#5: 40 years old, 43 points
Michael Jordan at the age of 40, scores 43 points in a game becoming the first 40yr old
to score over 40 pts in an NBA game. While Michael Jordan wasn’t the same player
when he came back to play for the Wizards, his performance against the New Jersey
Nets despite his age and against competition 20 yrs younger than him demonstrates how
dominate of a player he was.
Michael Jordan at the age of 40, scores 43 points in a game becoming the first 40yr old
to score over 40 pts in an NBA game. While Michael Jordan wasn’t the same player
when he came back to play for the Wizards, his performance against the New Jersey
Nets despite his age and against competition 20 yrs younger than him demonstrates how
dominate of a player he was.
#4: 63 Points Against the Celtics
You can make a really good argument that the 1986 Boston Celtics were the
greatest team in NBA history. One of their guards, Dennis Johnson, was arguably
the best defensive guard in basketball history. Nobody told Michael Jordan.
In a thrilling double-overtime loss to the eventual champions, Jordan dropped
63 points and set the NBA record for most points in a playoff game. In 26
years since, that record remains unbroken
#3. The Shot
When you really think about it, isn't MJ's shot over Craig Ehlo one of the most
incredible shots in NBA history? Jordan's momentum is bringing him left, yet he
jumps straight up, keeps his body squared to the hoop and releases the ball on his
way back down to the ground, all while he has Craig Ehlo's hand in his face. If
Jordan misses, the Bulls are bounced from the playoffs and the Cavaliers go on to
face the Knicks. However, Jordan nails the shot and sends the Bulls to the Eastern
Conference semifinals. Not bad for a 25-year-old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5WUOnTxwPw&feature=player_embedded
#2. The Flu Game
When most of us have the flu, we lay in bed, sweat profusely, take a boatload of
medicine and maybe have one or two bowls of soup. When His Airness has the flu,
he plays 44 minutes and drops 38 on the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals to give the
Bulls a 3-2 series lead with a 90-88 win. This game gave us one of the most famous
images of Jordan's careers. After dismantling the Karl Malone's Jazz and willing
the Bulls to a win, Jordan collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms. The Bulls would
go on the win the next game in Chicago and win their fifth NBA Championship.
#1: Jordan”s Final Shot
In the history of the NBA, there are certain moments that stand out as "iconic." These
include Magic Johnson's hook shot, Larry Bird's steal against the Lakers, Willis
Reed playing hurt, Derek Fisher's catch-and-shoot with 0.4 seconds on the clock and
that time Kwame Brown threw a cake at a fan. However, all these moments pale in
comparison to Jordan's dagger against the Jazz in 1998. Jordan, isolated one-on-one
with Bryon Russell, dribbled, busted out a devastating crossover that caused Russell
to slip and fall (partly because Jordan gently pushed him, but whatever) and knocked
down a game-winning jumper to cap off a 45-point night. Bob Costas said it best on
the broadcast: "If that's the last image of Michael Jordan, how magnificent is it?"
While it wasn't, Jordan's jumper against the Jazz to win one last title was the most
spectacular moment of his career. With a career like MJ's, that's saying something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyL0FxS-F6E&feature=player_embedded
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