The NBA
The NBA ( National Basketball Association ) Championships, held in the United States every year is one of the most fiercely competitive events in the game and in sports in general across the world. The quality of basketball is of the highest standards, and as much as the Championships are competitive, so is the massive viewership attached with the event. The NBA has inspired a whole generation of young boys and girls and given them a strong sense of purpose to pursue, and it would be fair to say, the NBA has achieved cult status.
Chicago Bulls & A Team of Champions
Today’s story is related to NBA’s most prolific teams The Chicago Bulls and to the greatest basketball player of all times Michael Jordan. In 1996 and 1997, the Chicago Bulls won the NBA Championships on the bounce after a two-year lean period which had ended their consecutive winning streak from 1991-93. Michael Jordan had hit a rich vein of form and had been exceptional in the 1996 and 97 seasons, and so were his , Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr under the highly regarded and influential coaching of Phil Jackson. However, the team was ageing, and more importantly, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were on their last legs.
Michael Jordan Wanted One More Year Together
The Management of the Chicago Bulls was aware of the state of the players and, looking forward to the future of the Club, they decided to go in for wholesale changes starting with the Coach and some of the key players like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, though leaving Michael Jordan untouched for one more year. Whether this was a just reward for the team and the players who had brought great laurels to the club, was a debatable question. Michael Jordan, sensing the changes, confronted the management. He wanted the Team and Phil Jackson to stay. He knew that the team still had the energy and the desire to keep competing at the highest levels, and writing them off was a bit too early.
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Jordan’s Argument Was Accepted & The Last Dance Was Born
The Management of the Chicago Bulls, after some initial resistance, accepted Michael’s argument and gave the team one more year before the changes could be made. Phil Jackson was at the helm, and so were the players together for one last time. The team now wanted to win the NBA more than ever and make it 3 in a row and 6 overall. There was a rejuvenated sense of belief bordering on desperation. For Phil Jackson it was the last project he was undertaking for Chicago Bulls and this team, and he very appropriately named it “ The Last Dance “.
A Scratchy Start But The Bulls Win Their 6th NBA Title in 8 Years
The season began, and unfortunately Scottie Pippen, nursing a foot injury from the previous season, was unable to take part in the first half of the competition, which led to a scratchy start for the Bulls. However, the moment he returned, the team started making headway and eventually reached the Finals. Michael Jordan was again sublime and led the scoring charts. Chicago Bulls had got their act together. They were once again competing against the Utah Jazz, a rematch of the previous season’s Finals. And as it was destined to happen, the Bulls beat the Utah Jazz, yet again, to claim a second hat-trick of NBA Titles, their 6th in 8 years.
The Scenes Were Insane
The stadium was going bonkers; the scenes were insane as the Team and Phil Jackson got together in a tight embrace. It was unprecedented; the team had done it again and proved everyone wrong. The old warhorses still had the gallop to go all the way. The unrelenting hardwork and toil had paid off. The leadership displayed by Michael Jordan was exemplary. He held the team together and instilled in them some monumental self-belief. This was the Chicago Bulls’ best run at the NBA, never to be repeated.
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The Team Was Dismantled
As was the agreement, the team was dismantled. Scottie Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets, Dennis Rodman went to the LA Lakers, Kerr signed up with the San Antonio Spurs, Phil Jackson resigned as coach, and the great Michael Jordan announced his retirement, not before proving his point. The Chicago Bulls Dynasty was over for good. It was an era of players seldom seen together under one banner again.
The Last Dance
The Last Dance is an exceptional piece of sporting history, of self-belief, of perseverance, of strength of character, of team spirit, of camaraderie, of professionalism, of leadership and of Michael Jordan. The Last Dance is truly a great piece of inspiration and sporting history.
The Last Dance Is Available on Netflix.
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