chicago to win the series before the game went into OT, and also for the Bulls to avoid a Game 7 on the road when Scottie Pippen was so badly injured and their entire lineup was exhausted.
After Michael Jordan made a quick layup to cut the Jazz lead to one, the Bulls needed to stop the Jazz from scoring again. When John Stockton passed the ball to Karl Malone, Michael Jordan stole the ball away and dribbled to the front. Guarding him was Bryon Russell, one of the Jazz's best perimeter defenders. Jordan drove inside the 3-point line, executed a quick cross-over, and drilled a 20-ft. jump shot to give the Bulls an 87âÂÂ86 lead with 5.2 seconds left. After Utah took a timeout, Stockton's 3 hit the rim and bounced away, giving the Bulls their 6th title in 8 years. The famous winning shot has been immortalized in many records, as Jordan completed a perfect sextet: 6 NBA Finals, 6 championships, and 6 NBA Finals MVP trophies.