This Date in NBA Finals History: Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan Win Sixth Championship

Photo credit: Fernando Medina, 1998 NBAE, Getty Images.

On June 14, 1998, 27 years ago today, the Chicago Bulls had a 3-2 NBA Finals lead on the Utah Jazz going into Game 6 of the ‘98 Finals in Salt Lake City. The Jazz, with home court advantage, defeated the Bulls 88-85 in Game 1 before the Bulls ran off three consecutive - 93-88, 96-54, and 86-82 before an 83-81 Game 5 loss at home. 

Michael Jordan had led the Bulls to 62 wins. A 3-0 first round series against the New Jersey Nets. A 4-1 second round over the Charlotte Hornets. A hard-fought seven games in the Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Now the Bulls stood one win away from their sixth championship in eight years. A perfect smooth melody for their Last Dance. 

The Jazz too won 62 games. They defeated the Houston Rockets 3-2 in the first round, the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Western Conference Semifinals, and the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals. A 25-year-old Shaquille O’Neal in ‘98 was not yet ready to grab the mantle. 

In games one through four, Jordan had scored 33 points, 37 points, 24 points, and 34 points. Karl Malone, who had finished second to Jordan in MVP voting, scored 21, 16, 22, 21, and 39 points. Malone shot 17-of-27 in Game 5 - 39 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jordan in Game 5 made just 9-of-26 shots but was 10-of-11 from the free-throw line for 28 points. Toni Kukoc poured in 30. 

On the first play of Game 6, Scottie Pippen received a pass underneath from Ron Harper. Pippen dunks the ball through, but comes down wincing in pain. His ailing back would limit him to 25 minutes. 

Toward the end of a low scoring first quarter, Jordan dribbles between his legs and rises over Bryon Russell for a jumper that connects. Game tied at 22 with 30.8 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. As the quarter winds down, Jordan drives on Russell and crosses back toward the middle, takes a dribble, and is double-teamed now by Russell and Howard Eisley. Jordan fades and his shot hits the back of the rim. 25-22 Jazz after one. 

Coming back into the broadcast for the second quarter, there is a shot of Pippen being looked at by doctors. He is in great visible pain having difficulty standing. 

Jordan checks back into the game with 9:39 on the clock and the Jazz leading 28-24. 

Jordan gets a screen from Luc Longley and navigates to the free-throw line where he rises and misses. Jordan shot 15-of-35 on this night, not his most efficient outing. Ironically, it is the same percentage that he shot in Game 6 in 1997. 

Antoine Carr gets an open look at an elbow jump shot on a pass from John Stockton and hits. Jordan at the other end gets the ball on the right block and posts Shandon Anderson. Jordan turns, fakes, and wheels inside for a right hand scoop layup. 30-28. Jordan with 10 points. Coming up on 7:30 remaining in the second.

At the other end, Malone muscles inside on Dennis Rodman and despite missing initially gets the offensive rebound and the putback. 32-28 Jazz. 

Kukoc drives on the right wing toward the paint and throws a pass to Jordan on the left wing for an open look at a three. Good. Jordan with 13 points. 

“It’s taking him a whole lot of shots to get his points through the Finals,” says play-by-play announcer Bob Costas regarding Jordan. “But if he doesn’t step up, other than Kukoc, who else can?.”

A keen observation from Costas. Steve Kerr is a specialist 3-point shooter. Longley is not going to go nuts in the scoring column. Points for the Bulls do need to come from someone other than Jordan. 

On cue, Kukoc gets a pass on the right wing from Kerr and hits an open jump shot. Bulls trail 34-33. 

“It’ll be interesting to see if he will have enough at the end of the game because of the minutes that he’s gonna have to play,” says Isiah Thomas of Jordan. More on that later.

Jordan is backing Anderson on the left side and turns and drives inside to the basket. Going up for the layup, Jordan is fouled by Carr. Jordan is short on his first attempt but makes the second. 35-34 Jazz. 

Jordan posts Russell and spins for a lob from Kukoc. Jordan softly places the ball in the basket and the Bulls take the lead. 

After a post score from Malone, Jordan spots up on the right wing and gets a pass out of the post from Ron Harper. The 3-ball is good. It is the third triple of the game for Jordan and the score is tied at 39. 19 for Jordan. 

Jordan gets the ball on the left baseline with the score tied at 41 after Malone and Kukoc baskets. Jordan fakes on Russell and takes a dribble right before elevating. His shot is good. Picturesque. 21 points for Jordan. Game tied at 43. 

“I’m watching Jordan, and he’s in such a nice rhythm offensively, everything is coming very easy to him. And right now they have to be really careful because this looks like this could be a 40-point game from him,” remarks Thomas. More on that later.  

Jordan is posting Russell and turns baseline for his patented fadeaway. Good. 23 points and the Bulls even the game at 45. 

 After the Jazz take a 47-45 lead on a Stockton score underneath, Jordan misses a straightaway three. Bryon Russell cuts and gets a layup. On the final play of the half, Jordan misses a half court heave that hits the backboard and then rim. Four consecutive misses for Jordan.

