“Whether we were down by 4 points or 24 points, we were going to win”: Why Michael Jordan was not worried about trailing the Utah Jazz in Game 6, 1998

Michael Jordan claims to have been supremely confident in the Chicago Bulls winning their 6th title in 1998 despite trailing the Jazz. 

There have been a bevy of iconic shots that have been throughout the NBA Playoffs. Everything from Magic’s baby sky hook to Damian Lillard’s 37-foot stepback, the postseason is where legends are made.

When talking about legends, there is no other player in the history of the league who was more accomplished and iconic than Michael Jordan. 

Putting aside all of his accolades, the simple fact that Michael Jordan was as confident as he was during his playing days, made him the deadliest threat on the court at all times. Combining that confidence and killer mentality with his shot-making ability is something no player wants to see on their best days. 

Also Read: “Kawhi Leonard can’t do it on both ends every single night”: Chris Broussard doesn’t believe the Clippers star can carry his team to victories while playing 40 minutes a night

The Utah Jazz, along with other franchises in the 90s such as the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, were subjected to Michael Jordan’s greatness over and over again. Age seemed to have not been a factor for Jordan as even at 35 years of age, he not only won league MVP, but Finals MVP as well. 

Michael Jordan always believed his team would win the 1998 Finals despite losing in the closing minutes

Four free throws, a heavily contested layup, and The Final Shot. These are the plays that Michael Jordan made in the final two minutes of regulation for the Chicago Bulls; plays that would result in Jordan claiming his 6th title and completing his 2nd three-peat. 

It should also be mentioned that he did all of this while being down 4 in those closing two minutes of the 4th. When head coach Phil Jackson was asked about what the timeout during this closing period looked like, he said, “Michael said, ‘We’re going to win this one,’ and I said, ‘I know’. When Michael says that, it’s a good sign.”

Also read: “Kyrie Irving is the 7th All-Star to miss a Playoff game this season”: Nets star joins the likes of Joel Embiid and James Harden on a ‘not-so-historic’ list

Jordan himself backed this up with a quote that remained true to his character. “My whole thought process was always, ‘We’re going to win this game.’ It didn’t matter whether we were down by 4 points or 24 points. I always felt things would work out.” This is a quote from a book he published 4 months after the 1998 Finals, titles, ‘For the Love of the Game’.