mobile app bar

“Michael Jordan absolutely pushed off against Bryon Russell”: When John Stockton believed Bulls legend pushed off on his iconic Game 6 jumper in 1998 NBA Finals

Samir Mehdi
Published

“Michael Jordan absolutely pushed off against Bryon Russell”: When John Stockton believed Bulls legend pushed off on his iconic Game 6 jumper in 1998 NBA Finals

John Stockton said he most certainly agrees with the notion that Michael Jordan pushed off against his Jazz teammate, Bryon Russell. 

Michael Jordan put the entirety of the league on lock for a majority of the 1990s. His existence in the league left several NBA legends championship-less. Guys like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, John Stockton, and Karl Malone are just a few of the big names that could not win a single ring because MJ won 6 in eight years. 

The only team Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls had faced multiple times in the NBA Finals was the Utah Jazz. After besting the Seattle Supersonics in 1996, the Bulls went on to face off against Stockton and Malone in two consecutive Finals.

Also read: “You could tell, Michael Jordan was still the best in the world!”: Tim Hardaway recollects the time when the Chicago Bulls legend came back from retirement

The 1997 Finals saw the defending champions gentlemen sweep the challengers, leading to the Bulls winning their 5th ring. The following Finals saw the series end in 6 games with Michael Jordan hitting the dagger of all daggers. 

John Stockton on Michael Jordan pushing off against Bryon Russell. 

Michael Jordan had Bryon Russell on him of the majority of the series and it was him who MJ eventually went on to hit perhaps the most iconic shot in the history of the NBA. “17 seconds from Game 7 or from championship number 6,” was the iconic call made right before Jordan hit the jumper by breaking Russell’s ankle and giving the Bulls a one point lead.

Also read: “Hey Jerry Krause, can Michael Jordan and the rest come back in 1999?”: When Dennis Rodman revealed his regret behind the Bulls getting disbanded in ‘99 at the behest of Krause

However, a closer look at the video shows how Jordan pushed Russell out of the way with his left hand. Many, including Jordan himself, have said numerous times that it wasn’t a push-off and that he merely guided Russell in a direction that he was going towards anyway. 

John Stockton believes ‘His Airness’ did push off but says that he wouldn’t call an offensive foul on the play if he was the referee. When asked if Bryon Russell would’ve gotten the same no-call, Stockton refused to answer. 

View on Website

The relationship between Bryon Russell and Michael Jordan eventually come full circle when the former ended up on the Wizards alongside the 6x Finals MVP. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

instagram-icon

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

Read more from Samir Mehdi

Share this article