Pippen, who received ice and massage treatments at halftime, is back on the sideline stretching and starts the second half. 

Malone faces up Longley and drives for the first score of the third quarter. 

The third plays out back and forth, much like the first half. Kukoc is scoring, he and Jordan carrying the Bulls’ offense with an ailing but competing Pippen. 

With the Jazz leading 53-51, Jordan misses two shots in a row as Kukoc also misses an inside attempt, baskets that could have either tied or taken the lead. Rodman and Malone are tussling in the back court. Rodman picks up the foul as he and Malone wrestle. Meanwhile, Jordan bumps Russell slightly and Russell hits Jordan in the shoulder. High stakes. High emotions. 

One of Malone’s freebies connects as the Jazz now lead by three, 54-51, with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. 

Jordan on the left block posts Russell and gets a pass from Pippen before passing back out to Pippen. Pippen offers Jordan another entry pass and this time Jordan goes to work. A left-hand dribble, a fake spin back to his left and a turn right for a fadeaway from 14 feet. Nothing but net. 54-53 Jazz. Five and a half minutes remaining. 27 points for Jordan. 

Jordan whips a pass to Pippen underneath the basket who cannot connect on the layup, but Rodman is there to tip the ball in. 56-55 Jazz with five minutes remaining. 

With 4:02 to go in the third quarter, Pippen gets an entry pass from Harper. Pippen is defended by Hornacek and rises for a jump hook that connects. Tie game at 57. Pippen misses a post bank shot but it is Rodman there again with the second effort tip in. 59-59. 

Both teams are hustling and working late in the shot clock. After Jordan misses a scoop layup on a drive against Chris Morris, he is one of his last nine and is 10-of-24 overall. 34 of the game’s 36 minutes. At the end of the third quarter, the Jazz lead is five at 66-61.  

“You have to believe fatigue is an important factor now,” says Costas. 

Jordan drives left to the basket and gets the foul on Carr. Both free-throws are good. What fatigue?

“Jordan is the one individual that I’ve seen in this game since I’ve played that can carry his team in the fourth quarter even when he is fatigued,” says Thomas. 

After Howard Eisely scores, Jordan gets the ball from Kukoc a couple feet inside the 3-point arc at the top of the floor. Jordan dribbles twice toward the paint against Anderson and rises and hits. 68-65. Morris then misses a corner triple and Rodman rebounds. 

Rodman screens for Kerr who drives to the left corner and is doubled by Eisely and Carr. Rodman is open and Kerr hits him from about 20 feet out. Rodman initially looks to pass before shooting, and knocks it down. As he jogs back down court, Rodman shrugs with a smile. “Me?” A big shot. 68-67. 

With the Bulls trailing 70-67 out of a 20-second timeout, Jordan gets a brief rest. Kukoc then ties the game with a left wing triple. Jordan checks back in with 7:42 remaining after a three-point play from Morris. 73-70 Jazz. 

After Jordan hits two free-throws, he gets the ball on the left block and is initially guarded by Russell before Hornacek brings a double team. Pippen falls down and painfully expresses discomfort before setting a screen on Hornacek as Jordan dribbles toward the 3-point line. Jordan continues to the free-throw line and with Russell on his hip rises for a jump shot that hits. 37 points for Jordan and the Bulls first lead since the second quarter. 74-73. 

After the Jazz take the lead on Malone free-throws, Jordan misses an elbow jump shot, his second consecutive miss after missing from the left baseline. Stockton navigates to the elbow and hits a jump shot just inside the right elbow. 77-74 Jazz. 

Kerr finds Pippen in the lane who turns and hits a turnaround. Pippen slowly jogs back up the floor in obvious pain. A mentally tough performance from a guy who was maligned for migraines years earlier. 77-76 Jazz with five minutes remaining.

Malone misses and after Rodman rebounds, Malone commits the foul. The fifth team foul on the Jazz, important because the Bulls are now going to the line on any foul. Rodman makes the second free-throw and ties the game. 

After Malone hit a baseline jump shot to give the Jazz a 79-77 lead, the Bulls are in scramble mode on their next possession as the shot clock is winding down. With two on the shot clock, Harper receives a pass on the right wing from Kukoc and takes one dribble before he elevates and fades. The shot goes in. 79-79. Two free-throws at the other end from Russell and the Jazz lead 81-79 with 3:20 remaining. 

Malone hits an 18-footer from the left side that puts the Jazz ahead 83-79. Delta Center is loud. The Bulls need something. 

Jordan gets the ball with eight on the shot clock on the left side on a pass from Pippen. Guarded by Russell, Jordan jab steps and goes left with two dribbles and is fouled with 2:07 on the clock. Jordan makes both and the Bulls now trail 83-81. 

After Stockton gets free for a left side jump shot and misses, Russell gets the rebound and throws it to Pippen while trying to deflect the ball off of Rodman. Pippen up the floor to Jordan at the top with 1:40 remaining. 

Jordan backs down on Russell and makes a move to his sweet spot outside the block. Jordan’s shot is short and it is rebounded by Stockton. Rodman knocks a post pass to Malone away and Stockton off the inbound misses an open three from the left wing. Rebound Jordan. 

Jordan brings the ball up the left side and crosses to his left and drives baseline on Russell. Stockton comes over to try and draw the charge but is called for the foul. 59.2 seconds remain. Jordan to this point is 2-of-8 from the field in the fourth. He makes both free-throws, tying the game up at 83, 8-of-8 from the line in the fourth. 

Malone out of the post on the left block finds Stockton on the right wing open for three. Good with 41.9 seconds remaining. Jazz up 86-83. 

Let’s rewind back to Isiah Thomas saying “It’ll be interesting to see if he will have enough at the end of the game” and “this looks like this could be a 40-point game from him.” 

Jordan has 41 to this point. So he has his 40. Enough at the end of the game? Jordan proceeds to make a few of the most memorable plays in history. 

Jordan gets the ball and drives to the basket on the right side, leaps and scoops the ball off the glass over Carr. A graceful play. 37.1 on the clock. 43 for Jordan. 

With 10 on the shot clock and 22.6 seconds on the game clock, Malone receives an entry pass from Stockton at his comfortable spot on the block. Jordan comes over and slaps the ball away from Malone, who had no idea Jordan was coming over. Jordan retrieves and heads up the court. Rodman turns to the crowd with his hands raised as if he knows what is coming. 

Jordan up the middle of the floor brings himself to the left wing to set himself up at an angle. Costas says “17 seconds from Game 7, or from championship number six.” 

Russell gets up close on Jordan. With 9.1 seconds on the clock, Jordan begins his move to the middle. One dribble. Russell, momentum carrying him to his left and maybe a slight nudge from Jordan, loses his footing as Jordan pulls back and crosses over. Jordan rises from the free-throw circle. 

“Jordan…open…CHICAGO WITH THE LEAD!,” yells Costas. 5.2 seconds remaining. An iconic call. An iconic shot. An iconic last couple minutes from Jordan. Rodman turns to the crowd and yells in excitement. Pippen greets Jordan as they head to the bench. 

“If that is the last image of Michael Jordan, how magnificent is it,” offers Costas. Says Thomas, “The greatest thing about Jordan is he has all the tricks. That’s why it is so difficult to guard him.” 

Stockton’s three misses. Buzzer sounds, 87-86 Bulls. Jordan jumps in jubilation. Throws six fingers in the air as a symbol of his championship successes. 

45 points in his final Bulls’ game. 43 minutes. 15-of-35, 3-of-7 from 3-point range and 12-of-15 from the line. Four steals. His fourth steal was the biggest one of his career. 

Kukoc was the only other Bull in double figures, with 15 points. The Bulls shot 50.7%, the Jazz 50%. In a stat that would shock the young fan, only 20 three-pointers were attempted between the two teams, 10 apiece. A different game. 

Malone led the Jazz with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists on 11-of-19. Hornacek scored 17 points on 6-of-12. Stockton shot 4-of-10 and finished with 10 points. 

A valiant effort by Pippen - 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals on 4-of-7 shooting. Harper scores 8 points on 3-of-4. Rodman off the bench with 7 points and 8 rebounds and physicality on Malone. 

Jordan and Phil Jackson embrace at midcourt.

“Oh my God, that was beautiful. What a finish,” says Jackson. Jordan responds “I had faith. I had faith.” 

Six championships in eight seasons. 51, 67, 57, 72, 69, and 62 wins in the championship years. 

Pippen signs with the Rockets. He played one year there before suiting up for three in Portland and a final one in Chicago in 2003-04. Rodman goes to the Lakers and spends part of the 1999-00 season with the Mavericks. Jordan retired, though the last points of his career would not be a championship-winning jump shot in Utah but free-throws on April 16, 2003 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia. He returned in 2001 to the Washington Wizards where he played two more seasons. 22.9 and 20.0 points were his averages as a Wizard. 

Jackson took a year off before he returned to coach Shaq and Kobe to a 3-peat. He won back-to-back championships as Laker head coach in 2009 and 2010. He retired after the 2010-11 season. 

The Bulls went through a period of ineptitude and are still reaching to recapture that ‘90s glory. 

The franchise won 13 games in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, and 17, 15, 21, 30, and 23 before finally finishing above .500 in 2004-05 with 47 wins where they made the playoffs. Derrick Rose gave them hope as a 23-year-old MVP in 2010-11, a 62-win season for the Bulls where they made the Eastern Conference Finals. From 2008-2015, the Bulls made the playoffs. They have been back twice since. Seven out of the last eight seasons they have finished below .500. 

Whether it is not wanting to deal with the shadow of Jordan or something else, players must not want to come to Chicago. The Bulls have not been able to attract or acquire superstar talent.

Rose was drafted and homegrown. In 27 years, it has been Rose as the bridge between Jordan and what you see now. A big city. A happening city with nearly three million people and a lot to do. For whatever reason, they have not been able to achieve a winner and have since 1998 been searching for that same success that has eluded them. 

The 1998 championship happened to be the finale of one of the NBA’s best dynasties.